Poker Rules: Complete Guide to the Game
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On this page, we explore online poker rules so you can learn how to master the dynamics of Texas Hold’em – one of the most popular card games in the world – and other poker disciplines. This guide will give you the knowledge needed to safely play online poker with a good grasp of game rules.
- 18+
- Gambling Commission
- Gamble Aware
How to Play Poker: Basic Game Mechanics
In poker, you typically play with a standard deck of 52 cards. Each player is dealt a certain number of cards, depending on the game variant (e.g., Texas Hold ’em, Omaha, Seven-Card Stud, etc.). The goal is to make the best possible five-card poker hand using your cards and, if applicable, the community cards.
In Texas Hold’em, the goal is to form the best hand, using one, both, and occasionally none of your private cards. They are better known as hole cards and can only be used by you. The cards that appear on the table – the three-card flop with the later addition of a turn card and river card – are community cards and can be used by all players.
The Pre-Flop Phase
Each hand starts with two players to the immediate left of the dealer button, posting compulsory bets called blinds. The first stakes a small-blind. It is half the size of the big blind, which is posted by the second player.
Players – starting with the small blind – are then dealt two cards face down in a clockwise fashion. These are known as hole cards. Once the deal is complete, the first player to act will be the person to the left of the big blind. In poker slang, they are known as “under the gun,” and their options are to either fold, call (by matching the big blind) or raise.
Flop, Turn and River
Once the first betting round is complete, the game proceeds with the ‘flop’ being dealt. It prompts a fresh round of betting that starts with the first person to the left of the dealer button who chose to play the hand.
Two more betting rounds will follow – ahead of the turn and river cards being dealt – ultimately, the hand and the chips in the pot will be won by the person holding the best hand or when all but one player has passed.
Other Rules to Know
In Texas Hold’em, as the first person to act in a post-flop betting round, you can ‘check.’ If the action has been checked into you, you can also check. Often, all players will elect to check during a betting round – giving all players a ‘free card.’ Only once a player has bet will you need to make a call, raise, or fold decision.
In terms of blinds, tournament rules differ from cash game rules. In cash games, the table stakes are never changed, and the cost of small and big blinds is always the same. In tournament play, blinds increase at regular intervals. This generates action, which forces more aggressive play, which, in turn, leads to player eliminations.
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Poker: The Rules of the Game and the Value of the Hands
In poker, there is a defined ranking of hands. The stronger the hand, the less likely it is to be dealt. Valuable pots that go to a showdown are typically the result of two big hands belonging to players who believe their hand is so rare and strong that it is unlikely to be the loser.
Understanding hand hierarchy is crucial before playing online poker. A common mistake amateurs make is the belief that a straight beats a flush. It can be a costly misstep. To help, here is an easy reference list of poker hands, raked from the strongest/rarest to weakest:
- Royal Flush: The crème de la crème of poker hands, consisting of 10, J, Q, K, and ace of the same suit.
- Straight Flush: Five consecutive cards of the same suit (e.g., 7, 8, 9, 10, J) of hearts.
- Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank (e.g., 7-7-7-7)..
- Full House: Three-of-a-kind plus a pair (e.g., three 6s and two 4s).
- Flush: Five cards of the same suit.
- Straight: Five consecutive cards of missed suits in running order (e.g., 8-8-8).
- Trips: Three cards of the same rank (e.g., three 8s).
- Two Pair: Two pairs of different ranks (e.g., two 5s and two 9s).
- Pair: Two cards of the same rank (e.g., two 7s).
- High card: The highest card in your hand (e.g., an Ace).
In games like Texas Hold’em and Omaha, it is common for two players to make the same hands – particularly flushes and straights. In this instance, the card hierarchy decides which is the winning hand. For example, if one player holds King-Jack of hearts and his rival holds Queen-9 of hearts and the community cards feature three small value hearts, the player with the King-high flush wins.
Similarly, a player holding 7-8 on a flop that shows 2-5-9-10-J will lose to a rival with Queen-8. In examples of matching high cards, pairs, two-pairs, and other such hands, the player with the higher side-card (also known as a kicker) will win in a showdown situation.
Other Poker Games and Poker Variants
Poker has evolved into numerous variants over the years. Now, ‘poker’ is a large family of card games. There are many game types, and most use the same hand rankings. However, each has its own rules and requires very different game strategies.
From simple formats frequently played as table games in casinos to variants ideal for home games and complex disciplines that attract analytical types of players, below we will explore the main poker games commonly found in online poker rooms.
Exploring the different poker variants increases the game’s fun and overall challenge. It also allows you to better understand the strategies needed to win at poker.
Texas Hold’em
The goal in Texas Hold’em is to win chips by either having the best hand at a showdown or convincing other players to fold. Tables can feature between two and ten players, and each player is dealt two private cards (hole cards).
The betting rounds are:
- Pre-flop: Players bet based on their hole cards
- Flop: The first three community cards are dealt, followed by another betting round
- Turn: The fourth community card is dealt, followed by another betting round
- River: The fifth and final community card is dealt, followed by the final betting round.
If more than one player remains after the final betting round, they reveal their cards in a showdown, and the player with the best hand wins the pot.
Omaha
Omaha is Texas Hold’em’s close relation – a wild cousin that rarely sees one of two pairs being enough to win a pot. That is because, in Omaha, each player receives four covered cards instead of two. This change significantly increases the possible combinations and generally makes it a more complex game.
The bets and stages of the game, including the flop, turn, and river, are identical to Texas Hold’em. However, to form the final hand, players must use precisely two of their covered cards and three of the five community cards. This mandatory rule requires a vastly different and more calculated strategy.
Hand rankings in Omaha are the same as in Texas Hold ’em. Omaha also has four betting rounds, just like in Texas Hold’em. However, the betting is ‘Pot Limit,’ meaning the maximum bet is the current size of the pot. This makes the game more strategic than No Limit games.
Stud
Stud Poker is a classic variant of poker that has been around since the mid-1800s. Unlike Texas Hold’em, where players share community cards, in Stud Poker, each player is dealt their own individual set of cards.
The gameplay is different too. It unravels as follows:
- Ante: Before any cards are dealt, each player must place an ante bet, a small, forced bet that helps build the pot.
- Deal: Each player is dealt two cards face down (hole cards) and one face up (door card). The player with the lowest door card must make a forced bet called the bring-in.
- Betting Rounds: There are five betting rounds in seven-card Stud Poker. After each round, players are dealt another face-up card. The betting action starts with the player showing the highest hand and moves clockwise around the table
- Showdown: After the final betting round, if more than one player remains, there is a showdown. Players reveal their hole cards, and the player with the best five-card hand wins the pot.
The hand rankings in Stud Poker are the same as in Texas Hold’em. Strategically, paying attention to the cards that have been folded is essential, as this can give you valuable information about your opponents’ hands. There are several variations of Stud Poker; the most common are Seven Card Stud and Five Card Stud.
Five Card Draw
Relatively simple and fast-paced, Five Card Draw is typically played with a standard 52-card deck by two and up to six players. In the game, each player is dealt five cards and the goal is to make the best five-card poker hand using them and later replacements.
The action starts with players posting an Ante, a small bet all players must make before the hand begins. Once dealt five cards (face down) and after a round of betting, each player can choose to discard between zero to four cards from their hand face down.
Starting from the dealer and moving clockwise, players will draw cards equal to the number they discarded to replace unwanted cards. The hope is to improve their hand. After everyone has drawn their replacements, another round of betting begins.
If more than one player remains after the second betting round, there is a showdown where players reveal their cards, and the player with the best five-card poker hand wins the pot.
Razz
Razz Poker is a variation of Seven Card Stud (played in the same way) where the goal is to make the lowest possible five-card hand from the seven cards you are dealt. In Razz, straights and flushes do not count against the player for low, and the ace always plays low. Therefore, the best possible Razz hand is 5-4-3-2-A, or five high, also known as “the wheel” or “the bicycle.”
Badugi
Badugi is a lowball draw poker game with the goal of making the lowest possible four-card hand with no pairs and no cards of the same suit. Aces are low, and the best possible hand is A-2-3-4 of different suits (also known as “the wheel”).
After the first betting round, players can choose how many cards they want to discard (from 0 to 4) from their hands face down. Starting from the dealer and moving clockwise, players draw cards equal to the number they discarded to replace unwanted cards and hopefully improve their hands.
There are typically three betting rounds in Badugi, and if more than one player remains after the final betting round, they reveal their cards, and the player with the best (lowest) hand wins the pot.
Poker Etiquette
In live poker there are certain unwritten rules which are better known as poker etiquette. They include acting in turn, not making string bets (when you bet but do not out your chips into play in one motion – possibly to gauge a rival’s reaction), revealing your hand, and splashing a pot.
In online poker a breach of etiquette is difficult as software prevents many breaches from happening. However, it is important to be respectful of opponents and employ a policy of fairness.
It is considered inappropriate to do prolonged slowrolling when making decisions, as this can frustrate other players. In addition, the abuse of chat to disturb or intimidate opponents is strongly discouraged.
Maintaining a professional behavior helps to build a positive gaming environment. It is also a good rule to congratulate opponents and accept defeats with honor.
To improve the game experience, many use poker software to keep track of opponent statistics and habits.