Poker: Playing the game
The most played form of poker is Texas Hold’em, which is easy to learn and simple to understand. Its development online has really made it a worldwide phenomenon, with stars like Irishman Andrew Black earning over 5 million euros from the game.
Table: Best hole (starting) cards
| Ranking |
Hole cards |
| 1 |
Pocket* Aces |
| 2 |
Pocket Kings |
| 3 |
Pocket Queens |
| 4 |
Ace-King Suited |
| 5 |
Pocket Jacks |
| 6 |
Pocket Tens |
| 7 |
Ace-King Suited |
| 8 |
Ace-Queen Suited |
| 9 |
Ace-Jack Suited |
| 10 |
King-Queen Suited |
*Pocket = a pair of similar cards
Texas Hold’em poker games start off with two cards being dealt with each player. These are called ‘hole’ cards. Five community cards are dealt in total and placed in the centre of the table for all participants to match with their own cards. These have different names, with three laid down at the beginning called ‘the flop’ and the two single ones ‘the turn’ and the ‘the river’ respectively. In total, each game consists of four rounds when each player can place a bet. The first bet is made before the flop, the second after it and each time a card is laid down during the turn and river. When all the bets have been placed and the players have either checked or raised, the final ‘showdown’ occurs when the top hand takes the final pot.
The aim of the game is to have the highest-scoring hand of five cards from each player’s two cards and the community cards. As there are four rounds, the strategy in poker becomes very important, with the mind games involved making it the most popular variant of the game for newcomers.
What’s a Blind and Button?
Two of the most important terms to learn are the blinds and the button. Each player will see the button in front of them when it is their turn that rotates around the table.
Blinds refer to the two players to the left of the button at the beginning of each game, that must each make a bet. The big blind must play double the value of chips of the small blind, which goes first. After each game, the blinds change to those placed in an anti-clockwise direction.
Poker is all about making the most accurate decision at the right time and the first one comes as soon as a player has the two hole cards. At that point, they have to decide whether their hand is good enough to keep on betting. This play is made in a clockwise direction from the left of the starting position of the big blind. If a participant decides to go ahead he must at least equal the big blind bet. However, if the player before them has raised the players, they must equal or raise it further.
The big blind also has the opportunity to raise the bet further themselves.
Know what a Flop is?
The three cards placed in the centre of the table for all players to match up with their own hands are called the flop. Once it has been dealt, players will start betting from the left of the button in a clockwise direction. The choice here is to fold, check, call or raise. If players don’t want to bet any more funds they can check as long as they have already paid out the amount everyone else has already. This will enable the player to remain in the game unless someone raises. Once all of the participants have paid equal amounts the turn and the river cards are dealt out with the same process occurring for each of them.
Taking part in the Showdown
Table: Top poker hands
| Rank |
Hand name |
Hand description |
| 1 |
Royal Flush |
10, J, Q, K, A of the same suit |
| 2 |
Straight Flush |
Five consecutive cards of the same suit |
| 3 |
Four of a Kind |
The same card in each of the four suits |
| 4 |
Full House |
Three of a kind and a pair |
| 5 |
Flush |
Five random cards in one suit |
| 6 |
Straight |
Five consecutive cards in mixed suits |
| 7 |
Three of a Kind |
Three of the same cards |
| 8 |
Two Pairs |
Two pairings of the same card |
| 9 |
One Pair |
One pairing of the same card |
| 10 |
High Card |
No matching of either card or suit |
At the end of each game, the showdown occurs when each player matches their own two cards with those in the centre to get their top-scoring five cards. The players compare their hands with the best one taking the pot. When there is a tie between any number of winning hands, the pot gets split evenly between them. For the next game, the button will move clockwise, marking the end of that game.
