Archive for July 15th, 2010

A Comprehensive Guide To Poker

Thursday, July 15th, 2010

All variations in poker are played with a deck of playing cards and set of poker chips. A single deck of card set consists of 52 cards that have four different suites specifically hearts, spades, diamonds and clubs. Each suite has a total of fourteen cards ranging from Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten, nine to one. Even though there are a number of poker variations the basic rule of thumb is that the player with the highest hand wins the pot.

The most popular and commonly played poker variations include Texas Holdem, Omaha, Razz and seven card stud. There are only a few differences in the rules but the basics are the same and hence are similar in most of the ways. All the variations are played staking chips sets in different betting rounds and follow the same hand ranking chart. The rule that the highest hand wins is common in all the variations except in Hi/low variation.

A few poker games allow wild cards (joker) which can be used as substitutes for missing cards. Experienced and good players do not prefer wild cards and would like to play games that do not use wild cards as wild cards can change the probabilities and experienced players who win applying strategies would not be able to apply their skills if wild cards are used.

Almost all poker variations constitute whole cards and community cards. Most of the poker includes community cards and Texas Holdem and Omaha is two very popular community card poker variations played by most of the players. Whole cards are private cards that are dealt face down hence are visible only to the related player.

Community cards are cards that are dealt face up and are hence common to all; all the players can use a community card to form their hand. A majority of poker variations are played using both whole cards as well as community cards. Pre flop, flop, turn and river are the different betting rounds. Whole cards are usually dealt in the pre flop and community cards are dealt in the rest of the betting rounds.

There is a predetermined hand ranking chart that shows the different hand ranking sequence, the best hand is determined according to this chart and the highest the hand rank the more are the chances of winning the pot. The players compare their hands in the final show down and the best hand wins the pot.

The royal flush is what tops the chart and is considered to be the highest hand a player can attain. It is quite difficult to attain this hand and very few players do get it. There are no other hand that can beat a royal flush hence a player with a royal flush is sure to win the pot. There are a few poker variation like the hi/low variation where the weakest hand can also win; hence a one pair which is the weakest hand can win in such variation.

A royal flush is followed by various other ranks, after royal flush the ranking sequence are as follows straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair and high card. Poker is a game that can be learned easily as the rules are very easy to understand that once you start playing and gain experience you will be able to win more often than when you have started off.

Tony Shaunber knows the game of poker well and is has played all various styles of the game. He enjoys playing at home with friends, and keeps the games lively by playing with casino style clay chips. Tony purchases many of the finest quality poker chip sets online and usually gets them at decent prices.

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