Poker

I

Introduction

Poker, any of several card games in which players bet on the value of their hands for the purpose of winning a pool (or pot) formed by the money wagered.

Poker is universally popular, not only for its suspenseful betting but also because it involves psychological ploys such as bluffing (betting on a weak hand as though it were strong). Poker can be played among friends for small stakes or in big-money games, including large tournaments offering millions of dollars in prize money. Unlicensed gambling for money, including poker games, remains illegal in many states, however.

II

Basic Rules

Poker has many different variations, each with rules set by the dealer or by agreement of the players. As few as two and as many as ten (or occasionally more) players can participate in a poker game, but the typical number is four to seven. Larger games sometimes require two decks to play.

The core rule of poker is the relative ranking of the cards and the possible hands. Poker is typically played with a standard 52-card deck with four suits—diamonds, hearts, spades, and clubs—and 13 cards in each suit. From highest to lowest rank, the 13 cards are ace (A), king (K), queen (Q), jack (J), 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2 (deuce). Sometimes certain cards are designated as wild cards (cards that can be used to represent any suit or card value). These can be extra cards, often called jokers, or any other cards the dealer selects (such as deuces or red jacks).

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Winning and losing in poker is determined by the value of each player’s five-card hand. From highest to lowest, these are the possible hands:

• Five of a kind—five cards of the same rank (only possible if wild cards are being used).
• Royal flush—the A-K-Q-J-10 in the same suit.
• Straight flush—any five cards in the same suit in sequence (such as 9-8-7-6-5 of diamonds).
• Four of a kind
• Full house—three of a kind plus a pair (such as three kings and two 4s).
• Flush—any five cards of the same suit but not in sequence.
• Straight—any five cards in sequence, but not all of the same suit. The ace may be counted as high (above the king) or low (below the two) in a straight.
• Three of a kind
• Two pairs
• One pair
• High card—the highest card in a hand.

If two players have the same hand, the winner is determined by the value of the highest card (or cards), meaning that two kings beats two queens, and a full house of three 9s and two 5s beats one with three 8s and two jacks. If the high cards are the same, then the next highest cards are used, and on down until a winner is determined. If all five cards are equal, the players split the pot.

III

Kinds of Poker

Poker games fall into several main categories: draw, stud, shared cards, and miscellaneous games. Each category has many different games, often with colorful names such as Texas Hold ’Em, Let It Ride, or Double Revenge. In any of these games, wild cards may be used to vary the action. The wild cards must be announced before the deal.

A

Draw

Draw poker is named for the draw, which allows players to exchange their cards for new ones from the deck. Five cards are dealt at one time to each player. After a round of betting, players may trade in their cards for new ones (so that a player exchanging three cards will get three new cards dealt from the deck). Sometimes the number of cards a player may trade in is limited. Another round of betting then occurs and the remaining players reveal their cards (called the showdown). Players can fold (drop out of a hand) at any time during the game, forfeiting the money they have already bet.