The difference between poker and all other casino games is that poker is not played against the house – it is played against other players.
While the fundamentals of the game are simple – examining your hand and guessing what other players might have – playing well (winning) can involve complex strategies and psychological maneuvers.
There are numerous versions of poker, but the basic hierarchy of winning hands is the same:
Royal Flush: A, K, Q, J and 10 of the same suit.
Straight Flush: Five cards, all of the same suit and in sequence. For example, 9, 8, 7, 6 and 5 of hearts.
Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank. For example, four tens, four aces, etc. The other card or cards do not count.
Full House: Three cards of the same rank and two cards of another rank BandarQQ Online. For example, three jacks and two fives or three sevens and two three, etc.
Flush: Five cards of the same suit in no specific order. For example, five hearts, five clubs, five spades, five diamonds.
Straight: Five cards in a row, regardless of suit. For example, 7, 8, 9, 10 and Jack or 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
Three of a Kind: Any three cards of the same rank. For example, three fives, three jacks, three aces, etc.
Two Pair: Two cards of one rank and two cards of another rank with one card remaining. For example, 8-8, 5-5 and 9 or J-J, 6-6 and A, etc.
One pair: Two cards of the same rank and three remaining unmatched cards. For example, K-K, 3, 9, Q or 7-7, 5, 10, A, etc.
Some poker games:
Five card draw or traditional poker: Each player receives five cards and, depending on the rules of a specific game, can exchange up to four of the cards originally dealt with new ones. After that, the player must keep the new hand for the rest of the game, whether betting, calling or folding.
In seven card stud, players are dealt three cards down and one up, followed by the first round of betting, the “bring in”. The first bet is placed by the player with the highest or lowest face-up card, depending on the rules of that particular game. After the first bet, subsequent bets are always placed by the player with the highest hand.
The fifth and sixth cards are dealt face up and the player with the highest hand makes a bet after the fifth card. Again, the player with the best hand visible after the sixth card face up has the option to bet. If that player decides to call, the next player with the highest hand can choose to bet or call – and so on. Each time a bet is placed, any player has the option to call, raise or fold.
The seventh and final card is dealt face down and starts another round of call, bet, raise or fold. Negotiate and bet, pay, etc. is done clockwise around the table.
Once all the best have been called, the hand ends. Players turn the cards over and the best hand wins the bet.
