Did you know that poker in all its wonderful forms, is the most played card game in the world? It's popularity has grown by leaps and bounds since the days of the casinos and poker rooms in the back of the saloons of the old west in America, and more people today are enjoying the card game that "separates the men from the boys". Turn on the TV any time of any day, and you will find some kind of a poker tournament in progress under the scrutiny of the cameras, and the MC whispering into the mike of who he thinks holds the best poker hands.
Like any other card game, poker has a very defined set of rules that should be followed by all the players involved to insure that the game runs smoothly and everyone is dealt with fairly. The basic tenets of the game are that individual cards are ranked from Ace (high) to 2 (low); and suits have no value in the tallying of points or standing in rank. Aces can be low in a straight or straight flush (ex: A2345) ; and Ace plays low only in A to 5 and A to 6 lowball games, and plays high only in 2 to 7 lowball. The best poker hands can vary in makeup depending on what kind of poker you are playing; for example, in most poker games, the Ace is high, then the King, then Queen, then Jack, then 10; and the object is to get the highest valued cards or combinations of cards to win the dealt hand. In so-called lowball poker, the object is to get the lowest valued combination or values of cards to win the deal.
In order to be an effective poker player, you must understand the hierarchy of card combinations that can win the hand you are playing. Starting from the least important hand to the highest combo you could get, the list runs as such: high cards, 1 pair, 2 pair, 3 of a kind, Straight, Flush, Full House, 4 of a kind, Straight Flush. Remember that suits have no value in poker and that thought should always be included in your calculations when you are evaluating the best poker hands. Suits are used only to determine whether a hand fits into a certain category, for example flush and straight flush hands. What makes a flush a flush, is that the run of 5 cards is made up of all the same suit, not whether that suit is diamonds or spades, etc. If 2 players have the identical numbered cards in a straight flush, and for example one was 3,4,5,6,7 of spades; and the other run was 3,4,5,6,7 of diamonds-the spades are not higher than the diamonds, the hands are tied and the players must split the pot.
So to get the upper hand at the poker table, not only must you know what constitutes the best poker hands, but you must also know how to bid correctly on the hand that is dealt to you. Sometimes the bidding can get pretty hairy and nerve wracking because every player is trying to outwit the player sitting next to him or across the table from him, and decide if those other players really have the type of hand they seem to have because of their bidding; or are they sitting without any good cards at all and trying to take you to the cleaners by bluffing. Having a good "poker face" is mandatory, because all at the table are watching to see if your expression gives away what's in your hand.
The old adage, "experience is the best teacher" is just as true with poker as it is in any other area of life. Playing with all degrees of experienced players will get you the knowledge you will need to face off with the players around the table and play your dealt hand to the fullest. There is a lot to be said for having lots of experience in the field you are acting in, and the old cowboy song of "know when to hold 'em, and know when to fold 'em"; certainly rings true here. Nothing will prepare you better for understanding and recognizing the best poker hands like good old experience, so try to get as much of it under your belt as you can.
One of the very best places and most informative places on earth to get the information you need on how to play poker, is on the Internet. There are so many sites there dedicated to the rules of the game and the mechanics of the play, the bidding, and what the best poker hands are, the worst poker hands and how to manipulate them all to your best advantage. There are even sites that tell you how to maintain a "poker face" and use it to sway the game in your favor; and sites telling you how to react to certain hands dealt to you depending on what others around the table have already bid. There are even sites on the Net that let you join a game already in progress online, and you can just play; you do not need to cough up any money, just join in and learn and have fun.
Just think how dull the world would be without card games, and for a good share of the population that are playing cards, poker is the game of choice, with out a doubt. The thrill of the play and the bidding itself, as well as the air of suspense that hangs over the table as each player tries to outwit the others and reveal who holds the best poker hands; makes poker the exciting game that it is. There are plenty of expressions that have evolved into the general language showing how much poker has become a part of our every day lives, such as "when the chips are down" and wearing a "poker face." One thing is for sure; whether you are new to the game and just learning the ropes, or a seasoned player; poker holds the same attraction and satisfies one's need for excitement more than anything else. - 23802
Like any other card game, poker has a very defined set of rules that should be followed by all the players involved to insure that the game runs smoothly and everyone is dealt with fairly. The basic tenets of the game are that individual cards are ranked from Ace (high) to 2 (low); and suits have no value in the tallying of points or standing in rank. Aces can be low in a straight or straight flush (ex: A2345) ; and Ace plays low only in A to 5 and A to 6 lowball games, and plays high only in 2 to 7 lowball. The best poker hands can vary in makeup depending on what kind of poker you are playing; for example, in most poker games, the Ace is high, then the King, then Queen, then Jack, then 10; and the object is to get the highest valued cards or combinations of cards to win the dealt hand. In so-called lowball poker, the object is to get the lowest valued combination or values of cards to win the deal.
In order to be an effective poker player, you must understand the hierarchy of card combinations that can win the hand you are playing. Starting from the least important hand to the highest combo you could get, the list runs as such: high cards, 1 pair, 2 pair, 3 of a kind, Straight, Flush, Full House, 4 of a kind, Straight Flush. Remember that suits have no value in poker and that thought should always be included in your calculations when you are evaluating the best poker hands. Suits are used only to determine whether a hand fits into a certain category, for example flush and straight flush hands. What makes a flush a flush, is that the run of 5 cards is made up of all the same suit, not whether that suit is diamonds or spades, etc. If 2 players have the identical numbered cards in a straight flush, and for example one was 3,4,5,6,7 of spades; and the other run was 3,4,5,6,7 of diamonds-the spades are not higher than the diamonds, the hands are tied and the players must split the pot.
So to get the upper hand at the poker table, not only must you know what constitutes the best poker hands, but you must also know how to bid correctly on the hand that is dealt to you. Sometimes the bidding can get pretty hairy and nerve wracking because every player is trying to outwit the player sitting next to him or across the table from him, and decide if those other players really have the type of hand they seem to have because of their bidding; or are they sitting without any good cards at all and trying to take you to the cleaners by bluffing. Having a good "poker face" is mandatory, because all at the table are watching to see if your expression gives away what's in your hand.
The old adage, "experience is the best teacher" is just as true with poker as it is in any other area of life. Playing with all degrees of experienced players will get you the knowledge you will need to face off with the players around the table and play your dealt hand to the fullest. There is a lot to be said for having lots of experience in the field you are acting in, and the old cowboy song of "know when to hold 'em, and know when to fold 'em"; certainly rings true here. Nothing will prepare you better for understanding and recognizing the best poker hands like good old experience, so try to get as much of it under your belt as you can.
One of the very best places and most informative places on earth to get the information you need on how to play poker, is on the Internet. There are so many sites there dedicated to the rules of the game and the mechanics of the play, the bidding, and what the best poker hands are, the worst poker hands and how to manipulate them all to your best advantage. There are even sites that tell you how to maintain a "poker face" and use it to sway the game in your favor; and sites telling you how to react to certain hands dealt to you depending on what others around the table have already bid. There are even sites on the Net that let you join a game already in progress online, and you can just play; you do not need to cough up any money, just join in and learn and have fun.
Just think how dull the world would be without card games, and for a good share of the population that are playing cards, poker is the game of choice, with out a doubt. The thrill of the play and the bidding itself, as well as the air of suspense that hangs over the table as each player tries to outwit the others and reveal who holds the best poker hands; makes poker the exciting game that it is. There are plenty of expressions that have evolved into the general language showing how much poker has become a part of our every day lives, such as "when the chips are down" and wearing a "poker face." One thing is for sure; whether you are new to the game and just learning the ropes, or a seasoned player; poker holds the same attraction and satisfies one's need for excitement more than anything else. - 23802
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Dean Evert informs readers with topics such as poker strategies ebook. For more information on Poker Lessons visit our site.
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