Welcome to Basic Poker Rules

Poker 101: Learning the Basic Rules for Poker Games

There are many different types of poker, which can make it difficult for the novice player to learn the rules. With such games as Texas Hold 'Em, Omaha style, Five Card Stud, Seven Card Draw, and who knows how many others, there are tons of different rules involved. The best way to learn the game is simply by playing. Of course, it is better to start off playing for pennies than for big money, but very little beats actual experience. It is understandably the easiest and fastest way to really pick up on the game. This is where playing poker online can come in handy. There are a variety of sites which will allow you to practice at tables that do not require actual money bets – PokerStars, for example. It is an enormous room, which is said to be particularly beneficial to beginners who are trying to learn their way around a poker table.

Of course, it is first important to understand the ins and outs of the game itself. At its most basic point, poker requires the players to wager money based on both how strong and how valuable their hands are. This in turn is based against the standard hierarchy used to determine how strong a hand is. In order to win a hand of poker, the player must either show the highest, or best, combination of cards, or else must be the only person left in play, as in the last person putting money into the pot. The pot is the pile of chips to which all the players in play must contribute. Wagers, raises, and antes go into the pot. Although there are dozens of different games of poker, most of them work pretty much the same. Several rounds are played, during which betting occurs; it comes down to a showdown between however many players are left in the game, during which they much present their hands and compare their cards. In some cases, the dealer lays out shared cards.

All told, poker is a relatively simple game, at least if you are willing to learn it. It does however take a lot of practice to become an expert at it. The best way to do so is to learn, first of all, the way each hand is ranked. Naturally you also have to remember that winning depends on having the best combination of cards.

The Basics of Betting and Playing

Texas Hold 'Em is probably the most popular variation of poker. For a more comprehensive look at what it entails, check out the glossary. Otherwise, let's take a look at some basic rules and strategies as they apply to playing and betting in this particular variation.

In this game, as in most others, you play in a clockwise motion, beginning with the player who is sitting beside the dealer's button. Thus, those two players who are located on the dealer's left have to wager a big and small blind, respectively. A blind is simply another word for a bet; however, in this case, the bet is made even though the players have not looked at their cards. Indeed, their cards may not even have been dealt to them yet. The purpose here is to not only begin the betting, but also to build up the pot. After this point, the players are dealt their hold cards. The cards are delivered face down. The player located just to the left of the player who wagered the big blind begins with the opening bet.

Calling, Raising, and Folding

Now, let's talk about the fundamentals of calling, raising the bet, and folding your hand. Once the game has commenced, players have several options. They can call, which means that they wager an amount that matches the big blind. They can also raise the bet – meaning, that they just raise the amount bet. They can also fold, which means that they simply give their hand back to the dealer and do not participate in that particular round of play any longer. Again, the players call, raise, or fold in a clockwise motion. This goes on until all the participants have either placed or matched an equal sum of money and put it into the pot, or until everyone has folded. After the play is finished, then the dealer deals the community cards.

The Flop

At this point, we really need to talk about those community cards. In this particular game, the community cards are three cards, which are dealt facing upward. The players use these cards in comparison with their own. The aim is to build the best hand they can between their cards and those located in the community cards.

Checking, Raising, and Folding

Another round occurs after the community cards are dealt. The following rounds entail the players being able to check, which basically means that they can make a bet equal to nothing while remaining in the pot. They can also either raise or fold. However, if a player raises, then the person who goes after them is unable to check, leaving them to make a choice between calling, raising, or folding. After this round, one more community card gets laid down.

Understanding the Turn

Once the fourth community card goes down, it's time for another round of wagers. Again, the players remaining have the option of checking, calling, raising, or folding. At this point, the dealer lays down the last community card.

Understanding the River

At this point, the last round of wagers take place. Once more, the remaining players have the option of checking, calling, raising, or folding.

Understanding the Showdown

Now, as long as there are at least two players remaining in the game and in the pot, then all the players left have to say and show what they are holding. The win goes to the player with the five best cards between his hand and the community cards. Once the showdown is over, the cards are all recollected, and everything – dealer disk, and the players responsible for the big and small blind – move one spot clockwise. The big and small blinds are made, the cards get shuffled, and another hand is dealt.

The one thing to remember here is that if all the people playing except one folds during the game, then the one player who hasn't folded gets the pot. He or she is not responsible for showing his or her hand.

More Information

The aforementioned rules apply to Texas Hold 'Em – the version with virtually no limits. However, as stated, that is not the only version of poker out there, so check out some additional tips, tidbits, and techniques.

Everything Else You Ever Wanted to Know about Poker

There is really no telling when poker originated; its history is not particularly clear. From what can be found, the game is an evolution of many other card based games, a number of them originating from places such as France, England, Germany, and Poland. The game of poker as we know it today probably developed during the first half of the twentieth century. Thanks to poker games and tournaments on television plus the ability to play the game on the Internet, it has recently gained enormous popularity.

Today, it is possible to play a poker game practically anywhere. You can do it out in the real world, whether you play at a buddy's house or visit a casino. You can also play it online, where there are poker rooms like those found at PokerStars, PartyPoker, and Full Tilt Poker. Upwards of thousands of players frequent such rooms every single day. Not only are these rooms extremely convenient, but they also have the added advantage of giving players a number of different betting limits. It is also because of poker games being televised that Texas Hold 'Em is probably the most popular variation being played right now.

Online Poker

A lot of people enjoy the comfort and convenience of playing poker on the Internet. You get to play against a number of different types of people at different skill levels, and the limits are practically limitless. There is also no limit on the time of day or night you are able to play. All you really need is a computer and halfway decent access to the Internet. You will either be able to bet real money or to play in a real time game without wagering real money – for practice, of course.

Bricks and Mortar

B&M poker games – otherwise known as Bricks and Mortar; otherwise known as live poker – are, as the name implies, live rooms. The games here go slower than the majority of other poker rooms on the Internet. The dealer actually shuffles the cards and deals them manually. The players do the same when counting out and moving their chips. The limits tend to be bigger as well, but you can still find plenty of games for novices. However, it is generally safer and much less pressured for a beginner player to start off in an online room before moving to a live game. Of course, you can also find low pressure games in bars, clubs, and places of that nature.

Understanding the Players

A game of poker can have any different number of players. When it is a head's up game, there are two players. However, a game can have as many as ten players. In some tournaments, there is no limit to the number of players who can be in on the game, though they may be scattered over a number of tables.

The Structure of the Game

You can play poker in a cash game or a tournament, which generally requires an entrance fee, or buy-in, which has been set beforehand. In a tournament, every player starts out with an equal number of chips. The entrance fee is used to comprise the prize pool and any fees that have to be paid to the venue. The last player remaining wins, although that person does not win the entire pool. Typically, the winner receives fifty percent of the pool; thirty percent goes to the second place winner, and twenty percent goes to the third runner up. Of course, all of this depends on the individual tournament.

On the other hand, cash games take place at a single table. These games can go on for as long as players are in the game and seated. The blinds are constant. However, participating players can join the game or leave at will. The amount of money players can play is likewise variable.

Some tournaments are known as sit-n-go. These tournaments start when all of the seats at a particular table are taken. They end as soon as a single player remains. In most tournaments, the blinds raise at regular levels. It encourages speed play.

Understanding Betting Limits

There are three different kinds of betting limits: fixed limits; pot limits; and no limits. Fixed limits involve the players betting a fixed, set amount of money each time they raise the bet. Pot limits are capped and limited to the size of the pot itself. This means it can grow or decline with little warning. No limit is just that – players can pretty much bet whatever amount they like. Typically, any betting minimums coincide with the big blind amount. During tournaments, both of these amounts go up steadily as the game continues. Sometimes during a tournament, the ante is introduced. All the players have to make this kind of blind bet before they are dealt their hands.

Again, it is important to remember that these rules apply to Texas Hold 'Em. Different kinds of poker have different rules, patterns, betting limits, et cetera.

So hey, don't waste anymore time – go check out some poker rooms online, and start learning!