Poker

Being one of the most well-known casino games in the world, poker has accumulated a tremendous amount of interest. Televised events have helped this to become the case, with intense tournaments being carried out periodically throughout each year. Some players in these events are professionals, while a majority of the field are advanced players. From high stakes to social games between friends, poker is a favourite of many. In this post, we take a look at the game and explain how to play it. 

First, players need to briefly learn the value of each hand. The two cards received at the start of the round are used with the final 5 cards that appear after three different dealing periods in order to create the best possible combination. In order of desirability, there is a royal flush, a straight flush, four of a kind, a full house, a flush, a straight, three of a kind, 2 pair, pair, and high card.

A royal flush is achieved when the cards 10, J, Q, K, and A appear, all of the same suit. A straight flush is cards of the same suit that run consecutively. Four of a kind is four cards of the same value, with a full house being 3 cards of the same value alongside a pair. A flush is 5 cards of the same suit, while a straight is any consecutive 5 cards. Next three of a kind, which as the name suggests, is three cards of the same value. Finally, 2 pair is a set of 2 numbers with the same value, a pair is any 2 cards with the same value, and the high card value is found on the card itself (A 10 beats a 9, for example). 

At the start of the round, players will have to lay down some chips as the 'Ante', which is essentially the fee to play the hand. In addition to this, there is a small and big blind, defined as two positions on the table that are also forced bets. Typically, the small blind will be double the size of the big blind. After this, players will be dealt two cards face down, which only they will see for the duration of the hand. They will then have the choice between various actions:

• Bet - Betting is exactly as most people would expect and involves laying chips to represent the hand. However, in poker, the bet is defined as the first wager placed on the table, apart from the ante and blinds.
• Raise - Raising is the action of betting more than the current bet, which must then be matched by other players that want to continue playing. 
• Re-Raise - When someone raises immediately after another player has raised the pot.
• Call - If a player calls, they agree to the current bet size. This will then be added to the total pot for the hand.
• Fold - This is the way for players to lay down hands that they don't think are strong enough to beat their opponents. Folding will automatically forfeit the bet for that round, with players no longer being involved in the rest of the hand. 
• Check - Should a player check; it means they are happy to receive a 'free' card, without betting. Other players can either agree by checking back or bet for themselves.

If there is only one player that hasn't folded their hand, they will take the total pot, which will accumulate with all bets, including antes. Should more than one player make it to the final round, with the last being called, the player with the best hand will take the pot.

While there are a whole host of different poker strategies out there, perhaps the best way to find a strategy for each player is to adapt one to their own play style. For example, some people will throw in an even number of bluffs and strong hands when playing, while others will just mix it up totally at random. One of the best poker tips is to remain unpredictable so that others cannot identify the strength of the player's hand. 

That wraps up this guide on poker, a game that is a staple at both physical and online casinos. Like with most other games, learning as much as possible before learning can be incredibly beneficial. There is also a wide range of free poker alternatives that can be found online, which can be perfect for allowing players to hone their skills.