Mastering Poker
Poker Basics
The Goal and the Cards
Most poker games use a standard 52-card deck. The cards are ranked from high to low: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. The Ace can also be used as a low card (like in an A-2-3-4-5 straight), making it very flexible. There are four suits: spades (♠), hearts (♥), diamonds (♦), and clubs (♣). In most games, all suits are considered equal.
The fundamental goal in poker is to win the "pot," which is the collection of all the chips bet in a single hand. You can win the pot in two ways: by having the best five-card hand at the showdown (when all betting is finished), or by making all other players fold, leaving you as the last one standing. Let's look at what makes a hand the "best."
Hand Rankings
Knowing which hand beats which is the single most important part of poker. The rankings are based on probability; the rarer the hand, the stronger it is. Here they are, from the unbeatable Royal Flush down to a simple High Card.
This chart shows the hierarchy of hands. Memorize it. It's the foundation of every decision you'll make.
| Hand | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠ | An Ace-high straight, all in the same suit. The best possible hand. |
| Straight Flush | 9♦ 8♦ 7♦ 6♦ 5♦ | Five cards in sequence, all in the same suit. |
| Four of a Kind | 7♣ 7♠ 7♦ 7♥ J♥ | Four cards of the same rank. |
| Full House | K♣ K♠ K♦ 8♥ 8♦ | Three cards of one rank and two cards of another. |
| Flush | Q♣ 10♣ 7♣ 6♣ 2♣ | Any five cards of the same suit, not in sequence. |
| Straight | 7♥ 6♠ 5♣ 4♦ 3♥ | Five cards in sequence, but not of the same suit. |
| Three of a Kind | 5♠ 5♥ 5♦ K♠ 2♣ | Three cards of the same rank. |
| Two Pair | J♦ J♣ 4♣ 4♠ 9♥ | Two cards of one rank, and two cards of another rank. |
| One Pair | A♦ A♣ 7♠ 4♦ 2♥ | Two cards of the same rank. |
| High Card | K♦ Q♣ 8♠ 7♥ 3♣ | If no one has any of the above, the player with the highest card wins. |
If two players have the same type of hand, like a pair of Aces, the winner is determined by the "kicker," which is the highest card outside of the pair. For example, a hand of A-A-K-5-2 beats A-A-Q-10-9 because the King kicker is higher than the Queen kicker.
A Round of Play
While rules vary between poker games, the flow of betting is similar in many popular versions like Texas Hold'em. Before any cards are dealt, two players are forced to make bets to create an initial pot. These are called the "blinds."
The player to the left of the dealer button posts the "small blind," and the player to their left posts the "big blind," which is usually double the small blind. The dealer button rotates one position to the left after each hand.
After the blinds are posted, cards are dealt and the first round of betting begins. The action moves clockwise around the table. When it's your turn to act, you have several options.
Check: To pass the action to the next player without betting. You can only check if no one has bet before you in the current round. Bet: To make the first wager in a betting round. Call: To match the amount of the current bet or raise. Raise: To increase the amount of the current bet. Fold: To discard your hand and forfeit any chance of winning the pot.
Betting rounds continue until every player has either folded or put the same amount of chips into the pot. Most games have several distinct betting rounds, often separated by the dealing of new cards.
Common Poker Games
There are dozens of poker variants, but a few dominate in popularity. Understanding the basics of these games will prepare you for most situations.
Texas Hold'em
noun
Each player is dealt two private cards ("hole cards"). Five community cards are dealt face-up in the middle of the table for everyone to use. Players make the best five-card hand using any combination of their two hole cards and the five community cards.
Omaha
noun
Similar to Hold'em, but each player gets four hole cards instead of two. The key rule is that you must use exactly two of your four hole cards and exactly three of the five community cards to make your hand.
Seven-Card Stud
noun
A classic game with no community cards. Each player receives a mix of face-down and face-up cards over several betting rounds, ultimately creating the best five-card hand from the seven cards they are dealt.
Now that you know the basics of hands, betting, and popular game types, it's time to test your knowledge.
In poker, which of the following hands is the strongest?
Player A has A-A-K-7-2. Player B has A-A-Q-J-10. Who wins the hand?
With these rules in mind, you have the foundation to understand and play almost any poker game. The next step is learning how to play the hands you're dealt.