How to Play Poker: A Complete Beginner's Guide
Welcome to our comprehensive guide on how to play poker. Whether you're completely new to the game or looking to brush up on the basics, this guide will help you understand the fundamental concepts of poker and get you started on your journey.
Learn the Basics
The Objective
The main goal in poker is to win chips or money by either having the best hand or making other players fold their hands. Each poker hand consists of five cards, and the player with the highest-ranking hand wins the pot.
Hand Rankings
- Royal Flush: A, K, Q, J, 10 of the same suit
- Straight Flush: Five consecutive cards of the same suit
- Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank
- Full House: Three of a kind plus a pair
- Flush: Any five cards of the same suit
- Straight: Five consecutive cards of any suit
- Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank
- Two Pair: Two different pairs
- One Pair: Two cards of the same rank
- High Card: Highest card when no other hand is made
Basic Terms
- Ante: A small bet all players must make before the hand begins
- Blinds: Forced bets made by players to the left of the dealer
- Call: Matching the current bet amount
- Raise: Increasing the current bet amount
- Fold: Discarding your hand and forfeiting the pot
- Check: Passing the action to the next player without betting