Poker is the truly American card game, with a history that goes back to the days Of the Mississippi riverboats and the saloon gambling of the Wild West. It remains one of the most popular card games in North America, but one of the less popular games in casinos.  Poker, even more than blackjack, is a game where the outcome is determined not only by cards dealt but by the skill of the player. This intimidates many from even sitting down at the poker tables of a casino where everyone else looks like an expert.  However poker is not difficult to learn and can be very entertaining to both play and watch.

    In casinos where poker is offered, there are two ways in which to win - either by having the highest hand at the table or by bluffing (giving a false impression of your cards) so that everyone else folds (throws in their cards).  In some casinos, there are also different versions of the game, including: draw, stud, seven-card stud, high-low and low ball.  Various poker versions are also offered as speciality games.  These include: pai gow, let it ride, hold 'em, Omaha and Caribbean stud poker

    It is best to learn basic five-card draw poker first.  The other games can best be learned from the casino guides since the rules vary from location to location.  This page will define the rules of basic stud poker and offer a few strategies and odds to help you improve your chances of winning.
 

POKER HANDS

    The cards in a hand of poker do not have any point value, but they have a ranking order with an ace being the highest, king the second highest, queen the third highest and so on.  The ace can also be counted as a 1 for straights or straight flushes.  Hands in poker have a ranking order, as well, which goes like this (from highest rank to lowest):

I. Royal flush - A, K, Q, J and 10 of the same suit (for example, all  
   diamonds)
2. Straight flush - five consecutive cards of the same suit (for example, 
    3, 4, 5, 6, 7 all in hearts). if two players have a straight flush, the one 
    with the highest cards wins.
3. Four of a kind - four cards of the same rank (for example, four 9's).    
     With four of a kind, 4 aces make the highest hand, followed by 4 kings
    and so on.
4. Full house - three of a kind with a pair (for example, three 5's, and two
    8's)
5. Flush - any flve cards of the same suit (for example, the Q, 4, A, 9 and
    7 of clubs)
6. Straight - any five consecutive cards not in the same suit (for example,
    7, 8, 9, 10, J of different suits)
7. Three of a kind - three cards of the hand with the same rank (for
    example, three 7s plus any two additional cards)
8. Two pair - Two separate pairs of identically ranked cards plus an 
    additional card (for ex-ample, two 8's, two Q's and an additional card)
9. One pair - one pair of identically ranked cards plus three additional 
    cards (for example, two J's and three additional cards)
10. NO Pair - all five cards are odd and not of one suit (for example, A, 9,
      3, 6, 1 0 not of the same suit)

    If a tie occurs between two separate hands, the winner is decided by taking into account the ranking of individual cards.  For example, if there are two full houses on the table, the winner must be decided by looking at the rankings of individual cards within the full houses.  If one full house contains three queens and two 6's, and the other contains three 9's and two 3's, the first full house would win because the queens outrank the 9's.
 

PLAYING BASIC POKER

    Before the cards are dealt, an ante is placed by all who wish to play.  The ante is a small amount of money wagered prior to getting the cards.  It is usually a percentage of the minimum bet at the table, and it is there to make the game a little more exciting.  The minimum bet varies from casino to casino but the standard is a $5 minimum wager.

    Next, the deck is shuffled by the dealer and then cut.  Five cards are dealt face-down and in clockwise motion, starting from the player sitting directly to the left of the dealer.  After all have their cards, the rounds of betting start.

    There are various numbers of betting rounds depending on the type of poker game being played.  In hold 'em poker, there are four rounds to place bets, while in seven-card stud, there are seven rounds of betting.  Be sure to find out how many rounds of betting are offered prior to playing because the numbers vary from game to game.

    Betting starts with the player directly to the left of the dealer.  This player can either check, bet or bow out of that hand by throwing the cards in the middle of the table.  When a person checks, no money is wagered, and the play is passed on to the next player.  This person, if he/she desires, can also place a bet which others must match (called "calling").  Now, the next player has several options.  He can:

Check or pass - stay in the game without wagering (only if no bets have
  been made to this point)

Call - match the most recent wager by placing the amount, in chips, in front of him

Raise - match the most recent wager and increase it by whatever amount seems desirable

Fold - quit the game, because he feels his hand is insufficient to win

    After a bet has been raised, all other players in the game must match that current wager (thereby "calling" the bet), or keep raising or fold.

    There is usually a limit of three raises per round of betting.  When all rounds of betting are complete, the remaining players expose their hands and the player with the highest-ranked hand takes the pot.  The pot includes all wagers thrown in the middle of the table, including the ante from every player.

    Bluffing is sometimes an important feature of casino poker usually because it's overdone.  Top-level poker players rarely bluff, amateurs do it all the time, regardless of whether it fools other players to throw in their cards.

    One experienced player says, "The only time to bluff is when you're up against only one player, and the guy has given some clue that he missed the draw he wanted.  Then a strong bet might just add to his disgust and make him  throw in his cards." This kind of strategy will work for a hand or two, but sooner or later a bluffer gets figured out - and ends up losing.  It's usually best to play straight-up.
 

HOT TIP
Position yourself, if possible, directly to the right of the dealer.  This will give you the opportunity to wager last and thus see how everyone else bet.  Why is this important?
Because you can sometimes formulate how good a chance your hand has of winning from viewing how the other players bet.
 

    Because the casino does not have a player playing on its behalf (as in blackjack), the casino makes its money from this game by keeping a small percent of each pot.  This money is called the "rake" and it differs from casino to casino.  In Canada, it is usually five percent of the pot.  In games where huge amounts of money are wagered, the rake is dropped and a fixed hourly fee is implemented on the table.

    Casinos provide a number of staff people to keep the poker games in operation.  First, there is a dealer who is "in the box" for about half an hour before moving on to another table.  Second, there is a brush who takes care of several tables, looking after drinks and coffee.  Third, there are sometimes chip runners, especially in Las Vegas, who will go to the cage to get chips for you.  Overseeing everything are the floorpersons who handle general arrangements and any disputes that come up during a game.

    The rake of five percent of wmning hands means that the casino is slowly and constantly taking your money away from you.  While you could also play poker at home or with your neighbors, a casino provides a good, legal and safe place to play the game one where skill greatly increases your chances to win.

WATCH YOUR FELLOW PLAYERS

    Poker is a game where the quality of your opponents (fellow players) matters a great deal.  There is strategy and skill involved; there will be winners and losers.  Strong players show a certain confidence; tend to win the pot when they stay in the game; and their eyes see everything that's going on.  Weak players, or "fish" will keep playing against another player with an obvious flush or full house, or keep in the game no matter what, hoping for a miracle card to rescue their hand.  Obviously you'll do better playing a table of "fish" than trying to beat a table of "sharks."
 

SEVEN-CARD STUD

    This is one of the most popular forms of poker, in which seven cards are dealt (two face-down, four face-up and the last face-down) and played.  The ante for seven-card stud poker is normally 10 percent of the minimum bet.  The first round of betting begins and the dealer gives three cards to each player.  The first two cards are dealt face-down and the third face-up. This stage is called "third street." The player whose exposed card is the lowest begins the betting.  Every other player must then call, raise or fold.

    After this the dealer proceeds to deal another face-up card, but only to the remaining players.  This is called "fourth street" and the player with the highest hand commences the betting.  The dealer deals the fifth and sixth cards face-up and players bet in the same manner as in-between the rounds.  The last card, "seventh street," is dealt face-down and the final round of betting is made.  This is foilowed by the revealing of the hands, called "showdown." The highest hand takes the pot after the house takes its rake.

DRAW POKER

    This game is played with five cards dealt face down.  The ante is usually 10 percent of the minimum bet.  Before any cards are drawn, a round of betting occurs.  A player must have at least a pair of jacks or better to start off the betting.  If a player does not have a pair of jacks and no bet has been made yet, he or she must check.  After an initial bet has been made, each player must call, raise or fold.

    When the round of betting is complete, each player has the option of discarding as many cards as desired (usually one to three), and the dealer replaces these with new cards face-down.  After every player has drawn the appropriate number of cards to complete his hand, the final round of betting occurs.  This is followed by the revealing of the cards, and the highest hand takes the pot.

STRATEGY FOR DRAW POKER

    The basic strategy is to play hard with a strong hand and to fold quickly if you are sure to be beaten.  This is not rocket science, but many players forget that luck is less important in poker than skill and strategy
Three other bits of advice will also be helpful:

1. Don't try to draw to complete straights or flushes.  The odds are not favorable in five-card draw poker (though improve greatly in seven-card stud).

2. The top moneymakers in draw poker are two pairs and high-card pairs.

3. Don't suddenly change your betting patterns if you happen to be dealt (or draw) a very strong hand like a full house or straight flush (see the odds at the end of this page).  You want the other players to stay in the game.
 

WINNING POKER TIPS

1. Try to avoid betting first.  If you bet last, you will have an advantage because you will have seen how everyone else has played their hands.

2. In order to take the game of poker seriously, your bankroll must be large enough to support large raises and bluffs.  If you can't afford to play this game, don't go to the table.

3. Try to avoid bluffing as much as possible.  Few players can do this well.

4.  Familiarize  yourself with the rules of poker prior to playing for there are many variations of the game and the rules sometimes vary from casino to casino.  You can learn a great deal by watching the game before you play.

5. Be patient.  Only a few hands will ever pay off for you.  Play those; fold early on the rest.

6. Play the cards; don't let the cards play you.  If you play every pair that comes along, youll never win at poker - the cards are playing you.  A smart player chooses which hands to carry on.

TEXAS HOLD 'EM

    This game is played with seven cards.  The ante for Texas hold  is usually 10 percent of the minimum bet. The game starts  when the dealer deals two cards to each player face-down. There is  then a round of betting where each player must either call, raise or fold. This round of betting is called "the blind" and players are not allowed to check on the cards in front of them. The dealer then  deals three cards face-up in the center of the table (called "the  flop"). The dealer places another card - "fourth street" - face-up on the table and another round of betting occurs. Finally, the last card is placed face-up and the final round of betting occurs. 

    Each player's hand consists of the five best cards selected from  the seven available (two in hand and the five on the table.) The  player with the highest hand is the winner. 

Choose the game you want the winning strategies for...

Blackjack
Poker
Roulette
Craps
Baccarat
Slot machines
Keno
Red Dog

World's Largest Jackpots

Bookmark this page
 

Click here to win $100 NOW