Step One: Learn The Common Goals And The Card Values
The goal of most games of poker (except for oddball ones like high-low) is to either gain the best selection of five cards (as defined below) or to convince the other players that you have gained the best selection of five cards (called "bluffing"), so that they drop out of the game (called "folding").
Cards in poker are ranked, or valued, in the following order, from lowest to highest: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace. Suits are also valued, from lowest to highest, as follows: Diamonds, Clubs, Hearts and Spades. House rules often allow aces to double as low cards, so make sure that the house rules are understood before beginning.
The value of poker hands, in increasing value, are these:
- High Card: In a poker hand with no winning combinations of cards, the high card wins. That card is determined by the ranking above.
- One Pair: Two cards of the same value, with three extra cards that do not combine in any desirable way.
- Two Pair: Two pairs of cards with the same value, each pair having a different value. One extra card is present.
- Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same value, with the remaining two cards not combining in any desirable way.
- Straight: Five cards of sequential value, and differing "suits" (spades, clubs, hearts or diamonds).
- Flush: Five cards of the same suit, that are not all sequential.
- Full House: Three cards of one value, and two cards of another value. Sometimes called a "full boat."
- Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same value, with one extra card present.
- Straight Flush: Five sequential cards of the same suit.
- Royal Flush: A Straight Flush that consists of the five highest value cards, 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace.
Each level of value beats all levels below it. For instance, even the lowest Three of a Kind (Twos) will beat the highest Two Pair (Aces and Kings).
If two players have the same type of hand, the player with the higher value cards wins the hand. For instance, the player with three Jacks beats the player with three Eights.
Extra cards only matter if two players have otherwise identical hands. For instance, if two players each have Two Pair consisting of Tens and Fours, the player with the higher value extra card wins the hand.
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