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.
