How to play poker? Illustrated guide: Rules, hand rankings, terms...

The rules of poker

The goal of poker is to win opponents' chips by having the best hand combination. Cards are dealt to each player, and depending on the poker variant, community cards are also dealt.

Players place bets to participate in each round and can increase their bets during each betting round. The player with the best hand, formed from their hole cards and the community cards, wins the pot.

Before learning how to play poker, you need to know which poker game you want to play. There are many poker variants, each with its own rules and winning hands. A rule may be present in one variant but not in another.

The basics of Texas Hold'em Poker: the most played variant in online poker

Texas Hold'em Poker (or Texas Holdem) and more specifically No Limit Texas Hold'em is the most played variant in online poker. In this poker variant, players have 2 hole cards and 5 community cards are dealt. The hand rankings range from high card (the weakest) to royal flush (the strongest).

In the No Limit version, players' bets are unlimited. Players can bet their entire stack on any bet if they wish.

What card deck to use for poker?

The standard card deck for poker is a 52-card deck, without jokers. Each deck includes 4 suits (Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs, and Spades) with 13 cards each ranging from ace to 2. The value of cards is determined by the combination formed with other cards in a player's hand and the visible community cards.

Short Deck Hold'em is a variant played with a 36-card deck unlike most other variants.

It's important to use quality card decks to avoid problems with worn cards that might reveal opponents' hole cards.

How to distribute poker chips?

For a tournament or Sit & Go (SNG) poker game, simply distribute an equal number of chips to each player. Most chips should have a value equivalent to the big blind to simplify betting. If an eliminated player re-enters, they receive the initial tournament or SNG starting stack.

For cash games, chips have real monetary value. Players sit at the table with chips they've purchased from the casino. Players can buy more chips at any time and leave the table at any time to exchange their chips for money.

Cash Game tables usually have minimum and maximum buy-in limits. For example, at a $1/$2 limit table, the minimum buy-in might be $80 and the maximum $200.

How to deal cards in Texas Hold'em poker?

1. Preflop: The dealer deals two face-down cards to all players one at a time, starting with the player to the left of the button and moving clockwise.

2. Flop: The dealer burns one card and deals three face-up cards in the middle of the table.

3. Turn: The dealer burns one card and deals a fourth face-up card on the table.

4. River: The dealer burns one card and deals a fifth and final face-up card on the table.

These four stages represent the most important betting rounds in Texas Hold'em, which is the most popular poker variant. Each betting round corresponds to a betting phase where players can bet, call, raise, or fold.

How a poker hand plays out in Texas Hold'em: 10 steps for beginners

1. Players place their initial bets (blinds or ante) to participate in the hand.

2. The dealer deals the cards (two hole cards in Texas Hold'em) to each player after shuffling them randomly.

3. The first betting round begins (preflop). Players can call (match the bet), raise (increase the bet) or fold (abandon the hand). Players who have called or raised continue playing until all remaining players have bet the same amount. In the first round, the first person to act is the player to the left of the big blind.

4. The dealer reveals the flop (three face-up cards) on the table.

5. A new betting round begins. In subsequent rounds, the first player to the left of the dealer still in the hand starts the action.

6. The dealer reveals the turn (a fourth face-up community card) on the table.

7. A new betting round begins.

8. The dealer reveals the river (a fifth and final face-up community card) on the table.

9. Players make their final round of betting.

10. If multiple players remain in the hand, the winner is determined by the best five-card combination they can make using their two hole cards and the five community cards. The winner takes the pot (all player bets), and a new hand can begin.

Poker hand rankings and rules

There are 9 possible poker hand combinations, from weakest to strongest:

1. High Card: 5 cards with no combination

   The hand value is determined from the highest card to the lowest.

   

2. Pair: two cards of the same value

   

3. Two Pair: two different pairs of cards

   

4. Three of a Kind: three cards of the same value

   

5. Straight: five consecutive cards of different suits

   

6. Flush: five cards of the same suit, not consecutive

   

7. Full House: three of a kind plus a pair

   

8. Four of a Kind: four cards of the same value

   

9. Straight Flush: five consecutive cards of the same suit

   Royal Flush: the strongest combination, an ace-high straight flush, meaning 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace of the same suit. The Royal Flush is the best possible hand in poker.

   

In all poker variants, the player with the strongest hand wins the pot. It's important to know these combinations well to evaluate your hand and anticipate other players' hands.

Cash Games: Real Money Poker

Poker cash games are a variant where players buy chips with real money and can leave the table at any time by exchanging their chips for cash.

Unlike tournaments, which have a predetermined end, cash games can last as long as players wish. Here are some key elements to know about poker cash games:

• Betting: In No Limit Poker, cash game bets are unrestricted but must be at least equal to the big blind. Players can bet as much as they want during each betting round, based on their strategy and comfort level.

• Chips: Players buy chips with real money. Each chip has a specific monetary value. Players can leave the table at any time and exchange their chips for money.

• Blinds: Blinds are forced bets placed by the two players to the left of the dealer. These mandatory bets create an initial pot, forcing players to try to win this money already in play. Without blinds, poker would become a game of only playing pocket Aces or folding.

• All-in: Players can bet their entire stack at any time, meaning all of their chips.

• Strategy: Cash game strategy is very different from tournament play. Players must be ready to play for hours and manage their bankroll effectively. Emotional control is also crucial since there's no predetermined end to the session.

• Risk and reward: Players can win or lose money very quickly in cash games since betting is unrestricted. Therefore, proper bankroll management and avoiding reckless risks is important.

In summary, poker cash games are a variant where players buy chips with real money and can leave the table at any time. Betting is unrestricted and the game can last as long as players wish. Proper bankroll management and emotional control are crucial for success in cash games.

Tournaments/MTT for beginners

MTT (Multi Table Tournament) poker is a popular variant where players compete to win a tournament. MTT tournaments can involve multiple tables and hundreds of players, with buy-ins ranging from a few dollars in online poker to thousands of dollars in major live poker events. Here are some key points to know about tournaments or MTTs.

Blind level structures: MTTs have blind levels that increase regularly to force players to play more hands and advance the tournament more quickly. The slower the levels, the more time players have to play their game and wait for good cards preflop. A structure with fast levels is called a turbo structure where luck plays a more significant role.

Number of tables: MTT tournaments can have dozens or hundreds of tables, each typically seating between six and ten players. Players often move between tables as other players are eliminated.

Buy-in: Players purchase their tournament entry for a monetary amount called the buy-in. A portion of these buy-ins goes into a prize pool, and the other portion becomes the rake for the poker rooms.

Prize tiers: Players who reach the paid positions receive a share of the prize pool. The tournament winner receives the largest share of the prize pool. Payouts are distributed based on players' final rankings.

Strategy: MTT poker strategy differs from cash game strategy. Players must be prepared to play for several hours and manage their chip stack according to blind levels, the number of remaining players in the tournament, and payout tiers due to ICM. Players must also be ready to adapt to different playing styles based on their table position and the skill level of other players.

Advantages: MTTs offer players the chance to win large sums of money for a relatively small buy-in. Players can also qualify for larger tournaments by winning satellite tournaments or freerolls.

Disadvantages: MTT tournaments can last several hours or even days, which can be exhausting for players. Players must also be prepared to take risks to have a chance at winning a significant prize.

In summary, MTTs are a popular poker variant where players compete to win by being the last player remaining. Tournaments have blind level structures, prize tiers, and can involve dozens or hundreds of tables. MTT poker strategy differs from cash games, as players must be prepared to play for several hours and adapt to different playing styles. Tournaments offer players the opportunity to win large sums of money.

Poker glossary: most commonly used terms

Poker uses specific language with many English terms and expressions that can be difficult for beginners to understand. It's important to familiarize yourself with these terms to better understand other players.

The most commonly used poker terms include hand phases (flop, turn, river), different card combinations (pair, three of a kind, straight, flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush), betting actions (bet, raise, all-in), positions (button, small blind, big blind, CO, HJ, LJ, MP, UTG), player types (fish, shark, nit, calling station) and game variants (Hold'em, Omaha, Stud).

There are also terms specific to game strategies, such as "slow play", "bluff", "value bet", "check-raise", "equity", "outs" and "position". It's important to understand these terms and what they represent.

Finally, there are terms related to player behavior, such as "tilt" (when a player loses their composure and makes poor decisions) or "table talk" (conversations between players at the table).

In summary, understanding poker's specific vocabulary is essential to play the game well. It may take some time to get used to, but it's worth it to better understand poker as a whole.

What is rake in poker?

Rake is a term commonly used in the poker industry to describe the commission that a casino or poker site takes from each pot played. The rake is typically a percentage of the pot, usually between 2% and 10%, depending on the pot size and table limits.

Rake is a significant revenue source for casinos and online poker sites, and can represent a substantial portion of these businesses' profits. The rake also helps fund state taxes on poker in some countries (2% of rake capped at €1 per pot in France). That's why poker players need to be aware of rake's impact on their long-term results.

Rake can have a significant impact on a poker game's difficulty level. If the rake is high, it means players need to win more to make a profit. Consequently, many players prefer to play in games with lower rake or in tournaments where the rake is less significant.

It's also important to note that rake can differ depending on the type of poker game being played. For example, rake in cash games is typically higher than in poker tournaments. Online poker sites may also have different rake structures based on the game level, table limits, and number of players.

Ultimately, it's important for players to understand rake's impact on their game and seek game options with reasonable rake to maximize their long-term profits.

Rakeback: poker's equivalent of a loyalty card

Rakeback is a system for refunding a portion of the rake paid by players in poker games. Players who receive rakeback get back a percentage of the rake they've paid, allowing them to recover some of the money they've invested in the game.

Rakeback can be offered by online poker sites or poker affiliates who provide rakeback programs. The rake refund percentage can vary based on different factors, such as game level, table limits, and the amount of rake paid.

Rakeback can be an effective way for poker players to maximize their long-term profits by reducing rake costs and recovering some of their initial investment. However, it's important to note that rakeback isn't always available in all games or on all poker sites, and there may be specific requirements to meet to qualify.

Poker Streaming: A Revolution on Twitch

Poker has found new life on Twitch, where professional and amateur players stream their Poker games live.

This format allows viewers to dive into the strategic world of the game while interacting with streamers through real-time chat. Tips, analysis, and moments of suspense captivate a growing community, drawn by the unique combination of education and entertainment.