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The
Basics of Poker
Poker is played with a standard pack of 52 cards (some casino's may
play with more than one deck). The cards are ranked (from high to low)
Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, Ace. Ace can be
high or low but usually high. There are four suits:
· Spades
· Clubs
· Diamonds
· Hearts
Some games maybe played with a Wild Card. The Wild Card can take the
place of any suit or ranked card. Ex: Dueces, One eyed Jacks, Jokers
or possibly any other card.
Description
of Ranked Cards.
· Five of a Kind
A five of a kind (Which is only possible when using wild cards) is the
highest possible hand. If more than one hand has a five of a kind, the
higher card wins (Five aces beat five of anything else).
· Straight Flush
A straight Flush is the best natural hand. A straight flush is a straight
(5 cards in order, Such as 3-4-5-6-7) that are in the same suit. As
in a regular straight, you can have an ace either high or low. An ace
high straight flush is called the Royal Flush and is the highest natural
hand.
· Four of a Kind
Four of a kind is simply Four Cards of the same rank. If there are 2
or more hands that qualify, the hand with the higher ranked four of
a kind cards win. If the game is being played with wild cards and there
is a tie, the extra card outside of the four of a kind becomes the tie-breaker.
Follow the list of ranked cards to see what cards out rank the other.
· Full House
A full house is a three of a kind and a pair within the same hand, such
as K-K-K-5-5. Ties are broken first by the three of a kind, then the
pair. So K-K-K-2-2 beats Q-Q-Q-J-J.
· Flush
A flush is a hand where all of the cards are the same suit, such as
J-9-7-4-2, all in hearts. When there are two flush's within the same
hand, follow the high card rules.
· Straight
A straight is 5 cards in order, such as 5-6-7-8-9. In most cases you
can use the ace as a high or low card. In the event of two straights,
the straight with the highest ranked cards wins.
· Three of a Kind
Three cards of the same rank. However it can be of any rank. Also the
other two cards must not be the same ranked card. That would make it
a Full House. If they don't equal than you have a three of a kind. If
a game has 2, three of a Kinds, Use the ranked cards rule.
· Two Pair
This is two distinct pairs of a card and a fifth card. The highest pair
wins on a tie. 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 with three distinct cards. High card breaks tie.
· High Card
This is any hand that doesn't qualify as one of the other examples.
Playing
the games
Betting usually occurs in clockwise order. In most cases you must ante
to begin. Amount of ante will vary from one game to another. After everyone
antes than the cards are dealt. Then, the betting begins. All bets go
into the pot in the middle of the table. At the end of the hand, The
highest hand that hasn't folded wins the pot. Basically, when betting
gets to your turn you have three choices:
Call when you call, you bet enough to match what has been bet since
the last time you bet. Example, If you bet a dime last time, and someone
else bet 20 cents, you owe another ten cents.
Raise When you raise, you first bet enough to match what has been bet
since the last time you bet (as in calling), Then you "raise"
the bet another higher amount. Usually up to some determined amount.
Fold When you fold, you drop out of the current hand. This loses any
possibility of winning the pot. However, you don't have to add money
to the pot. Betting continues until everyone calls or folds after a
raise or initial bet.
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