Poker rules | Poker hands ranking

During a poker game, players are sitting around the table with certain amount of their chips. One player (or the dealer) will deal the cards to each player in turn while the game moves in a clockwise rotation. If the game has forced bets involved (blinds or antes), then the first two to the left of the dealer are placing big blind and small blind (forced bets).

The third player to the dealer's left starts the game with betting or folding the hand and it is up to the following players to call the bet. When a player calls the bet he is simply matching the bet already placed. When one player raise the initial bet and this bet has to be matched by all the following players unless they fold. The game will end when all players call the bet and then the cards will be shown and the winning hand will take the pot.

Hand Ranking

Traditional and most common high poker hands rankings

Straight Flush - Five cards in sequence, of the same suit.

In the event of a tie: Highest rank at the top of the sequence wins.

The best possible straight flush is royal flush – ace, king, queen, jack and ten of a suit. A royal flush is an unbeatable hand.

Four of a Kind - Four cards of the same rank, and one side card or 'kicker'.

In the event of a tie - Highest four of a kind wins.

Full House - Three cards of the same rank, and two cards of a different matching rank.

In the event of a tie - Highest three matching cards wins the pot. In community card games where players have the same three matching cards, the highest value of the two matching cards wins.

Flush - Five cards of the same suit.

In the event of a tie - The player holding the highest ranked card wins. If necessary up to fifth-highest cards can be used to break the tie.

Straight - Five cards in sequence.

In the event of a tie - Highest ranking card at the top of the sequence wins.

Three of a kind - Three cards of the same rank and two unrelated side cards.

In the event of a tie - 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 - 2 pair of cards of a matching rank, another two cards of a different matching rank, and one side card.

In the event of a tie - Highest pair wins. If players have the same highest pair, highest second pair wins. If both players have two identical pairs, highest side card wins.

One pair - Two cards of a matching rank, and three unrelated side cards.

In the event of a tie - Highest pair wins. If players have the same pair, the highest side card wins, and if necessary, the second-highest and third-highest side card can be used.

High card - Any hand that does not qualify under a category listed above.

In the event of a tie - Highest card wins, and if necessary up to fourth-highest and smallest card can be used to break the tie.

Poker actions

During any game there are several action available to all players. The actions are as follows:

FOLD – Folding the hand forfeits any interest in the pot during the current betting round. A player who folds is not allowed to wager any further money during the current game.

CALL – If there has been a wager on the current round of play, a player may call. Player then matches current bets made by his/hers opponent(s).

BET – If there is no wager on the current betting round, a player may bet. If a player bets, the player immediately clockwise from him or her (and any other players involved in betting round) must take an action – fold, raise, or call.

CHECK – If there is no wager on the current betting round, a player may check. A check does not forfeit interest in the pot, only the current right to bet. If all players check during a round of betting, the round is considered complete.

RAISE – If there has been a wager on the current betting round, a player may raise. The act of raising requires the player not only to match the current bet but to make a greater one.

ALL IN – A player cannot be forced to forfeit a hand because the player does not have enough chips to call a bet. A player who does not have enough chips to call a bet is declared All-In. The player is eligible for the portion of the pot to the point of his final wager.

So, make sure you've learn the basic rules before you sit on online tables.