When playing poker, it is important to understand that the poker
hand you hold, how well you bet and how well you bluff will
ultimately determine if you will win or lose that hand. Before
you can play the game with competence, you will need to
understand the card suits and ranks, as well as what makes a
good poker hand.
Suits of cards for example are the clubs, diamonds, hearts and
spades. This information is imperative to how you will play any
of the hands that you are dealt. It is important also to
understand the value of a given card. Cards increase in value
according to their number or face, they will increase from 2 to
10 J, Q, K and A.
You will also need to learn what cards make a winning hand and
what doesn't make a play at all. The most common hands in order
of importance are: One pair (any matching set of numbers,
regardless of suit) Two pair (any 2 matching sets of numbers,
regardless of suit) Three of a kind (any 3 matching numbers,
regardless of suit) Straight (any 5 cards in numerical sequence,
regardless of suit) Flush (any 5 cards not in numerical order,
of same suit) Full house (any 3 of a kind and 2 of a kind in
same hand, regardless of suit) Four of a kind (any 4 matching
set of numbers, regardless of suit) Straight flush (any 5
numerical order of cards, of same suit) Royal flush (contains
the 10, J, Q, K, A of same suit)
With any hand beating the hand that is placed before it on this
list. Therefore, a Royal flush will win over any other hand that
is dealt to the table.
While you are working on mastering these poker hand rules, you
may also be faced with a game that calls for wild cards. This
could be aces wild, or whatever card the dealer chooses. The
point of this rule is that the wild card is available to become
the value of whatever card, giving a greater possibility of
obtaining a straight flush (or five of a kind).
Generally, a hand that uses a wild card is considered the best
hand, but the dealer can choose to have it second to a royal
flush; either way the dealer decides and must indicate the
choice before the poker hand is dealt.
These are the basic poker hands that you will need to know to
play an effective round with any level of player. It is best to
memorize this list so that you don't forget what a winning hand
is when you get to the table.
About the author:
Check out our
online poker
review,
Poker.com
review, and a free
PokerRoom
deposit code.
