Poker can be played in many ways - such is the popularity of the game. Despite the many variations, you can learn the basics of the game quite easily by playing 5-Card Draw - using it as your model.
You use all the cards in Poker - all 52 of them. All the 'face' cards (King, Queen, Jack) have great importance. The Ace scores the highest. In 5-Card Draw, the players get five cards that are handed out by the dealer, one at a time.
What is the best Poker hand?
Royal Flush - If you hold a sequence of five cards in the same suit from Aces downwards, you have the best possible hand.
Straight Flush - Any other sequence in the same suit outside the Royal Flush is called the Straight Flush or 'Straight'.
Four of a Kind - The highest cards are Four Aces
Full House - A set of three and then two cards, such as 3A and 2K
Flush - So long as the cards are from the same suit, they don't need a sequence.
Straight - Here the cards need a sequence but can be from different suits.
Three of a Kind - Top cards are 3A
Two Pair - Two doubles - like 2A and 2K
One Pair - One double - like 2A
High Card - Highest card (Ace) if nobody has anything better
Basic Rules
1) You get started by placing your stage into a central 'pot'. You then get your poker hand.
2) You see how many cards you want to exchange (up to limit of 3)
3) You will make one of these bids:
Open: Start bidding by saying 'Open'.
Check : This is what you say if you want somebody else to start the bidding.
See : You match other players' bids in order to stay in the game.
Raise : When you Raise your bet, you are saying 'I have a strong' hand and hopefully encourage other players to Fold.
Fold : If you have a weak hand, you will 'Fold' - leave the game and lose your initial stake
4) The time to change cards with the dealer is after you have received your first hand. 5) The winner is the player who gets a hand closest to a Royal Flush.
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