Things You'll Need:
- Deck of cards.
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Step 1
The first thing you need to know about poker is that it is always the best five cards. In most game's you must use five cards you cannot have a four card flush it doesn't work like that. I will be using five cards in my examples. Also a common beginner mistake is to cycle through just remember a straight cannot be KA234 a high straight stops at the A so 10JQKA no more. It's the same with low A2345, an A is used as low and high in poker, just think of it as poker begins and ends with the A.
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Step 2
The second thing you need to know about poker is the ranking of hands First is high card which is the absence of a hand such as A and K high A3269. Next is a pair such as A9947 odds of hiting a pair are 1.366 to one so the chances are always good. Next is two pair which is like AA237 and KK482 in your hand the odds of hitting are 20 to 1. Than three of a kind which is something like 33328 or JJJ82 odds of hitting are 46.3 to 1 . Than a straight which is all numbers in a row such as A2345 or 10JQKA - 253.8 to 1 . Than a flush which is not having all reds in your hand it's suit, A flush is either five hearts, clubs, diamonds, or spaids. An example of a flush is 237AJ all suited hearts - 507.8 to 1. Next is the full house or "boat", this is simply three of a kind with a pair such as 33322 or AA222 - 693.2 to 1. Four of a kind is next which you will rarely ever see since there is only four of each card in the deck, it's 44442 or 77778 - 4,164 to 1. Than straight flush which is a flush in order such as 23456 all of hearts - 72,192.3 to 1. Of course than grand daddy of all hands is the royal flush which the five face cards of one suit such as AKQJ10 all of clubs - 649,739 to 1.
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Step 3
Now poker lingo and meaning. I'm sure you have heard the terms call, bet, and raise these are the most basic terms in poker so learn them well. To call means you match the big blind or the raisers bet, it essentialy means "hey I want to see more cards so I will pay to see."
Betting means all the cards are dealt out and you're the first to intiate action so you put out an amount you think matches your hand strength or bluff. Raising means someone has already bet but you want to put more out so you put more money out that they and everyone else has to match. It is also called a raise when you put more out than the big blind but always remember it has to be at least double the big blind when you raise. The ante is a relatively small amount everyone has to put out even before they see their cards. It builds a pot so to speak. -
Step 4
You also need to know the order of blinds and antes. These are essentially a basis for turns of action and in **** there is a small and big blind. Remember if you are to the left of the big blind you are first to act and if you are the big blind you are last so pay attention and know when it's your turn. The big blind is what everyone has to call to stay in the pot and the small blind is half of that. Pay attention to the blind rounds they always go up unless you're playing a cash game.
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Step 5
If you are playing in a casino you don't really need to worrie about shuffling or paying attention the dealer will make sure you do. If your'e in a home game you should really consider learning to shuffle it speeds up the game and you don't have to embariss yourself by asking someone else to do it for you. Also pay attention, no one likes the person who always has to ask "Is it on me?" Of course it is now go already.
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Step 6
Now that you know the odds and ranking of hands you can take the rules of most poker games and adapt a srtradegy. I always say people play based on their personality so figure out what type of person you are and develop your traps and play style to be it's most effective.
