Poker Rules & Online Strategies

Poker is a unique card game that involves play, skill and strategy. Each of the variations of the game is accompanied by a bet, and the winner of each round is determined by the player’s card combinations.

Different variants of the poker game have a defined number of cards, the number of shared cards, betting procedures, as well as the number of hidden cards. In today’s poker tournaments, the first round of play begins with a “forced” bet by one or more players.

In most versions of the game, the two players to the left of the dealer must place their bets before the game begins. These are fixed amounts, which are usually small blind & big blind cards. However, in some versions, so-called antes must be set.

The amount that needs to be bet per small blind & big blind usually gets higher and higher as the game progresses. Also, the blinds move further to the left in each subsequent round, so sooner or later you have to pay this set ante.

Players rotate clockwise, with each player seeking to either match the previous bet or fold, forfeiting the accumulated bet amount and any future commitment in the tournament.

In a standard poker game, each player places a bet based on the value of his or her card relative to the other players in the tournament.

Once the blinds are posted, players are dealt their cards. In most versions, these are 2 playing cards, but in some cases they are 3, 4 or 5. Then, all players in turn have the option of placing their bets or suspending the round. The different options are:

  • Bet: To place a bet
  • Call: The poker player has placed a bet, you can place the same bet. This is referred to as a call.
  • Check: If you have already placed the current bet & it has not been raised by anyone, you can "check", i.e. proceed without raising the bet.
  • Raise: With Raise you can increase the current bet.
  • Fold: With Fold you discard your cards and thus leave the current game round
  • All-in: When a player bets all his chips, this is called an all-in.

Knowing the combinations in poker

Here are the details of the combinations in poker from the smallest to the biggest:

  • Pair: This is 2 similar cards.
  • Two Pair: This is 2 pairs of cards.
  • Three of a Kind: Three of a kind
  • Straight: 5 cards of different suits in sequence.
  • Flush: Five cards of the same suit (5 diamonds, 5 hearts, 5 spades or 5 clubs)
  • Full House: Three of a kind and one pair.
  • Diamonds: Four of a kind.
  • Straight Flush: 5 consecutive cards
  • Royal Flush: 5 consecutive high cards (Ace, King, 10, Queen, Jack, all of the same suit)

Poker rules in general are not difficult to understand, just like Blackjack. Depending on which version you choose, they may vary. For this reason, you should always pay close attention to which version you choose so that there are no misunderstandings.