How to Play Poker

Objective

Win the pot (chips bet during the hand) by forming the best five-card hand using your two hole cards and five community cards, or by convincing others to fold.

Game Setup

• Players: 2-10 players per table.
• Deck: Standard 52-card deck (no jokers).
• Blinds: Two forced bets (small blind and big blind) are posted by players to the dealer’s left to start the pot.
• Deal: Each player receives two private cards (hole cards).

Hand Rankings (Highest to Lowest)

• Royal Flush: 10-J-Q-K-A, same suit (e.g., 10♥-J♥-Q♥-K♥-A♥).
• Straight Flush: Five consecutive cards, same suit (e.g., 5♠-6♠-7♠-8♠-9♠).
• Four of a Kind: Four cards of same rank (e.g., 8♣-8♦-8♥-8♠-3♣).
• Full House: Three of a kind plus a pair (e.g., 7♠-7♥-7♣-K♦-K♠).
• Flush: Five cards, same suit, non-consecutive (e.g., 2♥-5♥-8♥-J♥-K♥).
• Straight: Five consecutive cards, different suits (e.g., 4♣-5♦-6♠-7♥-8♣).
• Three of a Kind: Three cards of same rank (e.g., 9♠-9♥-9♣-4♦-Q♠).
• Two Pair: Two pairs of different ranks (e.g., J♣-J♦-6♠-6♥-A♣).
• One Pair: Two cards of same rank (e.g., Q♥-Q♠-3♣-7♦-K♠).
• High Card: No combination; highest card wins (e.g., A♠-9♥-6♣-4♦-2♠).

Gameplay

1. Pre-Flop: After receiving hole cards, players act (call, raise, fold) starting left of the big blind.
2. Flop: Three community cards are dealt face-up. A betting round follows.
3. Turn: A fourth community card is dealt. Another betting round occurs.
4. River: A fifth community card is dealt. Final betting round.
5. Showdown: Remaining players reveal hands. Best five-card hand wins the pot.

Betting Actions

• Fold: Discard cards and forfeit the pot.
• Call: Match the current bet.
• Raise: Increase the bet (minimum twice the previous bet).
• Check: Pass action without betting (only if no prior bet in the round).
• All-In: Bet all remaining chips.