How to Play Different Poker Games

Poker games can be played with a wide range of styles and rules, and each version offers its own challenges. In general, the only set of rules necessarily uniting each game type is the scale of winning hands. But in certain special game types, even this is set aside. Poker games can be divided into three basic categories: "Community card" games, "stud" games and "draw" games. Within each category, there are certain favorite rules variations: Texas Hold 'em, the world's most popular poker game; seven-card stud; and five-card draw. Other poker games often are variations on the basic rules for these three games.

Things You'll Need

• One or two decks of cards
• Poker chip set

Instructions

Setup and scale of winning hands

1. Use a table to create a playing space where players will sit. Distribute chips equally to all players and use a "dealer chip" or other marker to indicate who will be the first dealer. Shuffle the cards.

2. Before beginning, all players need to learn the scale of winning hands, which orders the best five-card hands. The scale moves from the weakest winning hand to the strongest, and is as follows:
   Pair: Player holds a pair of the same number or face (9-9, for example)
   Two pair: Player holds two different pairs (9-9 and 5-5)
   Three of a kind: Player holds three of the same number or face (jack-jack-jack)
   Straight: Player holds five cards in numerical order (8-9-10-jack-queen)
   Flush: Player holds five cards numerically out of order, but all the same suit (2-5-6-king-ace of spades)
   Full house: Player holds a pair of one card and three of a kind of another (jack-jack, 3-3-3)
   Four of a kind: Player holds all four of the same number (7-7-7-7)
   Straight flush: Player holds five cards of the same suit that also are in numerical order (2-3-4-5-6 of hearts)

3. If you or other players aren't sure you'll be able to memorize that list--it takes some practice--write it down so everyone can use throughout the game.

Community card game: Texas Hold 'em

1. The dealer should deal every player two cards, face down. The two players to the left of the dealer must place bets no matter what cards they receive--the first player putting in a "small blind," and the second a "big blind" of twice the small blind's amount. Players can decide what blinds should be and how quickly they should increase during the course of the game.

2. Betting then proceeds clockwise around the table. (Note that for each round, whoever is in small blind position begins the betting.) If no bet has yet been made, a player may choose to "check," which allows him to pass on placing a bet but remain in the hand. But if a bet is on the table--including the big blind--players must "call" the bet by matching it or "raise" the bet by matching, and then increasing the amount. If a player does not want to call or raise a bet, he can "fold," ending his participation in the hand.

3. After betting, the dealer should deal one card face down (the "burn" card) in the center of the table, and three cards face up. The "flop," as these cards are called, is a set of community cards which every player can use in conjunction with his two personal face-down cards, to build the best five-card hand.

4. After another round of betting, the dealer burns another card and deals one more face up. Players bet again, followed by one more community card, followed by a final round of betting. After all bets have been placed, the player with the best five-card combination (using his two cards and the five community cards) takes the pot.

Stud game: Seven-card stud

1. Deal each player two face-down cards and one face-up card. Instead of blinds, a small set amount of money is contributed by each player to the pot, called an "ante." To initiate betting, the player with the lowest face-up card must begin the bet with either a "bring-in"--half of a small bet--or a full small bet. Both amounts are determined by the players before the start of the game, and, like blinds, can increase throughout the game.

2. Betting proceeds with the same rules as a game of Texas Hold 'em. After each round of betting, the dealer deals another face-up card to each player. Each time, the player with the highest poker value to his exposed hand is the first to bet. Betting and dealing continue until each player has four face-up cards.

3. One more card is then dealt to each player face down; players now have four cards face up and three face down. After a final round of betting, the player with the best five-card hand from his seven cards wins the pot.

Draw game: Five-card draw

1. Each player is dealt five cards face down. Betting proceeds along the Texas Hold 'em rules, including blinds.

2. After one round of betting, each player has an opportunity to discard as many of his cards as he chooses. The dealer deals replacement cards to each player, leaving everyone with five cards.

3. After another round of betting, the player with the best five-card hand wins the pot.

Tips & Warnings

• In situations where a tie must be broken, the higher card wins the pot. For example, if two players each have a pair, a pair of 8s will beat a pair of 2s. If both players have a pair of 8s, whichever player has the highest other card in his five card hand wins the pot.

Resources

• Detailed rules for many basic and specialty poker games