If you don’t know how to play poker, now is a good day to learn! We will provide you with the basics of the game. There are many variations of poker, but almost all the basic rules are applicable to each of them. The key is to know the main points, and then shape your techniques depending on the variation of poker you decide to play. You can try playing online using poker99.
The goal of poker is to win as many chips as possible by outwitting other players. You have to know exactly when to raise the bets or fold to minimize the losses and maximize the winnings. Technically, the player holding the highest hand at the end of the game wins the round.
Cards
There are 52 cards in a standard pack. Multiple packs can be used or a few cards of jokers may be added in the game, depending on the agreement among the players. From lowest to highest, the cards are 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace. Also, the Ace may be used as 1.
Suits
There are four suits, which are: clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades. They are not ranked because they are of equal value.
Hands
Every combination contains five cards. The following hands are ranked from lowest to highest:
- High Card is a combination of five cards not in any of the combinations below.
- One Pair has two cards of the same rank and three random cards
- Two Pairs contains two cards of the same rank and another two cards of the same rank and any other random card.
- Three of a Kind has three cards of the same rank and two random cards.
- Straight contains five cards in sequence
- Flush has five cards having the same suit
- Full House contains three cards of the same rank, and another two cards of the same rank
- Four of a Kind has four cards of the same rank and one additional random card
- Straight Flush contains five cards in sequence with the same suit. It is also a combination of straight and flush but with a lower combination than a royal flush.
- Royal Flush is the unbeatable combination of straight and flush. The cards are Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10 having the same suit.
Betting
Before the game starts, players are required to have the initial bet called ‘blinds’. More bets will be placed in the course of the game.
Each player has the following options for their turn:
- Raise – increasing the wager. Note that when the player raises the wager, the succeding players need to bet at least the same amount, otherwise they will be out of the betting until the next deal.
- Call – matching the wager with another player who raised previously.
- Fold – putting no additional wager and discarding his hand. Though he will lose all the bets he has placed before, more losses will be avoided if it turns out that he really has the losing hands.
- Check – passing the action to the next player without making any wager.
