Poker 101

The game of poker has experienced unprecedented popularity in the past decade. It is now, by far, the most popular card game and is even vying for the most widely played game on the planet. The combined efforts of media coverage and online poker rooms, have seen the game's explosion in numbers. Despite this enhanced coverage, many people are still confused about the game.

Most of us will have grown up playing a version of poker known as five-card draw. This is when each player is dealt five cards. They can then swop out a number of cards once with the dealer to try and make the best hand and betting takes place based on the strength of that hand. This at least gives most people a basic knowledge of hand strengths. However, the most popular modern game of poker is called No Limit Texas Hold'em. This version allows for a lot more strategic play and also makes for more excitement in terms of both player and/or audience participation. Due to its popularity, we'll only be covering this form of the game. There are other versions of poker, such as: five card draw, seven card draw, Omaha, Caribbean stud, Razz poker and others.

BLUFF Magazine South Africa is the country's premier source of information regarding anything poker-related. In the interests of the game, we want to offer this cut-out and keep guide for people who want to learn how to play Texas Hold'em poker. These are the very basics of the game and we highly recommend studying or researching the game further to improve your skills. Reading BLUFF Magazine or checking out our website is a good start.

Deck of Cards
The deck of poker cards consists of 52 cards, and these cards are divided into four different suits, each containing 13 ranks. Each suit has equal value, no suit is higher than any other suit.

Four Suits

Spades Hearts Clubs Diamonds

Rank of Hands
Poker is a popular casino table game and is played from a standard 52 card deck with many game variants, each with its own individual rules. The rank of hands, however, remains the same no matter which poker game played.

A poker hand consists of five cards and the player with the highest ranking hand is the winner. Poker hands fall into one of several categories such as flush, straight or two pair.

The Ace is the highest value card and the 2 (deuce) is the lowest. The Ace, however, can be used as the low card to form a Straight : 5 4 3 2 A.

Royal Flush

A Royal Flush is an ace high straight flush. A royal flush is an unbeatable hand which consists of the ace, king, queen, jack and ten of a suit.

Straight Flush

A Straight Flush is a five-card straight, all in the same suit. Five cards in sequence, of the same suit.

Four of a Kind - Quads

Quads, or Four of a Kind, are four cards of the same rank, and one other card or ‘kicker'. In the event of a tie, the highest four of a kind wins. In community card games where players have the same four of a kind, the highest kicker card wins.

Full House (or Full Boat)

A Full House, or full boat, contains three cards (a set) of the same rank and a pair of another rank. In the event of a tie, the highest three matching cards wins the pot.

Flush

A Flush is any five cards, all of the same suit. In the event of a tie, the player holding the highest ranked card wins. If necessary, the second-highest, third-highest, fourth-highest, and fifth-highest cards can be used to break the tie. If all five cards are the same ranks, the pot is split. The suit itself is never used to break a tie in poker.

Straight

A Straight is five cards of sequential rank. A straight will contain either a 5 or a 10. In the event of a tie, the highest ranking card at the top of the sequence wins. The Ace may be used at the top or bottom of a straight sequence, and is the only card which can act in this manner. A,K,Q,J,T is the highest (Ace high) straight; 5,4,3,2,A is the lowest (Five high) straight.

Three of a Kind or Set

Three of a Kind is three cards of the same rank, and two unrelated cards. In the event of a tie, the highest ranking three of a kind wins. In community card games where players have the same three of a kind, the highest side card, and if necessary, the second-highest side card wins.

Two Pair

A Two Pair is two cards of a matching rank, another two cards of a different matching rank, and one side card. In the event of a tie, the highest pair wins. If players have the same highest pair, highest second pair wins. If both players have two identical pairs, highest kicker card wins.

Pair

One Pair is two cards of a matching rank, and three unrelated side cards. In the event of a tie, the highest pair wins. If players have the same pair, the highest kicker card wins, and if necessary, the second-highest and third-highest kicker card can be used to break the tie.

High card

Should a hand not qualify under the categories listed above, the highest card wins, and if necessary, the second-highest, third-highest, fourth-highest and smallest card can be used to break the tie.