When it comes to playing poker, there are a few key elements that should be taken into consideration. Before diving right in, players should familiarize themselves with the basics of the game, including understanding hand rankings and how betting works.
Card Ranks
You’ll need to learn about the different card ranks in a standard 52-card deck: Ace (high), King, Queen, Jack, 10 through 2. Be sure to also understand what each rank means when making a winning hand; for example, two pairs (two sets of pairs) will beat one pair but lose to three of a kind.
Type Of Poker Hands
Next up is learning the four main types of poker hands:
- High card (no matching cards)
- One pair (two matching cards)
- Two pairs (two sets of pairs)
- Three-of-a-kind (three matching cards)
- Four of a kind (all four suits)
The order of these hands from strongest to weakest is as follows: Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair, and High Card. Once you’ve got these memorized, you’ll be well on your way to mastering the game.
How To Make Your Bet
When it comes to betting in poker games, players make bets in succession throughout each round. Four main types of bets can be made: bet (betting with no one else involved), raise (increasing an already existing bet), call (matching another player’s bet), and fold (throwing away your current hand). Knowing when to make each type of bet can go a long way in ensuring you win the pot.
Poker Terminology
Poker terminology can be daunting for newcomers to the game, but like anything else, it becomes much more manageable once you learn the basics. Here are some of the standard poker terminology that players should become familiar with:
Blinds
Blind bets are forced bets made by two players before any cards are dealt. The small blind is always placed by the player seated to the dealer’s left and is usually half of the big blind, which is placed directly to the dealer’s left.
Ante
An ante is a mandatory bet used in some poker games. All players must make this bet before any cards are dealt, or they’ll be forced to fold.
All-in
When a player puts all their chips into a pot at once, it’s known as going “all-in.” This move often forces other players to match their bet or fold. Players who go all-in risk losing all their chips if they don’t have a strong hand.
Flop
The flop consists of three community cards dealt face-up in the middle of the table after the first round of betting has concluded. Players can use these cards in combination with their hole cards (cards dealt face down) to make their best possible five-card hand.
Turn and River
After another round of betting, two more cards will be turned over, one for each player, for them to complete their hands with, known as “the turn” and “the river” cards, respectively.
Check
When players check, they pass on making a bet without folding their hands and not investing any money into the pot. They are passing on betting action until someone else does something first. Usually, this indicates a weaker hand than might have been shown if they had gone ahead and called or raised instead.
Showdown
A showdown occurs when all active players reveal their hands after finalizing bets and raises during the last round of betting, allowing whoever has the best hand to take home winnings from the pot formed by previous rounds’ wagers.
Pot Limit/No Limit Poke
These two poker variations differ in how much can be wagered per round. A pot limit allows for no more than the total amount already in the pot. In contrast, no limit allows for unlimited bets up to the largest stack held by any player at the table (each type has specific strategies).
Game Rules And Etiquette
Finally, it’s important to understand game rules and etiquette. Be aware of how betting works at different tables; some may have an ante that must be placed before any cards are dealt, while others may allow blinds (bets made without seeing one’s cards) or straddles (raises made after the two-hole cards are dealt). Also, follow proper table manners by avoiding talking over other players and not being too aggressive with your bets.
The Bottom Line
By following these steps, you’ll become more familiar with poker basics and be well on your way to becoming a pro. Once you’ve learned the basics, the next step is to find an online or physical poker game and get playing. Practice as much as possible to keep improving your skills and read up on strategy articles to take your poker play to the next level.
