Online Poker

Although different versions of the game all vary slightly, the rankings are consistent across them all:

§  ROYAL FLUSH - An Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten all in the same suit.

§  FIVE OF A KIND - Four cards with the same number plus a joker.

§  STRAIGHT FLUSH - Any five card suit in the same sequence.

§  FOUR OF A KIND - Four cards with the same value.

§  FULL HOUSE - Three of a kind combined with a pair.

§  FLUSH - Any five cards of same suit but not in sequence.

§  STRAIGHT - Five cards in sequence but not of same suit.

§  THREE OF A KIND - Three cards with the same value.

§  TWO PAIR - Two separate pairs.

§  ONE PAIR - Two cards of the same value.

§  HIGH CARD - Highest card in your hand.

The Rules of the Game

The many variants of the game all differ slightly but have several common denominators:

§  Players are dealt their hands, either three, five or seven cards.

§  They are given the option to discard some which are then replaced by the dealer.

§  Once players are happy with their hands the real fun commences; the betting begins!

§  Players have the choice to SEE the bet on the table, SEE it and then RAISE it or FOLD.

§  Some players bet in correlation to the strength of their hand, but the fascinating aspect of Poker is that many of the pros play a game of bluff, betting in contrast to their hand but staying 'poker faced'.

§  Those with the best hand or the strongest nerves are left at the final stage of the game.

The Winning Hand

The winning hand is either the last hand in the game. This could either be a genuinely high scoring hand or a low scoring hand of a seasoned bluffer! If more than one hand is left in the game, then there is a showdown, with the highest ranking hand taking the winnings. 

Many love Online Poker because it draws upon your ability to read your opponents; determining the meaning of their betting choices and guessing whether they are bluffing or not. The final showdown is excitement in its purest form and brings the game to a theatrical climax.