How to play poker

To start the round, players are delt two face down 'hole' cards. The first betting round, known as the pre-flop, begins with the player to the left of the big blind. Each player has the option to fold, which involves discarding their hand and withdrawing from the current round.

Alternatively, players may choose to call by matching the big blind's bet, or raise by increasing the bet, subject to the rules of the game in play, whether No Limit, Pot Limit, or Limit.

As the action proceeds clockwise around the table, each player must decide which action to take based on their hand and the actions of other players.

Once the betting returns to the player who placed the big blind, they have the option to check if no raises have been made, meaning they continue in the hand without adding more chips. However, if there has been a raise, they must choose whether to fold, call, or re-raise.

Dealing the Flop: After the initial round of betting and once all bets are equalized, the dealer removes (burns) the top card of the deck to prevent cheating or card tracking. Then, the dealer places three cards face-up on the table. These are the first community cards that players can use in combination with their hole cards to make the best possible hand.

Impact on Strategy: The flop significantly impacts each player's strategy as it reveals more information. Players can assess the strength of their hand, make predictions about possible opponent hands, and decide on their next move. It helps players to improve their existing hand or even develop potential winning combinations such as a straight, flush, or set.

Second Round of Betting: After the flop is dealt, another round of betting occurs. The first active player to the left of the dealer button starts the action. Players can check, bet, call, raise, or fold depending on their hand strength and their read on their opponents' potential hands.

Strategic Considerations: A player’s position in relation to the dealer button becomes especially crucial as players who act later have more information about their opponents' actions. Players often calculate pot odds to determine whether to call a bet based on their potential to improve their hand on subsequent streets (turn and river). The flop can be an opportune moment for bluffing or semi-bluffing strategies, especially if the community cards suggest strong possible hands that might scare opponents into folding.

Reading the Board: Understanding how the flop interacts with potential hole cards is key. A coordinated flop (e.g., with close value cards or suited cards) can create more drawing possibilities, whereas a disconnected flop might be less threatening.

Adjusting to Opponents: Observant players will adapt their strategy based on their opponents’ behavior post-flop. Aggressive betting might indicate a strong hand, while passive play might suggest drawing or weak hands.

The flop is a pivotal moment in poker as it often determines the viability of a player's hand and sets the tone for the subsequent rounds of betting. Mastering the intricacies of post-flop play is essential for any poker player's success.

Time for the turn: The "turn" card in poker is a critical component of many poker variants, most notably Texas Hold'em and Omaha. It is the fourth community card dealt on the table, following the "flop" and preceding the "river." The turn signifies a crucial moment in a hand. By this stage, players have seen four of the five community cards, allowing for a more complete evaluation of their hand's potential. The turn can solidify a strong hand, improve a drawing hand, or render a once-promising hand vulnerable.

Betting Dynamics: The betting rounds are particularly telling on the turn. As players gain more information, betting patterns can shift dramatically. Players may become more aggressive if the turn card improves their existing hands, while others might exercise caution if the card completes potential draws for opponents.

Evaluating the Board: The turn is essential for understanding board texture. It can complete flush or straight draws, or introduce a pair on the board, creating opportunities for full houses or trips. Players must assess these possibilities not only for their hands but also for their opponents’ potential holdings.

The river is the fifth and final community card dealt face up on the board, completing the set of five cards available to all players. It comes after the "turn" card and is crucial for forming the best possible hand.

Final Opportunity to Improve Hand: Since the river is the last opportunity for players to improve their hand by using the community cards, it often becomes a critical moment. Players must evaluate the strength of their hands carefully, considering combinations using their pocket cards and the five community cards.

High Stakes Betting: The betting round after the river is typically marked by high stakes, as players have all available information about the hand. Deciding whether to bet, call, raise, or fold requires astute judgment and understanding of opponents' tendencies.

Reading Opponents: Analyzing the betting patterns of opponents during previous rounds can provide insights. A player's reaction to the river card can indicate whether they have developed a strong hand or are potentially bluffing.

Potential Outcomes: With the river dealt, players must finalize their decision-making process regarding their hand's strength relative to possible holdings of opponents. This often involves assessing potential straights, flushes, or full houses that the community cards may have enabled.

The Winner is revealed

In poker, the showdown is a crucial and exhilarating phase of the game where the remaining players reveal their hands to determine the winner of the pot. This occurs after the final round of betting has concluded. The showdown is significant because it ultimately decides who has the strongest hand, based on the specific variant of poker being played.

Here's how the showdown typically unfolds:

Order of Reveal: The order in which players reveal their hands can vary depending on the game. In many games, the player who made the last aggressive action (a bet or raise) during the final round of betting is required to reveal their hand first. If there was no bet in the final round, the player closest to the left of the dealer button shows their cards first.

Show or Muck: Players reveal their hands by turning their cards face up on the table. Some players may choose to muck, or without showing their cards, if they realize that their hand cannot win the pot based on the revealed hands of other players.

Hand Evaluation: Once the hands are revealed, the dealer or the players themselves evaluate the strength of each hand according to the rules of the specific poker game being played. The standard hand rankings typically apply, from high card to royal flush, unless the variant has unique hand-ranking rules.

Winning the Pot: The player with the highest-ranked hand wins the pot. In games like Hi-Lo, the pot might be split between the highest and lowest hands. If there’s a tie between two or more players, the pot is divided equally among them.

Learning and Strategy: The showdown can be a strategic part of the game, as players gain information about opponents' playing styles and tendencies based on the hands they play and the actions they take. Savvy players use the data gleaned from showdowns to adjust their strategies in future hands.

Showdowns add an element of drama and suspense to poker, as players and onlookers eagerly await the reveal of cards to see who will claim the pot. Understanding the dynamics and strategies associated with the showdown is crucial for developing a competitive edge in poker.

In the game of poker, the strength of your starting hand is a critical factor that can significantly influence your success at the table. A strong starting hand sets the foundation for strategic play, allowing you to make informed decisions as the hand progresses.

Understanding what constitutes a strong starting hand involves recognizing the value of different card combinations, considering factors such as position, and evaluating potential drawing possibilities. In this section, we will explore the key characteristics of powerful starting hands, providing insights into how they can maximize your odds of winning and give you an edge over your opponents.

Whether you're a novice aiming to build a solid basis for your game or an experienced player looking to refine your strategy, mastering the art of selecting strong starting hands is an essential skill in the competitive world of poker.

Obviously, high pairs like A-A, K-K, Q-Q, J-J and 10-10 are worth raising with, particularly in late position.

A-K, A-Q and A-J, all suited, are more examples of strong hands you want to raise with pre-flop. They're also good hands for making Continuation Bets with, i.e. if you've raised pre-flop and have hit a flop that doesn't really help you (say, the three cards are all below yours) you may want to lead out with a bet to portray strength.

Next come the medium strength hands, like K-10, Q-10 and J-10, and medium pairs like 9-9, 8-8 and 7-7. They're all good raising hands, depending on position and the dynamic of your table, but can also be called with in an aggressive pre-flop betting round.

Finally, marginal hands like 2-2, 3-3, and A-9 are all decent hands for calling with pre-flop if in late position. You may disguise your hand by hitting trips (three of a kind) on the flop, then you can start to be aggressive.

The beauty of online poker is that no two tables are alike. If you have a particularly tight table you can mix things up by expanding your starting hand range to exploit weakness. For most beginners, however, a solid game with strong starting hands is sensible, if a little dull to start off with.

1. For example, let's say you hold a pair of fours at the start of a hand. To hit another 4, making a set, on the flop your odds would be around 7.5 to 1. You know this because there are only two other cards you need (2 out of 52), you hold two yourself, and the other players hold two apiece.

2. If you're not going to make more than 7.5 to 1 on your bet by playing, it's not worth playing; the 'pot odds' are not good enough for you to call. So, if the pot had $25 in it, and you had to bet $5, your pot odds would be 5 to 1: not enough to make the call.

3. Let's say you make the call anyway, and the flop misses you entirely, coming J-K-2. Your chances of hitting that 4 just went up, as there are fewer cards to come out. However, the action gets a bit crazy post-flop and you're being offered around 10 to 1 on your money to make a call, knowing that your hand odds are about 9 to 1. Now you DO make the call.