How Do You Play Poker, Anyways?

Do you feel like this when you get invited to play poker? Let us help you.

Here are a couple handy things to keep in mind when learning how to play:

- There's a big difference between playing poker in a casino and playing at a friend's home: There is virtually no joking around and the atmosphere can be intense while at a casino. When playing in a more casual setting, you can feel free to jest, tease and really let loose during the game.

-  Even if you have a good hand, you will need to weigh that against the chances that your opponent has a better hand.

- The more you are into the game, the easier it will be to learn the language of your opponents.

- Below, an example of poker hands and what they include:

- The best time to fold is when you see that your hand is a losing one and that those around you are exhibiting a confidence that you do not share.

- Not only is it possible to read the body language of others as you sit at the poker table, it is a key component of the game. For instance, if someone sits up very straight as they place their bets they likely have great confidence in their hand. The same is true if the player is chatting a lot during the game or smiling at the other players. On the other hand, players that roll their eyes or take deeps breaths are more likely to have fairly weak hands.

- The most common hand is a no-pair which is also referred to high-card. This means that there are no pairs, no flush and no other ‘playable’ sequence in the hand. Thus, all you are really left with is a hand with a high-card. This hand is dealt about 50% of the time.


These are some great tips to get you started in learning how to master the game of poker. For more tips, and greater detail, check out our website articles here.

Who makes the rules in a poker game?

This blog post, we want to bring together some great short articles from our website and highlight the types of poker games there are.

Let's start with some basics... Who makes the rules of a poker game? How long has poker been around for? Who has the final say at the rules during poker night? Read on to find out...

For standard and generally accepted games of poker, the rules of the game are dictated by governing bodies such as the World Series of Poker and the International Federation of Poker. Because the game of poker has been in existence for nearly 200 years, the base rules (for example, what is a flush, the type of deck used, etc) have remained consistent through the years. For the at-home poker player, the decision maker when it comes to ancillary rules is the host of the game. In essence, the philosophy is “My house, my rules”. This does not mean that essential poker rules may be usurped, but it does mean that the host can tack on additional house rules.

So are the Casino poker rules different than the rules you would use at home? We have some tips on etiquette for when you're out at the Casino playing poker.

While the rules of a casino game of poker are the same as the version you would play at home, there are some extra tips that you need to know when playing in a public forum. First, you should only act when it is your turn and not before it is your turn.  Be sure not to throw your tips into the pot and instead place them in front of you and allow the dealer to pull them into the pot. You should also be sure to make sure your cards that are on the table are clearly visible at all times. If you win a pot, you should not make a grab for your winnings and instead wait for the dealer to push them towards you.  Further, it is customary to tip the dealer a small portion of your winnings.

 
Now we will cover some basics of the very popular poker game - Texas Hold 'Em:

Texas Hold ‘Em is one of the most popular poker games in the world and is a favorite at tournaments. This game is played with nine or ten players, with each player getting two cards to hold and then five community cards are dealt face up on the table. The goal is to create the best five card hand given the seven cards that you now have available. Following the first round of betting, three cards are now dealt face up on the table and this is known as the ‘flop’. These are also community cards and another round of betting ensues. Next, a fourth card (referred to as the ‘turn’) is dealt face up on the table and leads to another round of betting. A fifth and final card will now be dealt and this is called the ‘river’, with final betting following.


Find more great articles on our website by clicking here.