Poker Guide

Many gamblers enjoy poker much more than betting. Rather than betting against a bookie they are pitted against other gamblers at their table. There is no need to worry about horses which may not be fit or jockeys who may not steer the horse to a victory.

Texas Hold Em Poker
The post popular form of online poker is Texas Hold Em. It is a game that combines luck and skill, and requires a great deal of discipline. Below is a basic description of the game:

Dealing starts with the player to the dealers left rotating clockwise around the table, ending with the dealer. Each player is dealt two cards face down and they belong to that player only. A round of betting then starts. Players can fold (give up their cards) at any stage without needing to bet.

Three cards are then dealt face up in the centre of the table. These are community cards, which everyone shares.

Another round of betting will follow and the dealer will turn the fourth community card face up in the centre.

One more round of betting takes place followed by the final community card in the middle. Each player now has seven cards to chose the best possible hand from - two of their own cards - known as hole or pocket cards and five cards in the middle of the table - the community cards. There is finally a last round of betting.

Winning Hands

Starting with the most powerful, the winning hands in poker are:

Royal Flush - the most powerful hand
Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10, all from the same suit.

Straight Flush
Any five-card sequence of the same suit (e.g. 9, 10, Jack, Queen and King of spades; or 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of hearts).

Four of a Kind
All four cards of the same value (e.g. 4, 4, 4, 4; or King, King, King, King).

Full House
Three of a kind with a pair (e.g. 10, 10, 10 with 7, 7; or King, King, King with 2, 2).

Flush
Any five cards of the same suit, not in sequence (e.g. 4, 5, 8, 10 and King of clubs).

Straight
Five cards in sequence, but not of the same suit (e.g. 6 of clubs, 7 of diamonds, 8 of diamonds, 9 of spades and 10 of hearts).

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