Card games have been in vogue since time immemorial. Poker is one such card game that has become a favourite of gamblers globally. Poker is a term that indicates a family of card games, and numerous variants have been developed over the years. This is a game that combines gambling techniques and strategic decisions, and is also dependent on the skill of the player. Learn more in our guide here at freespins-uk.
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Best of the Poker Basics:
Poker variants differ according to the number of cards dealt, the community cards and the hidden cards. However, there are a lot of basic rules and procedures that all poker games follow:
1. Betting is an integral part of the game. The winners are decided according to the bets placed and the cards in the hands of the players.
2. All variants of the game of poker start with a forced bet, or ‘ante’ as it’s known in poker circles.
3. The bets happen clockwise, and a player places bets according to the cards that he has in his hands.
4. A player places a bet, and the next player should either place a bet which equals the first bet (call), increase the bet amount (raise), or lose all the bets that he has placed up to that time (fold).
5. After betting is over, the game starts. If only one player remains, and all others have folded, then the remaining player collects the bet money.
6. However, if more than one player is there in the reckoning, then a showdown happens. The players’ hands are revealed, and the player with the highest hand wins the game.
Poker Guide: Poker Hands from High to Low
1. Royal Flush: Combination of King, Queen, Jack and Ten and Ace in the same suit
2. Straight Flush: Five same-suit cards
3. Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank, the fifth card being unmatched
4. Full House: Three cards of the same rank and a pair of matching cards
5. Flush: Five same-suit cards, without the need for the cards to be in sequence.
There are also other types of poker hand, such as pair, two pair, three of a kind and high card.
The Best Poker Tournaments:
The game which used only to be played in casinos and for entertainment has turned into serious business now, with poker tournaments that churn out millions in prize money. The following are some of the best poker tournaments that are conducted worldwide. Start by playing with a no deposit casino bonus.
1. World Series of Poker Main Event: In this tournament both pros and amateurs compete with each other for millions in prize money.
2. PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Main Event
3. Aussie Millions Main Event
4. PokerStars Sunday Million
5. LA Poker Classic,
6. American Poker Tour Grand Final
The Best Poker Variants:
Poker as a game has maintained the basic rules, but has branched out into numerous variants which can be classified as follows:
Straight Poker:
This is one of the oldest poker games, and, in this game, a full hand is dealt to all the players. Players are allowed to bet, raise and re-raise their bets in this game, where a straight five cards are allowed for the final showdown.
Stud Poker:
In this variant, the cards are dealt in pre-planned face up and face down rounds. This is called ‘Streets’. Players bet on the cards that are dealt face up or down, and betting is allowed between each round. In the seven-card stud poker, four cards are dealt face up and three cards face down. There is a five-card stud poker too.
Draw Poker:
Players are allowed to modify their hands after a complete hand is dealt face down. Unwanted cards can be discarded, and new cards taken in their place. Five-card draw poker is one of the types of poker game under this category.
Community Card Poker:
This is a variation of stud poker, and players are dealt with an incomplete set of cards which are dealt face down. The community cards are dealt face up, and the players can make use of these cards to form the best five cards possible.
Video Poker: refers to the game which is normally played by a single player on video poker machines.
With the internet entering the gaming arena, this group of card games is now also played online. Certain online poker sites also offer variants with live dealers in a special studio, accessed via a portal through which the player can see and chat with the dealer.
The poker game, which initially started out as a recreational activity, has branched out into one of the 20th century’s most popular games. The card game enjoys loyal followers in most countries across the globe in all its varied formats. So widespread is this game, that there are a not inconsiderable number of people who play professionally, and live almost exclusively on their poker winnings.