As poker's popularity is growing within the usa and overseas, players new to the game itself, and additionally experienced home game players, continue sidle up to the online casino poker tables asking to be dealt in.
Poker originated in the saloons of the Wild West and has probably the most game variants. It is played player against players and not just 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 master. 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 can be high or low. You will find four suits; spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs, but no suit is higher than another.
You'll find 2,598,960 possible combinations of cards in a poker hand you can be dealt. In 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 which is done in turn clockwise.
The player with the highest rank showing, will be the first to talk and also to bet. He can either bet or check. By saying 'Check', he passes the decision to bet to the next player that will also check. If all players check, then it's the end of the round. Everyone opens his cards and the highest hand wins.
Say you begin with a $5 bet. If somebody else raises $10, he puts $15 within the pot. When your turn comes again you need to add $10 difference to the pot to stay within the game, and if you want you may also raise or even 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 available and play poker. Play intelligently and carefully. Keep an eye out for tells. Know your own limits, and even more importantly - play to win!