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POKER BASICS

The Basics of Poker

The game of Poker is a game that's played with cards and chips. It's very easy to learn, but can be hard to master because of all the possible variations. As you've prob seen there are many different kinds of poker games such as hold'em, omaha, and seven card stud and more.

Your cards can be dealt face up or even face down to the table. It depends on what type of poker game the players are playing. No matter how your cards are dealt to you, every player must try and make the best possible hand of five cards, from the cards they are allowed to use. To find out if one hand beats another hand, the hands are compared against a ranking (Poker Rankings) system used commonly in poker games.

The aim of any Poker Game is to win money by capturing the pot. By pot they mean the money or chips accumulated during the play of each hand / round of poker. The pot is placed in the middle of the table and once a player wins a round, the pot is then given to the winner.

During the round, a player makes a wager (bet) and places it in the pot. The player then hopes that he has the best hand out of five cards, or gives the impression that he holds a strong hand which is known as a bluff, to convince his opponents to fold (abandon) their hands.

Since money saved is just as valuable as money won, knowing when to release a hand (fold) that appears to be beaten is just as important as knowing when to bet.

There are 2 ways in which to win hands:

1) You show down (reveal) what you think is your best hand at the end of all the betting rounds. When 2 or more players are still active when all the betting rounds are done, they all turn their hands face up. The pot then goes to the player who holds the highest hand during this showdown.

2) All your opponents 'fold their hands' or more simply 'fold'. To fold means that a player abandons his or her claim to the pot by not matching an opponent's bet. Which In this case you may have had the best hand or you may have been bluffing. What ever the case it doesn't matter. When players surrender their claim to the pot, it's yours.

3) Most poker games require an ante or blind bet. If antes are used, every player places a small amount of cash into the pot in order to have cards dealt to them.

4) If blind bets are used, 1 or more players are designated to make a bet or portion of a bet before they receive any cards. This requirement usually rotates around the table so each player pays their fair share.

Every time a round of cards is dealt - The players have an opportunity to:

1) Either bet (be the first person to voluntarily put money or chips into the pot if they think they have a good hand),

2) Call - To match, rather than add to, a prior bet.

3) Raise - To call and then increase the prior bet.

4) Check - To refrain from betting, reserving the right to call or raise if another player bets.

5) Fold - Forfeit interest in the pot by releasing his or her hand. When a player folds a hand, they are not allowed to place any more money in the pot.

When a player bets or raises, and no other player calls, the pot then belongs to that player, the cards are collected and shuffled again. That round is then over, and another hand is dealt. If there are 2 or more players still active at the end of the hand, who ever has best hand wins the pot (money).