Here are the rules for Poker, but knowing
this doesn’t make you an expert, so be careful. Knowing
the difference between each hand doesn’t mean you can
play pro. You should practice with friends or a familiar that
really knows how to play. As the saying goes… The practice
makes the master!
The Rules of Poker
For Poker is used a standard deck with
52 cards. The rank for the cards is this: Ace, King, Queen,
Jack, ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three and two
(the lowest)
Each group of cards (from ace to two) have a
suit, and there are four different suits, spades, hearts,
diamonds and clubs. There is no such thing as a higher suit,
they are all the same.
Using Jokers will depend on the variation
of Poker you are playing, and they take the rank or suit that
you want them to. Wild Cards can be the jokers, if you are going
to add more cards, or be any card contained in the deck, like
deuces. Usually, the dealer gives each player five cards, but
this is not always like this. At the 5 Card Stud Poker, you
are dealt five cards, at the 7 Card Stud Poker, you are dealt
seven cards, and at the Texas Hold’ Em you are dealt only
three cards.
Ranking of the hands:
1. Five of a Kind – This hand is
only possible if you are playing with Wild Cards. That means
that you have five cards with the same number. For example:
9 – 9 – 9 – 9 – 9. If more than one
player has a Five of a Kind the hand with higher rank wins.
For example: Q – Q – Q – Q – Q beats
9 – 9 – 9 – 9 – 9.
2. Straight Flush – Is the highest natural hand (with
no wild cards) It’s formed by a straight of the same suit
(five consecutive cards of the same suit) For example: 3 –
4 – 5 – 6 – 7 of clubs. Like in a regular
straight, an ace could be high (A – K – Q –
J – 10) or low (A – 2 – 3 – 4 –
5) but you cannot use it in the middle (K – A –
2 – 3 – 4) Also know as Wrap Around. An Ace High
Straight Flush is know as a Royal Flush and is the highest hand.
3. Four of a Kind – Is the third hand in the rank, and
is know as Poker. You’ll need four cards of the same rank
(number) For example: A – A – A – A If more
than one player has a Poker, the hand with the higher rank wins
and if the rank are the same (in the case you are playing with
Wild Cards, otherwise it’s impossible) the High Card rules.
For example: 9 – 9 – 9 – 9 – 9 –
7 wins, 9 – 9 – 9 – 9 – 3 loses
4. Full House – It consist of three of a kind plus a pair.
For example: 7 – 7 – 7 – J – J In a
tie, the untie is made by the three of a kind. For example:
5 – 5 – 5 – 7 – 7 beats 4 – 4
– 4 – A – A In the extraordinary case that
the Three of a kind are the same rank, the tie is broken by
the pair. (This tie will only happen with Wild Cards)
5. Flush – This hand consist of five cards of the same
suit. For example: J – 9 – 6 – 4 – 2
all of spades. In a tie, High Card rules.
6. Straight – This are five cards in consecutive rank
order and with different suits. For example: Ks – Qd –
Jc – 10s – 9h. Like in the Straight Flush, the ace
can be high or low and Wrap Around isn’t allowed. In case
of a tie, the highest Straight wins. For example: K –
Q – J – 10 – 9 beats 7 – 6 – 5
– 4 – 3. If the Straights are identical, the pot
splits between the two players.
7. Three of a Kind – Three same rank cards, with the remaining
two not being a pair. The highest ranf wins if a tie shows up.
For example: 10 – 10 – 10 – 3 – 2 beats
9 – 9 – 9 – J – 5
8. Two Pair – Consist of one pair of two cards of the
same rank, and another set of two cards of the same rank but
different from the first one and a fifth card different from
the other four. For example: A - A – 9 – 9 –
3 In a tie situation, the highest pair wins, if the tie continues,
the second pair wins, and if the tie persist the High Card rules.
For example: A – A – K – K – Q beats
A – A – Q – Q – J
9. Pair – Two cards with the same rank and three with
different ranks. Here the highest pair wins, if there is a tie
the High Card rule. For Example: K – K – Q –
J – 10 beats Q – Q – J – 10 –
9 , and K – K – Q – J – 10 beats K –
K – J – 10 – 9
10. High Card – When a hand is poor, and no player could
form one of the above hands, it’s called High Card. The
player with the highest rank card wins. If a tie happens, the
next highest rank card wins, then the third and so on. For example:
A – 9 – 6 – 3 – 2 beats K – 10
– 8 – 7 – 4, and A – 9 – 6 –
3 – 2 beats A – 9 – 5 – 3 – 2
The High Card is used to break a tie in the rest of the hands.
Now that you know the basic of the hands
and ranks, let’s star with the game. To play Poker, you
should know how to bet. To start the Poker game you will need
to place a bet called Ante, that’s the way to tell the
dealer you are in.
After the betting is done, the chips go to the pot. At the end
of the game, the player with the highest hand takes the pot.
Once the cards are dealt, and it’s your turn to bet,
you have three options, you can Call. This means that you
put just the necessary amount of chips to match the highest
bet. By doing this you earn the right to stay in the game
and see the hand of the leading player. You can Raise, that
means you overpass the bet that the rest of the players did.
If you do this, the other players can Fold Call or Re Raise.
If they Fold, you win, If they Call, you will have to show
your hand and then see who wins and if they Re Raise you will
have the first three options again. Or you can just Fold,
meaning that you don’t consider your hand good enough
to spend chips on it. If you Fold, your cards go back to the
dealer and you watch how the hand evolves without participating.
