Poker Rules

Poker Hand Ranking

Poker hand rankings are essential to understand if you want to play the game. 

Hand ranking will help you determine the strength of your hand and whether or not you should bet, call, or fold.

• Royal Flush: This is the highest-ranking hand and consists of an Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10 of the same suit. It is extremely rare and is considered an unbeatable hand (A♥  K♥  Q♥  J♥  10♥ ).

• Straight Flush: This hand consists of any five cards of the same suit in numerical order. For example, a hand containing a 5 of hearts  , 6 of hearts , 7 of hearts  , 8 of hearts, and 9 of hearts is a Straight Flush (5♥  6♥  7♥  8♥  9♥ ).

• Four of a Kind: The hand with four cards of the same rank. For example, four 8s or four queens ( Q♥   Q♥️   Q♦️Q♣️  5♥ ).

• Full House: This hand contains three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. For example, three queens and two jacks is a Full House (Q♥  Q♥️  Q♦️ J♥  J♥️).

• Flush: This hand contains any five cards of the same suit. For example, a hand containing 2 of hearts, 5 of hearts, 9 of hearts, J of hearts, and K of hearts is a Flush (2♥  5♥  9♥  J♥  K♥ ).

• Straight: This hand contains five cards in numerical order, regardless of suit. For example, a hand containing 2 of hearts, 3 of clubs, 4 of diamonds, 5 of spades, and 6 hearts is Straight (2♥  3♣️  4♦️5♥️  6♥).

• Three of a Kind: This hand contains three cards of the same rank. For example, three jacks or three 7s (J♥  J♣️  J♦️ 3♥   7♦️).

• Two Pair: This hand contains two different pairs. For example, two queens and two 10s ( Q♥   Q♥️  10♥  10♥️  8♣️).

• Pair: This hand contains two cards of the same rank. For example, two jacks or two 6s (J♥  J♣️  8♦️ 3♥   7♦️).

• High Card: This hand is the lowest-ranking hand and is used when no other hand combinations are present. It is determined by the highest card in the hand.(J♥  6♣️  8♦️ 3♥   7♦️).

Card Value/Scoring

Hand ranking, also known as card value, is the order in which different hand combinations rank. It's important to remember that in a poker game, the highest-ranking hand wins the pot. It is recommended to consider the potential hands of other players, as well as the community cards when making your own decisions. Always remember that a player with a lower-ranking hand can still win by bluffing and convincing the other players to fold.

You can learn Poker online for free by watching tutorials and tournament live streams. The videos available online can help you greatly in learning the basics of the game and improving your skills. 

Watch How To Play Poker For Beginners Video

Understanding How Poker Points Are Calculated

In poker, points are typically awarded based on the ranking of a player's hand and their final position in the game. For example, a player who finishes in the first place may receive more points than a player who finishes in second place. The specific point system can vary depending on the type of poker being played and the rules of the specific game or tournament. In a typical tournament structure, players earn points for each tournament they play in, with more points awarded for deeper runs and wins. These points are used to determine a player's overall standing in a leaderboard or a series of tournaments.

Poker Positions

Your position at the table can greatly affect your strategy. Players who act later in the betting round have more information and therefore have an advantage.

In poker, table position refers to the player's location in relation to the dealer button, and it can have a significant impact on the way a hand is played. There are three main types of table positions in poker: early, middle, and late.

Early position:

Players in early position are the first to act in a betting round. These positions include the small blind, big blind, and the first few players to the left of the big blind. Players in early position have the least amount of information about the other players' hands and should generally play tighter and more conservatively.

Middle position:

Players in the middle position are in a better position to gather information about their opponents than those in early position. They have more options and can play a wider range of hands. Players in the middle position should be more selective with their starting hands, but can be more aggressive when the opportunity arises.

Late position:

Players in late position have the most information about their opponents and can use this to their advantage. They can play a wider range of hands and be more aggressive with their betting and raises. Players in late position should be looking to take advantage of their position and build the pot when possible.

It's important to note that table position is not a fixed thing and can change from hand to hand as the dealer button rotates clockwise. Understanding the dynamics of table position can help players make more informed decisions and improve their overall poker strategy.

How to Deal in Poker

Dealing in poker is the process of distributing cards to the players at the table. The dealer is responsible for enforcing the rules of the game, such as betting limits and proper card handling. Here is the basic process of dealing in a game of poker:

• The dealer shuffles the deck of cards thoroughly.

• He deals each player their hole cards (the cards that are dealt face down and kept hidden from other players). He starts with the player to their left and continues clockwise around the table.

• The dealer then deals the flop, turn, and river (community cards that are dealt face-up in the centre of the table) in Texas Hold'em and Omaha.

• After the final round of betting, the dealer will reveal the hole cards of the remaining players, and the best hand wins.

• The dealer button is then moved clockwise to the next player, and the process begins again.

How to Bet in Poker

Here is the process of betting in poker:

• The player to the left of the dealer (or the "small blind") is required to place a small bet before the cards are dealt. The player to the left of the small blind (or the "big blind") is required to place a larger bet.

• Once the hole cards have been dealt, the first round of betting begins with the player to the left of the big blind. This player has the option to call (match the big blind), raise (increase the bet), or fold (give up their hand and exit the round).

• The betting then proceeds clockwise around the table, with each player having the same options.

• Once all players have had a chance to act, the dealer will reveal the flop, turn, and river (community cards) in Texas Hold'em and Omaha.

• Another round of betting begins with the player to the left of the dealer.

• Once all players have had a chance to act, the dealer will reveal the turn and river.

• The final round of betting begins with the player to the left of the dealer, and then the remaining players reveal their hole cards.

• The player with the best hand wins the pot.

It's important to note that different variations of poker game may have different betting structures, such as Pot-limit, No-limit, etc. Also, in some games, there are more rounds of betting, and some games have a fixed-limit on the amount that can be bet.

Difference Between Deal and Bet

The main difference between dealing and betting in poker is their role in the game.

Dealing is the process of distributing cards to the players at the table. The dealer is responsible for enforcing the rules of the game, such as betting limits and proper card handling. They shuffle the deck, cut the cards, and deal out the hole cards, flop, turn, and river to the players.

Betting, on the other hand, is the process of wagering money or chips on the strength of a player's hand. Players use betting to build the pot, bluff other players, and ultimately increase their chances of winning. Betting starts with the player to the left of the big blind, and continues clockwise around the table. Players can either call, raise or fold according to the rules of the game and their own strategy.

In short, dealing is the physical act of distributing the cards and managing the game, while betting is the act of wagering money on the strength of one's hand.

Difference Between Blinds and Ante

In poker, blinds and ante are used to create action and build the pot in the early stages of the hand, however, there are some key differences between the two:

Blinds

The blinds are forced bets that are placed by the two players to the left of the dealer before any cards are dealt. The player directly to the left of the dealer is required to post the small blind, which is typically half the minimum bet for the current hand. The next player to the left is required to post the big blind, which is equal to the minimum bet for the current hand. These bets are used to create action and build the pot in the early stages of the hand.

Ante

An ante is a forced bet that all players are required to make before any cards are dealt. Unlike blinds, which are posted by specific players, all players at the table are required to post an ante. The ante is usually a small percentage of the minimum bet (for example, 5% or 10%) and is used to create action and build the pot. Unlike blinds, antes do not rotate around the table, but rather all players pay it on each hand.

Purpose: The main purpose of blinds is to create action in the early stages of the hand and to build the pot. Antes serve the same purpose, but they involve all players, which can make the game more aggressive and create larger pots.

Game Types: Blinds are mainly used in Texas Hold'em and Omaha games, while antes are used in other games such as Seven-card stud, Razz, and Draw Poker games.

Dealer Button

A dealer button is a small circular disc that is used to indicate which player is the dealer for a particular hand. The dealer button is typically passed clockwise around the table after each hand, so that each player has a chance to be the dealer.

The position of the dealer button plays a critical role in determining the order of betting and the positions of the blinds, which can affect the strategy of the game. Additionally, the button is also used to determine the order of card distribution in certain games like Texas Hold'em and Omaha.

Betting Actions

Betting actions refer to the various options a player has when it is their turn to act during a betting round. The most common betting actions are:

Fold: A player can choose to fold their hand if they do not want to continue playing the current hand. When a player folds, their cards are forfeited along with the money they have already invested in the pot.

Check: A player can choose to check if no bets have been made in the current betting round. This allows the player to stay in the hand without making a bet.

Call: A player can choose to call if a bet has been made in the current betting round. This means that the player matches the current bet and continues playing the hand.

Raise: A player can choose to raise if a bet has been made in the current betting round. This means that the player increases the current bet and continues playing the hand.

All-in: A player can choose to go all-in if they do not have enough chips to make a normal bet or raise. This means that the player bets all of the chips they have remaining.

Bet: A player can choose to bet if no bets have been made in the current betting round. This means that the player is the first to put money in the pot in the current betting round.

It's important to note that the betting actions and the betting structure can differ based on the game type, limit type, and the poker variant being played. 

Betting Rounds in Poker:

• Preflop:

  The first round of betting starts with the player to the left of the big blind (the player who is required to post a "blind" bet before the cards are dealt).

• The Flop:

  The dealer then deals the first three community cards, called the flop. The second betting round begins with the player to the immediate left of the dealer.

• The Turn:

  The dealer then deals the fourth community card, called the turn. The third round of betting starts with the player to the left of the dealer.

• The River:

  The dealer then deals the fifth and final community card, called the river. The fourth and final round of betting starts with the player to the left of the dealer.

• The Showdown:

  If there are more than one player remaining after the final round of betting, a showdown occurs, and the player with the best hand wins the pot.

Poker Etiquette

Poker etiquette includes being respectful to other players, keeping conversation to a minimum during hands, not showing your cards to other players when you fold, and not taking too long to make decisions. Additionally, players should not cheat or engage in any unethical behaviour during the game.

Variations in Poker

There are many variations of poker, each with its own set of rules and strategies. Here are a few examples of the most popular poker variations:

1. Texas Hold'em:

   Texas holdem poker is the most popular variation of poker and is played with two-hole cards and five community cards. The goal of the game is to make the best five-card hand using any combination of the hole cards and community cards.

2. Pot Limit Omaha:

   Pot Limit Omaha is similar to Texas Hold'em, but each player is dealt four hole cards and must use exactly two of them in combination with the five community cards to make the best hand. PLO4, PLO5 and PLO are the most popular forms of Omaha Poker.

3. Crazy Pineapple:

   Each player is dealt three hold cards in this variation of the game. The rules to play Crazy Pineapple are similar to Texas Hold’em but with a twist – before the turn round, the players have to discard one card.

4. Seven-Card Stud:

   This variation is played with seven cards per player, with five community cards and two hole cards. The goal is to make the best five-card hand using any combination of the seven cards.

5. Razz:

   This is a variation of Seven-card stud, but the goal is to make the lowest possible hand, rather than the highest. Straights and flushes do not count against the player, and the best hand is A-2-3-4-5.

6. Draw Poker:

   This variation is played with five cards per player and allows players to discard and replace cards in an attempt to improve their hand. The most popular Draw Poker is 5 Card Draw.

7. Caribbean Stud Poker:

   This variation is played against the house, rather than against other players. The goal is to make a better hand than the dealer, and the game uses a traditional poker hand ranking system.

8. H.O.R.S.E:

   This is a mixed-game format that includes several variations of poker in one round of play, including Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo, Razz, Seven-card Stud, and Seven-card Stud Hi-Lo.

Basic Rules to Play Poker

Poker Rules to Play NL Texas Hold’em Poker

Here are the basic rules for playing No Limit Texas Hold'em:

• Each player is dealt two hole cards (face down) and five community cards (face up) are dealt in the centre of the table.

• The goal of the game is to make the best five-card hand using any combination of the two hole cards and the five community cards.

• The player to the left of the dealer (the "small blind") must post a small blind, and the player to the left of the small blind (the "big blind") must post a big blind. The big blind is usually twice the amount of the small blind.

• The first round of betting begins with the player to the left of the big blind. This player has the option to call (match the big blind), raise (increase the bet), or fold (give up their hand and exit the round).

• The betting then proceeds clockwise around the table. In No Limit Texas Hold'em, there is no maximum bet, so players can bet any amount of chips they have in front of them.

• Once all players have had a chance to act, the dealer will reveal the flop, turn, and river (community cards).

• Another round of betting begins with the player to the left of the dealer.

• Once all players have had a chance to act, the dealer will reveal the turn and river.

• The final round of betting begins with the player to the left of the dealer, and then the remaining players reveal their hole cards.

• The player with the best hand wins the pot.