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Poker | Rules

How to Play

Requires a standard pack of playing cards, 52 cards (there are some games that uses more or less depending on the variation). The card ranking is as follows: Ace (the highest), King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 (the lowest), Ace (this may also be the lowest card depending on the variations you are using).

There are four suits (spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs). No suit is higher than another.

Using Wild Cards depends on the variation. A wild card can either be a seperate card added like a joker or you may specifiy a certain card in the deck.

The number of cards dealt is dependant on the variation you are playing. The standard poker game is Five card draw.

Betting Procedures

In most games you start the betting with an ante just to get the cards dealt. The money is put in the center of the table and is called the "pot".

When the betting gets to you, you have three choices:

• Call - betting enough to match what has been bet in that particular betting round.
• Raise - you raise the pot by putting an additional amount in (the limit on how much you can raise depends on the variation).
• Fold - dropping out of the current hand and losing the possibility of winning the pot.
Each game has a predetermined number of betting rounds. The highest hand at the end of all betting rounds wins the pot.

Ranking of Hands

• Royal Flush - The best possible hand. Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10, all of the same suit.
• Straight Flush - A straight flush is a straight (5 cards in order, such as 7-8-9-10-J, A-K-Q-J-10 or A-2-3-4-5), all of the same suit. You can not use the Ace in a wraparound.
• Four of a Kind - Four cards of the same rank, like four Aces or four Kings. If there are two or more hands that qualify, the hand with the highest four of a kind wins.
• Full House - A full house is a three of a kind and a pair, such as K-K-K-2-2. When there are two full houses the tie is broken by the three of a kind, J-J-J-5-5 would beat 9-9-9-A-A. If for some reason the three of a kind cannot determine the victor then use the pair to decide.
• Flush - A flush is a hand where all of the cards are the same suit, like A-J-9-7-5, all of Diamonds. When flushes ties, follow the rules for High Card.
• Straight - Five cards in rank order, but not of the same suit. Examples are 2-3-4-5-6, A-2-3-4-5 or 10-J-Q-K-A. Wraparounds are not allowed. When two straights tie, the highest straight wins, K-Q-J-10-9 would beat 5-4-3-2-A. If two straights have the same value, AKQJT vs AKQJT, the pot is split.
• Three of a Kind - Three cards of any rank with the remaining cards not being a pair. Once again the highest ranking three of a kind would win. K-K-K-2-4 would beat Q-Q-Q-2-3. If both are the same rank, then the High Card rule come into effect.
• Two Pair - Two distinct pairs of cards. The highest pair wins ties. If both hands have the same high pair, the second pair wins. If both hands have the same pairs, the high card wins.
• Pair - One pair of cards. Highest pair wins. High card breaks ties.
• High Card - When a hand has none of the above qualifications, then it comes down to who is holding the highest ranking card. If there is a tie for the high card then the next high card determines the pot, if that card is a tie than it continues down till the third, fourth, and fifth card. The High card is also used to break ties when the high hands both have the same type of hand.