29 Mar
how_to_play_poker_card_game

How to Play Poker Card Game

Poker’s more than cards and chips – it’s about the thrill of bluffing, the rush of a winning hand, and outsmarting your opponents. This iconic card game has been around forever, bringing people together with its unique mix of luck and strategy.

Whether you’re a total newbie or a seasoned shark, this guide will unlock the secrets of poker. We’ll cover everything from the basics to sneaky strategies so you can raise your game and dominate the felt!

What You Need

  • 52-card deck
  • Betting tokens or coins

How to Play

Objective: To build the best, highest ranking hand possible using a combination of your own hand and community cards. You may achieve this by securing the best hand or bluffing your hand (typically through increasing bets) to force your opponent to fold.

Gambling or some form of betting is typically involved.

Setting Up The Game

First, you must have a dealer. This isn’t someone who is involved in playing the game (they won’t have their own hand), but will deal to players and manage the community cards.

At the beginning of a round, the pot (the money or tokens the winning player wins) is created. To do this, the player to the left of the dealer plays a small blind, say $1. The next player to the left pays the big blind, say $2.

You can set these blinds however you like, as this determines the stakes of the table. If you’re playing at home with family, using a poker chip set is advised to keep things fun and safe!

After the blinds have been put into the pot, each player is then dealt two initial cards, known as the “hole cards”. Each player will keep their hands hidden from the other players.

Betting Rounds & The Flop

Don’t worry about the technical language, we’ll keep this simple.

Starting with the player to the left of the big blind, in this case Player 1, each player has the chance to take an action.

These actions are;

  • Call – Match the big blind
  • Raise – Increase the size of the bet
  • Fold – Discard their hand and not play for the rest of the round

Once every player has “called”, the dealer will then deal the flop. These are three community cards that every player can use in their hand.

Another round of betting then takes place where players can call, raise, or fold their hand, which continues until every player has “called”.

On each turn, every player has the opportunity to call, raise, or fold.

Once every player has called on three cards, the dealer will play “The Turn”, in which they deal a fourth community card.

There’s another round of betting, calling, raising, or folding.

When every player has called again, the dealer will deal the “The River”. This is the fifth and final community card. There is only one final round of betting after this. When every player has called, the game moves into the showdown.

Poker Cheatsheet and Best Hands

Once all players have called, it’s time to reveal cards. If all players have folded and only one player remains, they win the pot as the last player folds.

If more than one player remains, they must show their hole cards and the hand they have, mixed with the community cards.

The player with the highest ranking hand wins. 

Winning hands include (starting with the lowest rank):

  • High Card – The player with the highest single value card
  • One Pair – Two cards with the same value, regardless of suit.
  • Two Pairs – Two sets of two cards with the same value, regardless of suit
  • Three of a Kind – Three cards of the same value
  • Straight – A run of five cards with a sequential running value regardless of the suit. (2,3,4,5,6)
  • Flush – Five cards of the same suit, regardless of order
  • Full House – Three cards with the same value plus two cards of the same value (three of a kind and a pair)
  • Four of a Kind – Four cards of the same value
  • Straight Flush – Five cards in order of the same suit
  • Royal Flush – The Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten of the same suit

Remember, you’re using the community cards to make your hand, so make sure you’re spotting the best possible combination. The player with the highest ranking hand wins the pot. The game then starts again from the beginning.

Tips and Strategies for Poker

Poker can be an incredibly complicated game. If you’re playing at home with family or friends, it’s a good idea to just sit back and play some hands. However, there’s a reason why people play in tournaments with pots worth millions of dollars. While it’ll take years of practice to be good at poker, here are some tips and ideas to point you in the right direction.

Beginner Fundamentals

  • Start Tight, Loosen Up Later: When you’re first learning, focus on playing premium starting hands (like pairs, high Aces, suited connectors). As you gain experience, you can expand the range of hands you play.
  • Know Your Hand Rankings: Memorize basic poker hand rankings (like straight flush beating a flush) to make quick, confident decisions.
  • Don’t Be Afraid to Fold: Folding weak hands saves you money in the long run. Better to lose a small pot than chase a hand unlikely to win.
  • Observe Your Opponents: Watch for betting patterns, nervous tells, or how long they take to act. This reveals clues to the strength of their hands.

Intermediate Techniques

  • Position is Power: Being in late position (acting last in a betting round) gives you information on your opponents. Use this to your advantage!
  • Bet with a Purpose: Don’t just bet randomly. Are you betting to get value from a strong hand? To bluff and make your opponent fold? Have a reason behind each action.
  • Pot Odds and Outs: Learn to do basic pot odds calculations. This helps you decide if it’s worth calling a bet based on the potential win versus the risk.
  • Don’t Tilt: Losses happen. Don’t get emotional and start playing recklessly – that’s a recipe for disaster.

Advanced Strategies

  • Balance Your Range: Don’t always play strong hands aggressively and weak hands passively. Mix it up to keep opponents guessing.
  • Table Image: Be aware of how opponents perceive you. Are you seen as a tight player or a loose cannon? Use this perception to your advantage.
  • Game Selection: Don’t just sit at any table. Seek out games with players at or slightly above your skill level to maximize your chances of winning.