The Basics of Poker

Poker is a card game that is played throughout the world. It is primarily a competition for money or chips contributed by the players. The basic rules of poker are fairly simple, but there is a lot of skill involved when the betting is involved.

Straight poker

In this type of poker, each player is dealt five cards face down. The deal is followed by a betting interval and by a showdown in which the hole cards are revealed.

Draw poker

After the 1850s, straight poker was eclipsed by draw poker, which allows each active player in turn beginning at dealer’s left to discard one or more of his original cards and receive replacements for them from the undealt portion of the pack. After the draw there is a second betting interval and then a showdown in which the player with the best hand wins the pot.

Stud

In stud poker, each player is dealt a total of seven cards but is only allowed to make the best 5-card hand out of them. The highest possible hand is a straight, which beats any other combination of aces, kings, queens, and jacks.

Betting

The first betting interval starts with the player nearest the dealer’s left, who is required to make a minimum bet (called an ante). If the first bettor’s bet meets the established minimum, the next player is called a “caller”, and the player with the next highest bet is said to raise.