| 1 Five of a Kind | This hand will consist of 5 cards sharing the same rank. The provided hand all consists of 1's, which include a spade, heart, diamond, club and a single joker. This hand can beat any other combination in a game of poker, but it's limited to games with a wild or joker. |
| 2 Royal Flush | This is when you have an ace, king, queen, jack, and a 10 all in the same suit. It’s the best combination of cards that you can get. While this hand may be a rare pull, it’s the strongest in the game. |
| 3 Four of a Kind | This hand is easy to understand, as it’s simply four cards of the same suit. Remember that there is a hierarchy between Four of a kind, as four 10s will beat four 2’s and so on. |
| 4 Full House | It’s not just a popular 90s sitcom; it’s a strong hand in poker. This is when you end up with a three of a kind as well as a two of a kind. For example, three aces and two 10s. The higher the cards, the better the hand. For example, a Full Houses with Aces and Kings beats a Full House with Aces and sevens. |
| 5 Flush | Not to be confused with a straight or royal flush, this is simply when you have five cards of the same suit. For example, five cards that are all hearts or clubs. |
| 6 Straight | This is the same as a Straight Flush, save for the fact that the cards aren’t of the same suit. For example, if you have 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 in any suit, that’s a straight. The higher the last card of the straight, the more valuable. In other words, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 would beat 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. |
| 7 Three of a Kind | This is when you have three of the same cards. For example, three Jacks. The higher the card, the more valuable, so three Jacks beats three sevens. |
| 8 Two Pairs | This is when you have a pair of something like 2’s, 10s or Aces. Similar to the other examples, two Aces beat two 10s because it goes by ranking. |
| 9 One Pair | This hand revolves around one pair of cards with the same rank, ignoring the suit. The other cards can be of the same rank or suit. In this instance, we have a pair of 10s, a 7, 8, and a 4. The winner will either hold the highest pair or have the larger amount of “kickers” in their hand – being the other cards separate from the pair. |
| 10 High Card / No Pair | Lastly, there’s simply the high card. That basically means you don’t have much in your hand. Your score is your highest card. If you’re going up against someone else who has a high card, then the highest card wins. In other words, and Ace beats a King or a 10. |
Do you want to up your skills with online poker strategies and expert tips? This guide will give you everything you need to start playing online poker like a pro!
Poker 101: How to Play Poker for Beginners
Have you ever heard the term ‘poker face’? Get ready because you’ll need it in this game.
Poker revolves around players getting dealt a hand of cards, placing a bet that aligns with their chances of winning, and revealing their hands to the dealer and other players.
More specifically, each player is dealt a hand to start. From there, you try to determine what rank of hand you either have or can come up with. In some games, it’s simply from whatever cards you are dealt. In other games, it’s a matter of pooling your hand with the community cards shown to see what is the best hand you can make.
Meanwhile, players make bets on the cards that they have. They might have something good, or they might be bluffing, while holding nothing of value. The challenge for you is to evaluate the situation and approach according to the quality of your hand.
As the betting progresses, players can either continue to wager to stay in the game or they can fold, cut their losses, and remove themselves from the action. At the end of the betting phase, the players left standing reveal their cards, where the winner is determined.
Looking for a faster-paced version of the game with no bluffing involved? Try your hand at video poker, where strategy meets slot-like simplicity.
Main poker rules
There are many variations of poker, but the general ruleset is always the same.
#1
Players are dealt an equal number of cards and have to make a bet to get into the action. This first wager to be made is known as the blind. Players can wager different amounts, where a player may choose to raise the stakes, forcing other players to follow suit, raise it further or fold.
#2
After that, there are more rounds of the same: more betting on quality and more cards being dealt. For example, in Texas Hold’Em, each player is dealt two cards and then players have to place a wager to qualify for the flop (the first three cards), the turn (the fourth card) and the river (the fifth card).
#3
At the end of the round, cards are evaluated to determine the victor.
#4
Each round, players can either call, which means match the biggest bet, they can fold, which means bow out and lose whatever money they’ve put in, or they can raise, which is to increase the bet. The action transpires in a clockwise fashion, and each player has to make the same decisions.
#5
As the players wager, the pot grows. That means that if someone folds, the rest of the players are still in the running for the pot. If all but one player fold, then that one player ends up the winner.
#6
If more than one player is still in the running at the end, cards are revealed and whoever has the best hand wins.
Top 10 poker hands
When you’re playing poker, the most important aspect of the game is knowing the hand rankings. That’s how the game is scored. The strongest hand wins, so you have to understand what you have and what you can build towards. Understanding hand rankings is a key part of any solid poker strategy, and it lays the foundation for making smart decisions at the table. Let’s introduce you to the top 10 poker hands, so you know what the values are.
| Rank | Poker Hand | Example | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Five of a Kind |  |  |  |  |  |
| 2 | Straight Flush / Royal Flush |  |  |  |  |  |
| 3 | Four of a Kind |  |  |  |  |  |
| 4 | Full House |  |  |  |  |  |
| 5 | Flush |  |  |  |  |  |
| 6 | Straight |  |  |  |  |  |
| 7 | Three of a Kind |  |  |  |  |  |
| 8 | Two Pairs |  |  |  |  |  |
| 9 | One Pair |  |  |  |  |  |
| 10 | High Card / No Pair |  |  |  |  |  |
Top Poker Games and Winning Strategies
There are a whole host of poker variations, from games that you play against other players to games you play against the dealer to both. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular variations of the game and expand on some two strategies to deploy for each. For a more in-depth analysis, take a look at our comparison of the most popular poker variants.
Common Poker Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Some of the most famous poker players in the world had humble beginnings. That’s why we’ve included this section to help you with some poker tips, so that you can avoid the mistakes we sometimes made.
Use your head, not your heart
Use logic, strategy, and the perceived odds – to get ahead.
Take advantage of blinds
If you’re a small blind, evaluate the cards. If you’re the big blind, you should play (assuming there’s no pre-flop raise). You’re already invested (or partially).
Don’t marry a bad hand
If you’re in on a hand and it’s simply not going your way, don’t bank on things to get better.
Top Expert-recommended Poker Sites to Start Practicing
If you’re ready to put your poker skills into action, choosing the right casino can make all the difference. Below are our top expert-recommended online poker sites where you can practice, improve, and even join real tournaments. If you’re tired of being predictable at the table, it’s time to learn GTO. Here’s how to get started.
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FAQ
Yes, Texas Hold’Em tournaments welcome all players from around the world. Just take note of what the buy-in is (entry cost) as well as the betting limits for the game.
The big blind and small blind are two specific spots at the Texas Hold’Em poker table that automatically have to ante up. These two spots have to pay into the pot before anyone else. The big blind pays a full amount, while the small blind enters half. Everyone else has the option to bet or to fold without any cost.
Yes, you can play online mobile poker wherever you are. Any good online poker site has a mobile-friendly site, so you can play from your smartphone, laptop, or iPad anywhere there’s an internet connection.
