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What Beats What in Poker – A Quick Guide

To be successful in poker it is important to know the basics as well. Although poker is a lot easier when you have a bit of luck going your way, it is no coincidence that the top poker pros are winning consistently. Poker requires a great deal of skill, strategy and the ability to read the other players at the table.

So we will start off with the very basics, how is each poker rankings. Working from the weakest hand to the strongest.

High card: All suits are equal and cards are ranked from the weakest being a 2 through to Ace high being the strongest card. The high card is used often and it is very important to remember this when getting to a showdown.

One pair: Two cards of the same rank or number and three cards that have no relation to each other. Example 10 9 5 10 2. As explained earlier the highest non related card is the kicker. In this case we have a pair of 10’s with a 9 kicker.

Two Pair: As the name suggests we have two pairs of cards. Two cards of the same number and two other cards of the same number. Of course we also have one unrelated card. For example: 10 6 4 10 6. So we have two pairs of 10’s and 6’s and a 4 kicker. A horrible kicker but the kicker all the same.

Three of a kind: Three cards of the same value and two unrelated cards. Example: 9 9 9 3 J is Three of a kind 9s with a jack kicker.

Straight: The straight is five cards in sequential order. Example: 4 5 6 7 8. It doesn’t matter what suit each card is however if they are all the same suit then it makes the stronger hand of the straight flush which is a stronger hand again. The strength of the straight you have is based on the highest value card in the straight. So again 2 is the weakest value through to Ace being the strongest.

Flush: Five cards of the same suit in no particular order. The highest card in the flush determines the strength of the flush. Example: In Texas Holdem Player one has hearts 3 6 9 K A and Player 2 has hearts 3 6 9 2 J. Player one has the strongest hand with a Ace high flush.

Full house: Three cards of the same value with a pair. The value of the three cards determines the strength of the hand. Example 77744 beats 66644.

Four of a kind: Four cards of the same value and any other card. Again Ace is strongest. Example 99994

Straight flush: Five sequential cards of the same suit. Example Hearts 10 9 8 7 6. The strongest possible high being Ace through to 10 is known as a royal flush.

Beginner Basics for Play Online Poker

Online poker, and especially Texas Hold ‘Em, has taken the world by storm in recent years. The game has captured the imagination and interest of millions of people all across the globe. Through the popularity of the World Series of Poker right through to the easy accessibility that online casinos offer, poker has become one of, if not the most popular card games on the planet.

One of the reasons that Texas Hold ‘Em poker has become so popular is its relative ease when it comes to learning the rules. Beginners can grasp the main concepts of the game in just a few minutes. Don’t get too ahead of yourself now. It will take years of playing, and researching strategy to become a master of poker. However, if you are looking to get started and are just getting used to play online poker here is a simple breakdown of the rules and concepts involved.

Texas Hold ‘Em is a community based card game where you will give cards and share some communal cards with the other players. To start the game every player at the table is dealt two cards that are face down. Right away the betting and the action start. Each player is given the option to call the bet, raise the bet or fold their cards and quit on the hand. This betting style can go around the table until all players have agreed on the bet or folded their cards.

Once the first round of betting is done, three cards are dealt face up into the middle of the table. These are the cards that everyone will be sharing. It is your job to use the two cards in your possession that no one else can see and any three community cards to make the best five cards hand.

After the three community cards are displayed, another round of betting continues. After that round, one more card is dealt face up to the community card and this process continues until there are five cards in the communal area.

Now that all five communal cards are on the table, there is a final round of betting and players all show their cards to determine who has the best ranking hand. This player will cash in and win all the money that has been put in the middle of the table during the course of each round of betting.

Of course in order to become successful in the world of online poker you are going to have to practice, strategize and learn some much more important details such as card rankings and blinds just to name a few. With that being, in just a few short minutes you have learnt the basic rules of Texas Hold ‘Em poker and are ready to get online and start practicing.

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