Free poker

Poker Rules What is poker? No definition of poker could possibly satisfy everyone despite the majority of games sharing the same common features. Poker is played in cardrooms (mostly within casinos) across the world, home games (illegal in some areas) and more recently on the internet. Cardrooms and Internet poker consist of mostly stud, draw and flop games. Among the most popular are Texas Hold 'Em, Seven & Five Card Stud, Omaha High, Omaha High/Low and Razz. Home games however, have what seems hundreds of different poker varieties, some of which if you saw played you may struggle to call poker! In recent times Texas Hold 'Em has become the most popular poker game whereever cards are dealt. TV coverage has highlighted the beautiful simplicity of the game which only takes a minute to learn but (to quote one famous poker commentator) a lifetime to master. The players The number of players can range from two (known as heads-up) up to ten for single table tournaments and cash games. Multi-table tournament numbers are not limited unless specified by the tournament organiser and can often have fields of over 1000 players. Typically for a ten player tournament the first three players share the prize money, usually 50% for 1st, 30% for 2nd and 20% for 3rd. Poker Hands Almost every game is played with one deck of 52 playing cards. For the more popular game of Texas Hold 'Em, here are the hand rankings from best to worst. Royal Flush Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten - of the same suit. Straight Flush Nine, Ten, Jack, Queen, King (best straight flush) though to Ace, Two, Three, Four, Five (worst straight flush) - of the same suit. 4 of a kind Any four matching cards. Full House Has two of a kind and three of a kind in the same hand, for example - Queen, Queen, Ace, Ace, Ace. Flush Any five cards of the same suit. Straight Any five connecting cards, for example - Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight. 3 of a kind Any three matching cards. Two pairs for example - Ace, Ace, King, King. A pair Any two matching cards. High card The highest card in your hand. Texas Holdem Rules Texas Hold'em is a game that's simple to learn. Of course mastering it is another thing altogether. In Limit Holdem: There are limits set on the betting. These limits are clearly marked, and become part of the name of the table. For instance, there are $2/$4 tables, $3/$6 tables, and online there might be $.25/$.50 tables. The first two betting rounds use the smaller size bets ($2 at the $2/$4 tables), and the second two betting rounds use the larger sized bet. The game begins with one player being marked as the dealer (whether or not they actually deal the cards). The two players to the left of the dealer each post "blind" bets. They're called blind bets becasue the players make them before they get to see their cards. The first player bets an amount equal to half of the opening round bet size (the small blind), the second player bets an amount equal it (the big blind). Cards are then dealt, two to each player, faced down (their hole cards). The opening round of betting takes places, starting with the player to the left of the big blind. Players either fold their cards, call (or match) the bet, or raise. This continues until every player has either folded, or contributed to the pot equally. Usually the bets are capped at four per round, so there may be a bet, a raise, a re-raise, and a final re-raise. No more cards are dealt until each player is contributing to the pot equally. Now the flop comes. The dealer places three cards across the middle of the table, face up. All players share the cards across the middle of the table, and may use them along with their hole cards to make the best hand possible. Beginning with the player to the left of the dealer, another round of betting takes place. The lower bet size is used for this round. Another card is dealt face up in the middle. This fourth community card is called the "turn" card. Beginning with the player to the left of the dealer, another round of betting takes place. This time, the higher bet size is used. So at a $2/$4 table, bets and raises during this round would be in increments of $4. The final card is dealt, known as the "river" card. Once again, beginning with the player to the left of the dealer, a round of betting takes place. The higher bet size is used. Once all players have contributed to the pot equally, the showdown takes place. Players turn their cards over, and the player with the highest hand wins. In No-Limit Holdem: The betting sizes are not controlled, and players may bet or raise as much as they wish. There is no cap to the number of raises or re-raises per betting round. Also, the minimum bet amounts do not increase on the "turn" or "river" card betting rounds. Each betting round has a minimum bet that is equal to the big blind. The first game, step by step Assuming you are playing a ten player tournament (know as Sit N Go) on the internet: 1.Once the ten places are taken, the game will begin and you will be given a seat. 2.The play begins after the dealer button (marked 'D') with two players making blind bets, the small blind and the big blind. 3.Two cards are dealt to each player. The player immediately after the big blind is first to act. 4.When it is your turn you have the choice to call, raise or fold. If you are the small blind you have already placed half of the amount needed in your blind bet to see any more cards, if you are the big blind you have already placed the amount needed to see the flop unless a player raises before it is your turn. If there is a raise you have the choice to re-raise, call or fold. 5. The Flop: Three community cards are dealt face up. Every player at the table who didn't fold before the flop can now use these cards to help their hand, there is another round of betting at this stage. If nobody bets you can simply check and see the next card without placing any more money into the pot. A bet must be called or raised if you wish to see the next card, otherwise you must fold. 6.The Turn: A fourth community card is dealt face up. Again, every player still in the hand can check, bet, call, raise or fold depending on the actions of others. 7.The River: A fifth and final community card is dealt face up. Here we see the last betting action. If a bet is made by one player and called by another, both players must turn over their cards and the winner is decided. 8.If at any stage a bet is made but not called, the person betting takes the whole pot, this person has the choice to show his cards or simply pass them back to the dealer (known as mucking) 9.Once the winner is decided, a new hand starts, the dealer button is moved one place clockwise. The blinds will increase usually after a set period of time. 10.After the final person is eliminated, the prize money is shared out and the game is complete.

Poker Rules

The players

Poker Hands

Almost every game is played with one deck of 52 playing cards. For the more popular game of Texas Hold 'Em, here are the hand rankings from best to worst.

Royal Flush Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten - of the same suit.

Straight Flush Nine, Ten, Jack, Queen, King (best straight flush) though to Ace, Two, Three, Four, Five (worst straight flush) - of the same suit.

4 of a kind Any four matching cards.

Full House Has two of a kind and three of a kind in the same hand, for example - Queen, Queen, Ace, Ace, Ace.

Flush Any five cards of the same suit. Straight Any five connecting cards, for example - Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight.

3 of a kind Any three matching cards.

Two pairs for example - Ace, Ace, King, King.

A pair Any two matching cards.

High card The highest card in your hand.

Texas Holdem Rules

Texas Hold'em is a game that's simple to learn. Of course mastering it is another thing altogether.

In Limit Holdem:

In No-Limit Holdem:

The first game, step by step

Assuming you are playing a ten player tournament (know as Sit N Go) on the internet:

1.Once the ten places are taken, the game will begin and you will be given a seat.

2.The play begins after the dealer button (marked 'D') with two players making blind bets, the small blind and the big blind.

3.Two cards are dealt to each player. The player immediately after the big blind is first to act.

6.The Turn: A fourth community card is dealt face up. Again, every player still in the hand can check, bet, call, raise or fold depending on the actions of others.

7.The River: A fifth and final community card is dealt face up. Here we see the last betting action. If a bet is made by one player and called by another, both players must turn over their cards and the winner is decided.

8.If at any stage a bet is made but not called, the person betting takes the whole pot, this person has the choice to show his cards or simply pass them back to the dealer (known as mucking)

9.Once the winner is decided, a new hand starts, the dealer button is moved one place clockwise. The blinds will increase usually after a set period of time.

10.After the final person is eliminated, the prize money is shared out and the game is complete.