poker rules

Poker rules

Poker is a game of card combinations. The aim of poker is to get the best card combination you can get. There are a lots of poker variants, but the most popular and easy to learn (but hard to master:) is Texas Holdem poker. Here we will learn how to play Texas holdem poker, what are the game rules, and cover various poker strategies.

Quick overview

The game goes through 4 main stages of card dealing: Preflop, Flop, Turn and River. After every stage there is a cycle of betting (rise, check ,call or fold). The winner is the player which at the end of the game has the best card combination (also known as hand). After this quick overveiew, it's time to get into the thick of things.

Preflop

Each player is dealt 2 cards from the deck. These are his private cards, and he should keep them to himself (don't show them to other players). They are also known as pocket cards.
You
2
5
Player 2
Player 3
Player 4
In order to get things going, 2 of the players are forced to place initial predefined bets. These bets are called blinds. There is a small blind and a big blind. The big blind bets twice as much as the small one. So if the small blind bet is $5, the big blind have to bet $10.
$5 (Small blind)
You
2
5
$10 (Big blind)
Player 2
Player 3
Player 4
Now all the other players can place their bets according their pocket cards. Every player can either fold, call or raise. Usually, at this point all the other players "call", which means they are matching their bets to to biggest bet on the table, which is now the "Big blind". If we continue our example from above that means that all the other players will place $10 on the table(pot).
$5 (Small blind)
You
2
5
$10 (Big blind)
Player 2
$10 Call
Player 3
$10 Call
Player 4
When the turn reach to the small blind player, he to has the option to Call, Raise, or Fold. If he decides to call, he will have to add to his bet only another $5 in order to match his bet, because he has already placed $5 as a Small blind.
$10 Call
You
2
5
$10
Player 2
$10
Player 3
$10
Player 4
Everybody called, the betting cycle ends, and all the bets go to the pot. It's time to move to the next stage, the "Flop".

Flop

The dealer flips three cards from the deck, facing up, on the table. Now the fun really begins. Every player, should calculate how strong his hand is, according his pocket cards(His personal card), and the 3 cards currently placed on the table (communal cards).
A
10
3
Pot:$40
You
2
5
Player 2
Player 3
Player 4
A second round of betting starts. Any player (that is still playing) can either fold, call, check or raise. If a player doesn't want to raise the bet he can "check". However if a player thinks he has a strong hand, he can decide to "raise" the bet. If one of the players has raised the bet, all the other player will have the option to "fold" (Means they quit this game and loose their bets that are already in the pot), "call" (Means the are making their bet equal to the raising bet), or "raise" again. On our example everybody "Checked" and this round ends.
A
10
3
Pot:$40
Check
You
2
5
Check
Player 2
Check
Player 3
Check
Player 4
After the "Flop" stage, the game moves on to the "Turn" stage.

Turn

The dealer flips one more card facing up, on the table. This card is called the "Turn". Once again, Every player should calculate how strong his hand is, according his pocket cards, and the 4 cards currently placed on the table(communal cards).
A
10
3
2
Pot:$40
You
2
5
Player 2
Player 3
Player 4
A third cycle of betting starts, similar to the previous one. Let's say you have decided to "check" (meaning you don't want to raise your bet, nor Fold), but player 2 has decided to Raise!
A
10
3
2
Pot:$40
Check
You
2
5
$10 Raise
Player 2
Player 3
Player 4
Now, it's player 3 turn and he can Call, Raise, or Fold. He decides that his cards are no good, and Folds! Player 4, decides to Call, which means he has to match his bet to Player's 2 bet which is $10. Now it's your turn and you decide to Call too and the betting cycle ends.
A
10
3
2
Pot:$40
Call $10
You
2
5
$10 Raise
Player 2
Player 3
Call $10
Player 4
After the end of the betting cycle we are moving to the "River" stage, which is the last one.

River

The dealer flips another card facing up, on the table. This card is called the "River".
A
10
3
2
5
Pot:$70
You
2
5
Player 2
Player 3
Player 4
Now all the remaining players, should calculate how strong their hands are, according their pocket cards, and the 5 communal cards currently placed on the table. A forth cycle of betting starts, similar to the previous one. Everybody has decided to check so the betting cycle ends and all the remaining players show their cards to see, who has the strongest hand (this is called the showdown).
A
10
3
2
5
Pot:$70
You
2
5
Player 2
A
K
Player 3
Player 4
6
J
Your cards:
2
5
Communal cards:
A
10
3
2
5
Best hand:
2 pairs
A
2
2
5
5
Player 2 cards:
A
K
Communal cards:
A
10
3
2
5
Best hand:
Pair
A
A
K
10
5
Player 4 cards:
6
J
Communal cards:
A
10
3
2
5
Best hand:
High card
A
J
10
6
5
Your best hand is 2 pairs (2-5). Player 2 best hand is a pair (A-A). Player 4 has the lowest hand possible, and the highest rank card is A, so he has a high card hand (A). You have the strongest hand, so you win the pot of $70, nice:)
 
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