Beginners Guide to Poker

For the beginner, the game is normally played with a deal of five cards down alternatively to each player and is the original way of playing poker. A round of betting occurs then the blind draws. Then another round of betting or folds occurs. The best hand wins. Keep in mind that the Ace is unique in every hand, because it can be used as a one or the Crown of the King. So, it can be used as A, 2, 3, 4, 5 for a low straight or straight flush if they're all the same suit and it can be used like A, K, Q, J, 10 for the highest straight or Royal Flush if they're all the same suit, but in cases where the hand is tie, Ace would be considered the highest kicker card or tie-breaker.

Hands from highest to lowest are:

FIVE OF A KIND-Five matching number cards, normally if a joker is involved and it's only good with Aces. At some poker tables, rules tend to alter a little when the joker is included in the play. I've seen a joker used with four of a kind other than Aces, but typically, it's only Aces.

ROYAL FLUSH-This is usually the best hand on professional tables because Jokers aren't involved anyway. (A, K, Q, J, and 10 of the same suit)

FOUR OF A KIND-Any four matching numbers (Ace spades, Ace hearts, Ace clubs, A diamonds)

STRAIGHT FLUSH (any five consecutive numbers of the same suit other than a Royal Flush, i.e. K, Q, J, 10, 9, etc. of the same suit)

FULL HOUSE-3 matching numbers with 2 other matching numbers (A, A, A, K, K)

FLUSH-Five cards all of the same suit and not in numerical order

STRAIGHT-Five cards with consecutive numbers of different suits

TRIPS-The short version of "Triple" meaning any three cards of the same number (A, A, A, K, Q)

TWO PAIR-Two sets of matching numbers (A, A, K, K, Q)

PAIR-Any two matching numbers (A, A, K, Q, J)

Highest hands are deemed by the next best number, so the higher the number in your hand, the better your chances are. Remember that the Ace is considered a high card in this regard.

That's just the basics of playing poker. The good stuff is that the game had been altered in different ways with different rules to make playing exciting, but still won in the same fashion. I have played games called, "Red Dog", "Four by four", "Baseball", "Follow the Queen" and other colorful names. There are some games where the lowest hands are the best hands, like Omaha Hi/Lo, Wheel, or Season.

The world favorite, however, is Texas Hold 'Em. This game is played where every player is dealt two cards down and five community cards are dealt face up for all to determine the best hand.

After the two home cards are dealt to each player, a round of betting or folding occurs, the "Flop" (the first three community cards face up) comes, then another round of betting or folding, then the "Turn" (one community card), then another round of betting or folding, and finally the "River" (the last community card). Another round of betting or folding occurs and each player uses their two home cards with any combination of the community cards. The betting only builds momentum and the rush of adrenaline is felt when the all-in moment happens.

Learning to play like a pro takes time and patience and you can't win overnight. Professional Poker players have either played poker over a couple of years before they got to where they are. Many of them will say it's the luck of the draw, but like Kenny Rogers song "The Gambler", "You have to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away, and know when to run..."

The "Blinds" are the pot insurance, every player gets a turn to contribute to the "Big Blind" and the "Small Blind" to ensure that there are no free loaders on the table. The Big Blind is the minimum bet for the pot and the Small Blind is half of that and is usually taxed on the player behind the Big Blind. During a tournament, the blinds prevent "Sleepers" or "Sitters" from maintaining their chip stack toward the end. Many call it a coward's play because they don't bet or play any hand and wait it out until the very end, which is unfair to other players.

The "Ante" is taxed on every player at the beginning of every hand, but this normally occurs when the tournament field gets smaller and the chip stack of players are over a certain amount. This also prevents "Sitters" that actually make it to the higher tables because it will eventually suck their chip stack during every round.

Bluffing is the hardest maneuver to accomplish, because you can't ever tell what your opponent has and if you start calling bets that you can't cover later, you might as well throw in the towel. Online poker makes it hard to tell who's bluffing and who isn't because you have the player who shows their hand after a bluff and there are those that don't show at all. Every player has a technique in cashing in on the pot. Some checks it all the way to the River and some bet it all-in before the Flop. To be a good player and to last long, play it slow and don't call it until you have a hand that you can win, feel your opponents out and notice their calls and bets during rounds.

Beware of the "heavy better". He or She is the person who bets heavily after you check and you're thinking he/she has a good hand, but in the end you had better home cards than they did, take notes. Beware of the "checker" during each round and calls your bets or "raises". Some players call all-in as a bluff, because it does normally chase everyone off the bet, but be careful when doing so. Someone might just have the better hand. You will occasionally meet up with the cautious player that only plays good home cards and is easier to bluff, but don't be too greedy with bluffing them, because like all poker players, they know how to read the cards.

As a poker player, on real tables and online, I have seen a variety of mixed techniques in players and still rely on gut instinct when calling and betting. Learn the game first by playing online with free chips. Call it practicing. For every round, call the minimum bets unless another player wants to raise, then you have to determine if you want to call it or fold it. If you are hold high cards or high pairs, it's safe to call their raise. The community cards determine your destiny. If you're the gutsy type and happen to get good "home" cards like a KQ suited or otherwise, go for it. Learn to read the flop. If you don't catch anything matching your home cards, chances are, you might not catch it at all. Don't "chase" the hand. Chasing your connection is betting heavily during each turn on home cards that don't connect with the community cards at the flop even if you need one more card to make a straight or flush. It's a risky bet for the beginner. If you have the chips to spare, then by all means, but not when you can't cover it for next round.

When you start building technique, then you can advance to Free roll tourneys to test your mettle and endurance. If you feel comfortable with that and start winning free roll tournaments then make small money bets. Poker Stars and Absolute Poker are two of my favorite online poker sites. They offer different ways to enter tables from free tournaments to .01 in real money bets. Who knows, you just very well may be the next Poker Champion! Good Luck!