Poker uses a 52-card deck without jokers.  There are many professional poker players but this shouldn’t mislead you into thinking that it is anything but a game of luck.  The chance of getting good cards is the same as that of getting bad cards.

Before you sit down to play at a poker table, be sure to read the sign next to the dealer indicating the table limit.  The game begins with each player placing a minimum bet. After the minimum bets have been placed, each player will be dealt five cards, face down.  After the players have seen their hands, the first round of betting starts.  You must call just to stay in the game.  At this point, the players will decide which cards they want to keep and which they want to replace.  There is no limit on the number of cards that can be replaced.  After the new cards have been dealt, a second round of betting commences.  The hands are then compared and the player holding the highest-ranking hand wins.

How to Bet

Once the opening bets have been placed, the players will receive their cards.  When they have their cards they can then decide between the following three plays:

1.    Call – If you call, you must bet enough money so your bet equals the previous bet.  For example, if your first bet were dollar and someone later bet two dollars, to call you would have to bet another dollar.
2.    Raise – With a raise, you must first call and then bet any additional amount of money you wish.  For example, if another player raises a dollar, you would have to first match that dollar and then add the additional sum of money you want to wager.  Some tables have a raise limit that is based on the minimum bet limit. The table might, for example, limit the raise to ten times the minimum bet limit.
3.    Fold – This is the option to withdraw from the game and give up your chance to win.  It is obviously the play you make when you think you have no chance of winning.

Hand Rankings: From Bottom to Top

High Card:  This is the lowest ranking hand and is used to determine the winner only when none of the players have any of the hands listed below.  If nobody on the table has a pair or better the player with the highest card wins.  If several players have the same highest card, then you look at the second highest card, and then the third highest card, etc., etc.  High cards can also be used to break ties if there are multiple high hands.  If two players have the same two high pairs, for instance, the highest fifth card will be used to break the tie.

Pair:  One pair with three distinct cards. If there is a tie, the high card will be used to break the tie.

Two Pairs: A hand with two pairs (two tens and two jacks for example).  The hand with the highest pair wins.  If two players are holding the same two pairs, the fifth card will determine the winner.

Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same value.  As in the other hands, the high card will break the tie.

Straight: Five consecutive cards but not the same suit.  For example, a 9, 10, jack, queen, and king of different suits would comprise a straight.  The highest straight wins and two straights of the same value split the pot.

Flush: Five cards of the same suit but not in consecutive order.  If there is more than one player with a flush, the highest card wins.

Full House: Three cards of one value (e.g. three kings) and two cards of one value (e.g. two tens).  The player with the highest full house wins.

Four of a Kind:  Four cards of the same value (for example, four 10s).  Highest four wins.  Obviously, if one player is holding four of the same cards, there is no need for a highest card to act as the tiebreaker since there are no more than four cards of the same suite and value in a deck.

Straight Flush: Five cards of the same suit in consecutive order (8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen of Diamonds, for example).

Royal Flush: This is the same as the straight flush but the highest card must be an ace (for example, ten, jack, queen, king, ace)