Introduction to Poker

• Definition of Poker:

Poker is a card game that share rules of betting and normally also share hand rankings. Poker games are widely varied, depending on how the cards are given out or formed, whether the winner wins low or high hands, bet limits, and how many number of bets are permitted. Contemporary poker usually enforces some type of compulsory bet in the initial round, called the blinds. Normally there is a small and big blind, these positions move to left after each hand. Therefore each player playing at the table is the “Big ” and “Small” blind. Big Blind amounts are the minimum bets allowed on the table, while the small blind is usually 1/2 (half) the big blind amount. Blinds are used to force action on the table, otherwise everyone would continue to fold their hands until they hand a strong hand. The game is played from the left and each player should either match the previous maximum bet or fold, which means to admit defeat.

• History of Poker:

Poker’s history is somewhat a colorful one. During the 15^th century, there was a German game called Pochspiel which combined the art of betting, hand rankings and bluffing. The author R.F. Foster wrote in his 1937 Foster’s Complete Hoyle that the game of poker when first introduced in America, consisted of five cards accorded to each participant from a deck of twenty cards, and is very similar to the Persian game known as As Nas.

• Types of Poker:

Texas hold ‘em pot/ no limit:

Texas hold ‘em, which is also popularly termed as hold’em or holdem is a form of variant poker card game, comprising two cards dealt face down to each player and the dealer puts down five community cards – first three cards known as ‘the flop’, then two more cards known as  ‘the turn’ which is followed by the last card called ‘the river’. Players can then choose to check, bet or fold after each card is dealt.

Omaha:

Omaha or also called Omaha hold’em or Omaha holdem is another form of community poker quite similar to Texas hold’em. The same rules apply where each player is given four cards and has to compose the best combination from two out their four cards, including three of the five community cards.

Omaha Hi/ Lo:

Omaha Hi/ Lo, also called the high-low split requires each player to assemble a separate five card high hand and five card (ace to five) low hand, and the pot is split between the two. To attain a low, the player must be able to achieve a 8-7-6-5-4 or lower. Each player can play two out of the four hole cards to create a low hand. If no qualifying low hand is visible, then the high hand is victorious and takes home the pot.

Stud Poker:

In stud poker, cards are given in a predetermined combination of face up and face down rounds. A round of betting ensues. The winner is the one who has the best possible five card hand.

Draw Poker:

For draw poker, each player gets a complete hand which is faced down. After initial bets are made, players are permitted to change their cards and throwing away useless ones.

Badugi:

Badugi, Badougi, Paduki or Padooki is a draw poker game akin to triple draw, but with hand values like lowball. Players ger four cards instead of the usual five used in conventional poker. There are three drawing rounds, and each player can exchange four to zero cards from the deck to create the best badugi hand and win the coveted pot.

• How to Play Poker:

Have an understanding of the deck of cards from weakest to strongest, which is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K, A. Learn and scrutinize poker hands. For example, a pair is two of the same card in your hand like two sixes or two aces. Two pair means separate pairs like two sixes and two eights. Three of a kind means that you hold three jacks or three queens, so on and so forth.

Understand the order of poker winning hands from strongest to weakest; Royal Flush, Straight Flush, 4 of a Kind, Full House, Straight, 3 of a Kind, 2 Pairs, Pair, High Card.