An Introduction to Poker
Poker is one of the most popular card games around, be it in casinos or on the Internet. While there are numerous variants, the basic rules of the game can be stated briefly.
Any number of players can play poker, but the ideal number is usually five or more. Before the cards are dealt, the players decide on the "ante", that is, the amount of money that will be at stake. The pot money is usually represented by chips.
As the cards are dealt to each player (the number depending on the poker variation), the betting round begins. Once a player makes a bet, the others are required to "call" (match the bet), "raise" (put more chips on the table) or "pass". If a player passes he or she is out of that betting round and cannot partake of the pot. At the end of the final round, there will be a showdown if two players remain, whereby they must both show their cards. The player with the best poker hand wins the game.
"Bluffing" takes place when a player bets and no one makes a call, because in this case the bettor gets the pot money without revealing his cards. Thus it is entirely possible for a player with an inferior combination of cards to win it all.
As stated there are several poker variants. Among the most popular are Draw poker, Stud Poker and Texas Hold 'em.
In Draw poker players are dealt five cards, which can be replaced. The objective is to get the highest poker hand or combination. They are in, order: Royal Flush, ace, king, queen, jack and ten; Straight Flush, wherein the player has five cards of the same suit in sequence; Four of a Kind, consists of four cards of the same denomination. Next is Full House, three cards of one denomination and two of another; Two Pairs, two cards of one denomination and two of another, and One Pair, two cards of one denomination. Stud Poker has some similarities with Draw Poker, but the main difference is that in the former the cards are dealt one at a time and cannot be replaced.
Texas Hold 'em, currently one of the most popular poker variants, has different rules: here the players are given two cards (the hole or pocket cards) and using the community cards (common to all the other players) strive to make the best possible combination. In addition to the pot money there are also usually blind bets, one big and small. In tournament play, bets must be equal to the blind, and as the game progresses, go higher.
As with all poker variants, Texas Hold em ends when the other players have given up their stake in the pot or at the showdown, when the players, using the community cards and (if they so choose) his hole cards.
This represents only a tiny fraction of the poker variants out there. The best way to actually learn the game is to just go and play. So pick up those cards, call your friends and start dealing.
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