It is difficult to summarize the basic rules of poker due to the many different variations of the game. Poker uses a standard deck of 52 playing cards, some poker games use more or less depending on the variation. A common poker rule variation is to add wild cards such as jokers. The cards are ranked from highest to lowest as follows; Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. In certain poker rule variations the Ace may also be the lowest card. All suits are valued the same. Most poker hands contain five cards. There are also some popular variations involving seven-card hands, like 7 Card Stud. The player with the highest hand wins.
If wild cards are being used they can take any rank or suit desired. Wild cards can be either a separate card added, like a joker, or a certain card in the standard deck may be specified as wild, such as deuces or one-eyed jacks.
The dealing of the cards is dependant on which poker rule variation you are playing. In a standard 5 Card Draw game, 5 cards are dealt face down to each player. In some poker rule variations, such as Texas Hold’Em Poker, certain cards are dealt face up for everyone to see, called Hole Cards.
In home poker games, it is typical for players start the betting with a specified initial amount, called an ante. Casinos usually use blinds for their poker games. A blind is a forced bet placed by one or more players before the deal begins. These initial bets are intended as an incentive for people to remain in the hand. The initial amounts are placed in the center of the table; this is called the pot. At the end of a hand, the highest hand of the remaining players wins the pot. Some players may have dropped out before the end of the hand. If two or more players tie at the end of the hand, the pot is usually divided equally between the winning players.
Betting also depends on the specific poker rules of the poker variation you are playing. Betting usually begins with the player directly to the dealer’s left and continues in a clockwise order.
If no one made a bet yet, you have two betting options; Open or Check.
To Open simply means that you are making the first bet after the initial pot has been set. If no bet has been made an you do not wish to Open, then you Check. To Check means you don’t want to bet more on your hand but you aren’t ready to give up on it yet.
After the betting has been Opened, you have three choices when it is your turn to bet: See, Raise or Fold.
To See, or Call, means that you wish to stay in the hand but do not wish to bet a higher amount. To stay in the hand you must bet enough to match what has been bet since your last bet. If you initially bet $5 and another player bets $15, you would have to bet an additional $10 to See the bet.
If you wish to stay in the hand and you want to bet more then the current betting level, then you will Raise. To Raise you must first match the current bet and then put in the additional amount that you would like to increase the bet. If you initially bet $5 and another player bets $15, if you want to Raise the bet level to $20, you match the current bet with $10 and then add another $5 to Raise the bet. In some poker rule variations there are limits to the amount a player is allowed to Raise. Fixed limit games are most common in casinos, while spread limit games are more common in home poker games. No limit and pot limit games are less common, but some poker games play particularly well with those structures.
The last option you have is to Fold. When you Fold you drop out of the current hand and lose the possibility of winning the pot. Why would you want to Fold? Folding allows you to step out of a bad hand without wasting any more of your money. It can be a very valuable option when used correctly.
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