As poker's popularity keeps growing inside america and overseas, players new to the game itself, as well as experienced home game players, continue sidle up to the great casino online poker tables asking to be dealt in.
Poker originated in the saloons of the Wild West and has probably the most game variants. It's played player against players and not only against the dealer as in Blackjack, and there is a lot of psychology involved during play. Poker takes a moment to learn and also a lifetime to learn. The cards are ranked in descending order starting from the highest; Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, Ace. Ace may be high or low. You will discover four suits; spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs, but no suit is higher than another.
You will find 2,598,960 possible combinations of cards in a poker hand you can be dealt. For most games players must 'ante' a nominal amount just to possess the cards dealt. Once the cards are dealt, the betting starts. Players bet in to the pot in the middle of the table and it is done in turn clockwise.
The player with the highest rank showing, is the first to speak as well as to bet. He may either bet or check. By saying 'Check', he passes the decision to bet to the next player who will also check. If all players check, then it really is the end of the round. Everybody opens his cards as well as the highest hand wins.
Say you begin with a $5 bet. If someone else raises $10, he puts $15 within the pot. When your turn comes again you may need to add $10 difference to the pot to stay within the game, and if you want you may also raise or maybe say 'Pot'. Pot is a raise to the maximum, which means to bet the exact same amount as the total money obtainable in the pot.
Well, I think you should now be equipped to go around and play poker. Play intelligently and carefully. Keep an eye out for tells. Know your own limits, and most importantly - play to win!