How to Play Poker

Poker is a game of strategy. You'll need to constantly read the other players to decide when to hold 'em, when to fold 'em, when to bluff, and when to call someone else’s bluff. There are many variations of poker, but Texas Hold'Em is the most popular. While each variation has its own rules, the basics of the game are always the same. All you have to do is master the basics - then you can start developing your own winning strategy!

0:00 Learning the 10 poker hands
1:46 What do you do if two people have the same hand?
2:05 How to play the Texas Hold 'Em variant

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Before you get started playing any type of 5-card poker, you’ll need to learn the 10 ways to win. In order from lowest to highest, they are:

1. High card.
2. Pair of cards, like two 2s.
3. Two pairs of cards, like two 5s and two 9s.
4. Three of a kind, like three 4s.
5. Straight, which is five cards in sequential order. For example, a player might have a 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of any suit.
6. Flush, which is when a player has five cards of the same suit in any order. For example, a player might have a 2, 7, 10, Jack, and Queen of spades.
7. Full house, which is when a player has a pair and a three of a kind.
8. Four of a kind, like all four Aces.
9. Straight flush, which is when you have five cards in sequential order of the same suit. For example, a player might have a 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of clubs.
10. Royal Flush, which is a straight flush containing a 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace.

If two people have the same hand, the person with the higher cards wins.

Here's #howto play Texas Hold’Em:
• You’ll first need to bet your “ante,” which is your “buy in bet” to play the round. The ante is usually a small bet, like $1 or $5, and it’s decided by the table.
• Once everyone has bet their ante, the dealer will deal two cards to each player. Keep these cards secret from everyone else.
• Now, every player will take a look at their cards and choose whether or not to bet. Whenever there’s a betting round, you can choose to “fold,” which means not playing this round, “check,” which means matching their bet, or “raise,” which means adding more money to the betting pool.
• Players that are unwilling to “check” a bet have to fold; and if everyone but one player “folds,” that player wins!
• Once everyone has bet, the dealer will reveal three cards. These cards are known as the “flop.” When you see the flop, start planning what hand you want to make, keeping in mind that there are still two more cards to be revealed. For example, are your cards both diamonds, and did the flop include two diamond cards? In that case, you might want to aim for a flush, which is when you have five cards of the same suit.
• After the flop, everyone has the chance to bet again, before the dealer reveals the next card, which is the “turn.”
• Bet again if you want to, then the dealer will reveal the “river,” which is the last card.
• At this point, you’ll see a total of 7 cards: two in your hands, and five on the table. Now, players will bet once last time, then everyone will reveal their hand. Your goal is to create the highest hand possible out of those seven cards, even if it means only using one card from your hand and four cards from the table.
• The player with the best hand wins!

Follow our social media channels to find more interesting, easy, and helpful guides!

[shainne]

I don't want my gambling addiction get any worse and I'm over here watching how to play poker

[ITSaJOKEEE]

Half of the Comment section: “iM jUsT HeRe bEcauSe oF KaKeguRi”

The other half trying to actually learn poker in the comment section: “iM ConFuSeD sTilL”

[mystix]

I mean, you always win poker if you bring a gun and a mask

[st-]

Hm. I think you missed the part where your eyes turn blood red and you somehow find out how the student council is cheating.

[charliekirkland]

I thought I had everything figured out until I read the comments and apparently half the stuff in here is wrong so now Im back to confused

[ishbath]

Intructions unclear, I said “go fish” and picked up a royal flush.

[matrixman]

Who is here to up their poker skills in Rdr2?

[Cyber.Thunder]

This is explained very well, makes it easy to understand, thanks!

[michaelamaya]

And don't forget the most important rule...

Don't look at your cards and bluff the dealer as you act nonchalant, light a cigarette, and drink a blue cocktail.

[realArissy]

1 high card
2 pair of cards
2 pairs of cards
3 a kind (3 of the same number/suit)
straight( 5 card in sequential order:56789)
Full house: a pair and a 3 of a kind
4 of a kind(same number/suit)
Straight flush (5 cards in the same suit in sequential order)
Royal flush: straight flush but containes 10, jack, queen, king, ace)

[Top is the lowest, bottom is the highest]
Your welcome

[Kgy_]

Who else is watching this video for red dead redemption 2

[Daniel-eyel]

lol this is inaccurate. Checking is not matching the bet, checking is choosing not to bet if not betting has taken place prior to you, calling is matching the bet

[conradwichmann]

All you need to know:
Everything you do at the poker table conveys information. You can't be all loosey goosey having a sandwich.

[sullss]

who's hear after watching kakeguri

[DRNGDGMR]

I had no clue how poker worked prior to watching this. Good job explaining it!

[daemon]

Man, i finally understood how to play poker but when i read the comments im now confused

[honeydumpling]

To all the anime kids

It’s impossible to learn poker if you never play it

[danielclover]

who's just want to learn how to play poker lmao?

[nevenaterzic]

came here after kakegurui and when I tell you these comments CALLED ME TF OUT

[gameoverlordN]

This is why I play Blackjack.
But all my buddies are like "hOw YoU nOt KnOw PoKeR!?"