Official Poker RulesThese are some of the official poker rules. To find out about specific poker hands click here. See below for specific poker game rules. In the most general sense, poker is a card game that involves participating players betting into a communal pot as a round (or hand) is played. The objective is to have the best possible hand, at least better than all others and thereby win the pot. Betting rounds are carried out usually in a circular fashion, around a table and proceed until each player has decided to meet or exceed all preceding bets or has opted to withdraw. The number of betting rounds depends on the variation of poker that is being played. Some variations also include a “draw” component which involves the betting rounds alternated with players having the option to strengthen their hands by replacing up to a specified number of cards from the 52-card, 4-suited deck. Betting rounds in the official poker rules are really periods during which players take a turn deciding on an amount they will wager. During such a round, participating players can decide to do any one of the following: 1. Check - which really means to bet an amount of zero. In this way, a player is still in the game and keeps a chance of winning the pot 2. Bet or raise - a bet that is greater than zero as well as other preceding bets. All other successive players have to meet or exceed it to stay in the game and have a chance of winning the pot 3. Call - a bet that is equal to a preceding bet. It is a way of staying in the game and maintaining a chance of winning the pot 4. Fold - an act of giving up any chance of winning the pot. In response to preceding player's bet, it includes giving up one's cards and previous bets that may have been made.While some cards, such as the joker, can be “wild,” meaning they can be given any value, the ace is most commonly the high card. In some variations, it can be low. In determining a winner, remaining players compare and their hands, according to the following structure for official poker rules: 1. Straight flush, five cards of the same suit in sequence, such as 76543 of diamonds. The top card determines the rank. For example, AKQJ10 is the best straight flush and is also known as a royal flush. If the ace is played low, it will make a hand with 5432A, the lowest straight flush. 2. Four of a kind, four cards of the same rank accompanied by a fifth card, called a “kicker", such as 66665. Such cards are ranked by the set of four, meaning that a hand with 55552 beats 4444K. The kicker is used when the quads are the same, such as in the case of 5555A, which would beat 5555K. 3. Full house, which is composed of three cards of one rank along with two of another, such as 888JJ. These are first ranked by the set of three. For example, 55522 beats 444AA. When the three of s kind are the same, hands are ranked by the pair, such as in the case of 555AA beating 555KK. 4. Flush, this is composed of five cards of the same suit, such as AJ862 of spades. They are ranked based on the top card, and then by the next, and so on for all five cards. For example, AJ862 beats AJ753. 5. Straight, any five cards in sequential order, such as 65432. The ace can play either high or low, such as in the cases: AKQJ10 and 5432A. Straights must maintain standard card order and cannot go "around the corner," such as in the case of 32AKQ. 6. Three of a kind, composed of three cards of the same rank and two kickers of different ranks, such as JJJ64. These hands are ranked by the set of three. For example, KKK64 beats QQQAK. In the event of a tie in the trio, hands are ranked by the two kickers, as in the case of KKKAQ beats KKKA8. 7. Two pair, occurs when a player has two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank and a kicker of a third rank, such as QQ339. Ranking is carried out first according to the top pair, then the bottom pair, and when the pairs are the same, by using the kicker, so that KK558 beats any of QQJJA, KK44Q, and KK447. 8. One pair, a simple case of having two cards of one rank accompanied by three kickers, all of different ranks. An example would be AAK53. Such hands are ranked by the pair, followed by each kicker in turn, based on their rank. For example, AAK63 beats AAK62. 9. High card, any hand not qualifying to be a better hand (such as those above). An example would be KQ542, made of mixed suits. These hands are ranked by the top card, then the second, and so forth for all five cards. Suits are normally not used to break ties and ranking is limited to the best five cards in each hand. No other cards, such as those traded can be used in the comparison. When a tie occurs, the pot is divided equally among the tying/winning hands. In some poker variations, the objective is to have the lowest hand. This can be done by using the ace can be used as a low card or reversing the order used for high hands. In addition to basic betting and ranking rules, there is some terminology that must be understood in the official poker rules. For example, in some games, such as Texas Hold’em , a dealer is designated by a button. The dealer may or may not play, depending on the game. The position of the dealer can also move around the table (usually clockwise). In some games, particularly in Texas Hold’em as well, a means of making sure there is an amount to be played for on every hand. Read more about Texas Hold'em official poker rules below. This process is referred to as posting “blinds.” In this manner, a compulsory bet is placed by the two players to the dealer’s left. A minimum bet is determined and the two players post half and all of it respectively. These are called the small and big blinds. A multitude of specific official poker rules are also set to handle any number of issues that arise. A best approach is to familiarize oneself with how they apply to the specific type of poker game. For example, there are rules regarding starting bets or buy-ins, how misdeals are determined, how and when a dead hand is declared, and of course, hand-ranking and tie-breaking procedures, as outlined above.
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