Basic Poker Rules for a Win

Here's a simple way of playing and winning at poker. Basic rules for an easy win.

Poker uses a bunch of 52 cards, although some poker games use several bunches more. Some poker variants add in some joker cards. Poker cards are ranked in the following order, from low to high: ace (used as a 1), two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, jack, queen, king, ace (as an 11). An ace is often considered a high card, though when used as a 1 it is considered a low card in poker. The different poker suits are heart, diamond, spade, and clover. Poker cards are dealt in fives; five cards are called a hand.

Some poker games employ the use of a "wild card." The value and suit of wild cards will depend on the holder, on what ever will get him a win at poker. Jokers are often used as wild cards. Poker hands (5 cards) are ranked or valued as follows: the highest ranked is a five of a kind (example 5 kings, one is a wild card), a straight flush (example 3, 4, 5, 6, 7), four of a kind (example 4, 4, 4, 4, and a wild card), a full house (example 3 kings and two pairs), a flush (example all 5 cards are spade), a straight (example 4, 5, 6, 7, 8), three of a kind, two pair, a pair, and a high card.

Betting in poker is done after making an "ante." Ante is some sort of a poker registration fee. After the ante, the players get the right to be dealt with cards. Then the betting follows---everything into the center of the poker table called the "pot." The poker player with the highest hand and has not folded the cards wins everything in the pot.

During betting (which is often in a clockwise order), a poker player may call, raise, or fold. A call means if the last bet was $3 and a player had just bet $1, that player may call to match the bet and put in $2 more. A raise is when, after a call a player would like to raise the bet some dollars more. A fold is when a player decides the card held is no good and quits that particular game. The player need not place any bet in the pot. The raises and the bets continue until everyone calls or folds.

Poker rules are as easy as sit, register, check the cards, bet, and win.