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The Rules of Poker

Introduction

Poker is probably the most popular card game in the world, played in numerous countries by people of all ages, for varying amounts of money.

Regardless of whether it is played for matchsticks at the kitchen table, in a friendly Friday night game, or by strangely dressed professional players who do nothing else but play poker for vast amounts of money, someone will always think they are a "good player".

The only way to find out how good you really are, is to play other "good players", and this is the place to find them.

But we are not all poker experts, so read on and learn the basics of the game.

All poker games use a standard 52 card deck, and the cards are ranked as follows: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, Ace. (Aces count as both high and low). There is no strength in the suits of the cards, they are equal, Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts and Spades.

The aim is to create the best five card hand possible out of the cards you are dealt, in accordance with the following ranking from high to low:

Royal Flush

The ultimate hand, the Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten of any one suit. The odds against this hand are 1 in 650,000 hands.

Straight Flush

A straight in one suit, i.e. five cards of the same suit in ascending order. 1 chance in 72,000 hands.

Four of a Kind

Four cards of the same value.
1 chance in 4,200 hands.

Full House

Three of a kind and a pair.
The three of a kind counts first.
1 chance in 700 hands.

Flush

Five cards of the same suit.
1 chance in 510 hands.

Straight

Five cards of assorted suits in ascending order.
1 chance in 250 hands.

Three of a kind

Three cards having the same face value.
1 chance in 48 hands.

Two Pair

Two sets of pairs.
1 chance in 21 hands.

One Pair

One pair of cards.
1 chance in 2.4 hands.

High Card

Highest card wins the hand in the event of none of the above hands being present. 1 chance in 2 hands.

The terminology used in these games would frighten even the strongest heart, but we have endeavoured to simplify it for you.

A-Z of commonly used terms in Poker games:


ALL-IN

When a player has insufficient poker chips to "call" the bet, he bets all of his chips and covers the current pot, any subsequent bets will be in a side pot and he will not be involved in this side pot. If his hand is the highest then he will win the main pot, but not the side pot.

BAD BEAT

This is a common term for when you have a really good hand and are beaten by a much better hand. Some poker rooms offer jackpot prizes for the best BAD BEAT hand, i.e. the best losing hand.

BIG BLIND

The player to the dealers left posts a small blind, (a compulsory bet) equal to half the small bet, the player to his left places the Big Blind, equal to the small bet.

BOARD

The community cards in flop games.

BUTTON

A disc that signifies who is the nominated dealer for this hand. The button moves clockwise (to the left), each hand.

CALL

This is a bet that matches the current bet.

CHECK

If no other bets have been made, you can check (pass), and wait to see if anyone else will bet. If everyone checks, then play moves to the next round.

COFFEEHOUSING

Distracting or deliberately misleading chatter during a poker game. Please note that Ladbrokespoker.com does not tolerate coffeehousing. Any reported instances will be investigated and may result in the suspension of chat facilities and accounts.

DEALER

The player nominated to be the dealer for each hand, he doesn't actually deal, but is the last one to bet, so it can be advantageous.

FISH

The weakest player on the table, the one who loses the most money. The famous saying is: " If you look around the table for the "Fish" and you can't find him, it's you and it's time to get out of this game".

FLOP

The first three community cards in Texas Holdem or Omaha Poker.

FOLD

To throw your cards in, i.e. to decide your hand is not worth playing anymore.

HOLE CARDS

The first two cards dealt face down to you, also known as "pocket cards" in Texas Holdem.

INITIAL DEAL

The first set of cards dealt to players before they have to make a decision.

KICKER

The high card that goes with a pair, two pair, three of a kind or four of a kind.

MUCKED CARDS

To throw your cards in without showing them to anyone.

NUTS

The best possible hand in any poker game. A hand that can not be beat, and should be bet aggressively.

POCKET CARDS

Same as Hole Cards.

POST

Usually a forced bet, like a blind, upon entering the poker game.

POT

The total of all the poker chips in the centre of the table, this is what we are all playing for.

RAKE

The money removed from each pot by the house, as a commission.

RAKED HAND

A hand where you bet into the pot and the house takes a rake

RAISE, RE-RAISE

A bet that will increase the level of the current bet.

RIVER

The last community card in a flop game, also refers to the last card in 7 Card Stud.

ROUNDS OF BETTING

A round of betting is complete when all players have had the opportunity to either fold, call or raise.

SHOW ALL

When betting is finished and the cards are required to be shown, to establish the highest hand.

SMALL BLIND

Refer to Big Blind.

TURN

The fourth community card in flop games.

UNDER RAISE

This occurs when a player raises a prior bet but has to go all-in to do so. If the player under-raising - going all-in to raise - has less than half of the expected raise for that betting round, the betting round is locked. The term locked here means that any player who has already acted in the round (checked, called, or raised) may no longer raise. They may only call or fold. However, players who have yet to act (betting has not reached them yet) may raise the expected raise for that betting round, after calling. If the under-raise is half or more than the expected raise, the lock rule does not apply.


So now that you know the basics, how about getting started.

Individual poker rules for each of our online poker games are available at How to Play.

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For more information on any of our online poker games, such as Texas Holdem Omaha Poker or Stud Poker please see Poker Games.

The full rules for each of our online poker games including Texas Holdem Rules, Omaha Poker Rules, Five Card Stud Rules, Seven Card Stud Rules, Omaha Hi-Lo Rules, Pot/No Limit Rules, Single Table Tournaments Rules and Multi Table Tournaments Rules can be found in Poker Rules.

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