Game Rules, Ranking of Hands, Game Glossary and more - all about the poker game

Online Poker Variations

Draw

To begin, two players at the poker game table make a blind wager, before receiving any cards. Each player seated in the game takes turn at placing such a wager.

Players first receive five cards dealt face down, then look at them, then decide if they wish to stay in the game. If so, a bet must now be placed.

Once all bets are called the first betting round is complete.

Players may now choose to exchange with the dealer any number of cards from their hand. This is known as 'the draw'.

Once the draw is complete a second round of betting takes place.

If all bets are called there is a showdown.

The winner is the player with the highest hand.

If only one player remains, he will win the pot automatically.

Seven-Card Stud

Each player receives two cards face down and one face up. The player with the lowest card opens the betting. Each player in turn must call, raise, or fold. On all subsequent rounds, the player with the best hand open the betting.

Each player is then dealt 3 cards face up with a betting round following each card.

The last card dealt to each remaining player is face down with the final betting round following.

Players remaining in the hand will then show their hands and the winning hand will be awarded the pot. Suits are not used in determining the winning hand, and tied hands will split the pot.

Seven-Card Stud High/Low Split

High/Low Split differs from the high-only game in that the player with the highest card must open the betting.

At the showdown, if a qualifying low hand (five cards of 8 or below with no pair) exists, it will be awarded one half the pot and the best hand is awarded the other half.

In the absence of a qualifying low hand, the best hand wins the entire pot. A straight or a flush, 8-high or lower, may be both the highest and lowest hand, in which case it wins the pot.

Five-Card Stud

All players place a small wager known as an 'ante'. The dealer then deals each player two cards, one face down, known as the 'hole' card and the other face up.

The player with the lowest up-card must place the opening bet.

Each player to the left of the player making the opening bet must in turn either call, raise or fold.

When this round is complete each player is then dealt another card face up followed by a round of betting. This continues until all players have five cards, one face down and four face up or until only one player remains.

From the third card onwards, the betting is started by the highest hand showing.

If there is a showdown, players show all five cards. The winning hand is the highest hand.

Texas Hold 'Em

It uses a disc called a dealer button to indicate where the cards are to be dealt. Prior to the deal, the two players to the left of the button place live bets called the small and large blinds. It's called live because it counts as part of any further bets in the first betting round.

The play begins with two cards dealt face-down to each player. Action starts with a betting round beginning with the player to the left of the blind bets and continuing clockwise around the table. Players may call, raise or fold. The large blind has the privilege of last action and may call or raise the bet.

Three community cards are then dealt face up in the center of the table and another betting round takes place beginning with the player to the left of the dealer button. Another card is dealt face up followed by a round of betting. The fifth and last card is dealt face up and a final round of betting takes place.

Players remaining in the game will then show their cards and the winning hand will be awarded the pot. Any combination of hole cards and community cards may be used to make the best five card hand. The poker game "mastering" part is the costly part, especially in the traditional setting of a casino poker game room.