Beginner’s Guide To Poker

A Quick History of Poker

Poker’s origins are debated, but most historians trace it back to early 19th-century America. Riverboats on the Mississippi saw gamblers playing a 20-card version of the game. By the mid-1800s, poker had evolved intoa 52-card deck format, spreading across the United States during the Wild Westera.

In the 1970s, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) brought poker to the global stage. The 2000s saw an online poker boom, when players like Chris Moneymaker turned small online buy-ins into million-dollar WSOP wins, inspiring a new generation.

Today, Texas Hold’em is by far the most played variant, both online and live.

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Poker Hand Rankings

Before learning the rules, you must understand hand rankings. These determine which hand wins at showdown.

From strongest to weakest:

1.    Royal Flush – A, K, Q, J, 10 of the same suit.

2.    Straight Flush – Five consecutive cards of the same suit.

3.    Four of a Kind – Four cards of the same rank.

4.    Full House – Three of a kind + a pair.

5.    Flush – Five cards of the same suit (not consecutive).

6.    Straight – Five consecutive cards, any suit.

7.    Three of a Kind – Three cards of the same rank.

8.    Two Pair – Two different pairs.

9.    One Pair – Two cards of the same rank.

10.  HighCard – None of the above; the highest single card wins.

Learn this list by heart; it’s the foundation of every poker decision.

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How Texas Hold’em Works

Texas Hold’em is played with a standard 52-card deck. Each player is dealt two private cards (hole cards). Then five community cards are dealt face up in the centre. Players use any combination of their hole cards and the community cards to make the best 5-card hand.

The Flow of a Hand:

1. Blinds

·     The two players to the left of the dealer post the small blind and big blind (forced bets to start the action).

2. Hole Cards

·     Each player gets 2 private cards.

3. First Betting Round (Pre-Flop)

·     Players decide to fold, call (match the big blind), or raise.

4. The Flop

·     3 community cards are dealt face up.

·     Second betting round begins.

5. The Turn

·     A 4th community card is dealt.

·     Third betting round begins.

6. The River

·     The 5th and final community card is dealt.

·     Final betting round.

7. Showdown

·     If more than one player remains, hands are revealed.

·     Best 5-card hand wins the pot.

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Betting Actions Explained

In poker, you’ll use these core actions:

·     Fold – Give up your hand and your chips in the pot.

·     Check – Pass the action without betting (only if no bet has been made).

·     Bet – Put chips into the pot.

·     Call – Match another player’s bet.

·     Raise – Increase the size of the current bet.

Knowing when to fold or raise is what separates winning players from losing ones.

Poker Table Setup

A few key terms you’ll hear:

·     Dealer Button – A marker that moves clockwise each hand, determining who acts last.

·     Small Blind – Forced bet by the player to the dealer’s left.

·     Big Blind – Forced bet by the next player left of the small blind.

·     Position – Where you sit relative to the dealer button matters. Acting later gives you more information, which is a huge advantage.