Poker

POKER – Everything You Need to Know

Betting in Poker

The first round of betting begins with a player making a mandatory bet. This bet is also known as a blind (ante). In order to be fair, usually players rotate turns acting as first to bet. Next, players generally bet an amount corresponding to the strength of their hand. For example, a strong hand might get a higher bet, while a weak hand might not. Then, going clockwise, each player must match the previous bet (call) or fold. Consequently, when a player folds, they lose any amount they bet. That player can also NOT participate anymore in making a hand.

Poker – The Game of Skill

Furthermore, a player who matches a bet may also increase (raise) it. Only after every single player has either made a call, raise, or fold, can the betting round end. Since a player can win with any hand, this causes the argument that poker is a game of skill, not just luck. For example, if all other players fold at any given time, the last player standing wins the pot. However, most of the time you will have 2 (or more) players go head-to-head in what is known as the showdown. At this point, after the final round of betting, remaining players must show their hands. Finally, the player who has the highest ranking hand wins the pot.

Psychology and Probability

A player puts money into the pot when they either believe they have a strong hand or they want to bluff other opponents. The exception is the mandatory bet (blinds) made initially by the first player(s). The ability to place bets adds psychological aspects to the game which go beyond probability. Consequently, players can develop skills to understand their opponents and win with their actions rather than luck. Today, you can find hundreds of books about poker, watch poker tournaments broadcast on TV, and play poker 24/7 online. Some individuals can make a living playing poker. There are also tournament prizes that range in the millions of dollars.

Casino Card Dealers

However, a casino (house) dealer always deals the cards. There is also a button that similarly rotates clockwise among the players. This only helps indicate the order of betting. At this point, cards are normally dealt clockwise one at a time around the table.

Taking Turns

Usually the first one or two players make a forced bet. This is an ante, or blind bet. Next, the dealer shuffles the cards, and then has the player to his right cut the deck. Now the dealer gives each player one card clockwise starting with the player to his left. The dealer repeats handing out cards until each player has the same amount of cards. Almost all poker variants require the cards to be dealt face-down. However, their can be a few poker games where cards are dealt face-up. In either case, the betting rounds can begin after the initial deal.

Into the Pot

Players can build the most powerful hand by either being dealt extra cards or replacing cards previously dealt between rounds of betting. At this point, all of the players’ bets go into one main pot after each consecutive round. So the pot gets bigger until there are no opposing players to match (call) the last player to bet. Consequently, the hand ends if all of the other players fold. The last player to bet then wins the pot. Now a new hand can begin. The most important thing to note is that the winning player’s hand is NOT revealed. This means that a poker player can win on a bluff rather than the highest ranking poker hand. Therefore, bluffing in poker is the main feature that makes it unique compared to any other contending card games.

Final Showdown

Unless of course more than one player remains at the end of the final betting round, then you have a showdown. Now the remaining players must show their cards to prove who has the strongest hand at the table. Finally, here is when the player with the best ranking hand wins the pot. A poker hand is made up of five cards. Keep in mind different variations of poker will have separate outcomes. For example, some poker variants will only count the best five-card combination, but might have more than five cards available to pick.

Here are just four main groups of variants identified by the protocol of betting and card-dealing:

Draw Poker

Players are first dealt a full hand of cards face down. Next, after betting, each player can exchange any card or cards for new ones. Players then hope to make a stronger hand with the new cards. The most popular version of this method is Five-card draw.

Stud Poker

In this poker variation, cards are dealt in a specific face-up and face-down combo (streets). Rounds of betting follow each hand or sometimes between each round of single cards dealt. The most popular example is seven-card stud. In this case, each player gets 2 extra cards which consist of four face-up and three face-down. As a result, each player can select five out of the seven cards to make the best 5-card hand.

Straight Poker

Also known as Primero, or three-card brag. Players bet in one round after they each receive a complete hand. Then players can raise and/or re-raise their bets. Small adjustments to rules are made for further strategy to develop.

Community Card Poker

This is like Stud poker, except all players can choose to use all, some, or none of the face-up cards dealt to the center table. Players can then make a strong hand by combining their incomplete hand of face-down cards with any combination of face-up community cards. This version, sometimes called ‘Flop Poker’, is the most popular of the 4 variations. Probably the two most significant games are Omaha, and the #1 poker game in America, Texas Holdem.

Video Game Poker

Any other game that uses hand rankings and is not under the above 4 categories just falls under the generic ‘poker’ category. This is the case for any single player playing video poker. In this case, almost all poker video game devices utilize Draw Poker. For example, the player bets, gets a hand dealt, then discards and replaces cards. Keep in mind that even legal and certified software is rigged to take an average percentage FROM you, over time of course. Always play video poker (or any other type slot machine) with intentions for entertainment, NOT to end with a positive net win of cash! Anyways, payouts on these electronic games depend on how much you bet and possibly how strong your hand is.

Secondly, you will learn the following poker techniques:

• Learn how to use emotions against opponents with our Texas Holdem Tips.
• Discover the one key difference between live and online poker players.
• Realize your actual skill level with our ultimate Omaha Poker Tips.
• Uncover critical must-have cards with our easy 3 Card Poker Tips.
• Understand 4 simple questions to dominate with our Advanced Poker Tips.
• Observe 3 possible timing tells to win 7% more games with our Tips for Online Poker.
• Find exactly how tight you should play and when with Tournament Poker Tips.
• Recognize the roll of your bankroll and how to leverage it with Cash Game Poker Tips.
• Learn about the #1 mistake all newbies make with our Poker Tips for Beginners.