How to Play Poker

Ace of clubs and King of Diamonds in hand in a poker hand with high value chips on the table

There are many types of poker. The many variants of poker include Texas Holdem, seven/five card stud, five card draw, Omaha Hi Lo, and many many more. In order to learn any of these variants, one must first learn some basic poker rules.

First a player must know the poker hand rankings. This is very important to know because the player with the best hand is the winner. Knowing where one's hand stands will tell the player if he should bet or fold. The ranking of poker hands goes as follows:1. Royal flush: this is the best hand of poker. It is where a player obtains a 10, jack, queen, king, and ace of the same suit.2. Straight flush: this is where a player obtains a five card sequence of the same suit. Example: 4, 5,6,7,and 8 of hearts.3. Four of a kind: in this a player has four of the same card. Example: 4 aces4. Full house: this is where a player has three of the same card and two of another card. Example: three 3's and two 2's.5. Flush: in this a player has five cards of the same suit. Example: five diamonds6. Straight: this is where a player has a five card sequence.Example: 6,7,8,9, and a 10.7. Three of a kind: this consists of three of the same card. Example: three kings.8. Two pair: in this a player has two of the same card as well as two of another card. Example: two 4's and two 7's.9. One pair: this consists of two of the same types of card. Example: two 8's.

If none of these are obtained, the best hand is achieved by having the highest card. The highest card in poker is an ace. The lowest is a two.

Usually, poker is played by first putting in some form of ante (a small chip amount put into the pot before a player is able to receive a hand). After the ante is put in, one receives his cards and the hand starts. Five card draw is the most basic type of poke. By learning it, one will be able to understand and learn the other variants much easier.

Five card draw begins by each player putting in an ante. The player then receives five cards. Each player is allowed to bet, and then is able to get rid of cards in his hand in exchange for cards in the deck. For instance, if the player discards two cards, he is able to draw two more cards. After this exchange, the players are again given the chance to bet. After the round of betting, the players are asked to show their hands. The player with the best hand wins the pot.

The complexities of poker do not come in the rules. Once learned, the rules are fairly simple. The complexities of poker come in the decisions of betting.

The player with the best hand wins the winnings