May 22 2008
Learning to Play Poker in Minutes
The rules that have to be followed when playing poker vary a little bit depending on which variation of the game you are playing at the time. The variation of poker being played really matters very little as it does not change the rankings of the hands that will be dealt.
The first and foremost thing that anyone wanting to play poker should learn is the deck of cards that is being used. The card deck will have suits. The suits being diamonds, hearts, clubs and spades. Each of these suits will have just one each of the queen, king, jack ace, and the numbers ten through two.
Once you start playing poker you will see that it is relatively similar to most other card games. That your ultimate goal is to combine the cards that you hold in your hand to make the best possible hand. Of course in other card games different hands have different strengths than in poker, but it is the same basic concept. The poker hand strength list is as follows.
Royal Flush: In poker there is not a hand that is higher then the royal flush. Since it is the highest hand it is also the hardest hand to get. Quite a few poker players will play their whole lives with never seeing this hand dealt to them. This hand consists of the ace down through the ten and all must be of the same suit.
Straight Flush: This hand differs from the royal in that the cards need not be in numerical order 10 through the ace. The cards do need to be five cards in sequential order and all of the same suit. This is another very strong hand, and being so it is also very hard to draw to. It is only beaten by a royal flush and of course a straight flush that is higher.
The Full House: This hand consists of 5 cards. Three of one numerical value, and two other matching numerical value cards. A example would be seven, seven, seven, two and two. This hand is one of the top value hands and is not beaten by much. It can only be topped by a straight flush, higher full house, and a royal flush.
The Straight: This hand will have five cards that are in numerical order and that can be any suit. It could look like 2 of diamonds, 3 of clubs, 5 of spades, 6 of diamonds, and 4 of hearts. The weakness or strength of the straight is determined by the highest numbered card in the straight and suit is not considered at all in this hand.
A flush: A flush is a relatively strong poker hand. The flush consists of five cards of any numerical value that are all of the same suit. The strength of the flush is determined by the numerical value of the highest card in the flush.
Trips: This hand has three cards of the same numerical value. The suit of these cards plays no part in determining the strength of the hand.