How to play Poker

When playing poker, the object is to win the pot. The pot is the collection of chips or other bets made by all players during the hand. Players can win the pot either by having the highest-ranking hand or by influencing other players to drop out. The strength of a poker hand is determined by the odds of receiving that five-card hand in a standard deck of cards.

Poker hand rankings are as follows (from lowest to highest):

• High Card: a hand valued by its highest card and without a pair, straight or flush
• One Pair: two cards of the same rank
• Two Pair: two cards of one rank and two cards of another rank
• Three of a Kind: three cards of the same rank
• Straight: all five cards in a sequence of varying suits
• Flush: all five cards of the same suit but not in a sequence
• Full House: three cards of the same rank and two cards of another rank
• Four of a Kind: four cards of the same rank
• Straight Flush: all five cards of the same suit and in sequence
• Royal Flush: ace, king, queen, jack and 10 all of the same suit

The dealer will deal the cards to each player. The players then take turns in rounds. Each will choose one of four options: check the bet (bet nothing but stay in the game), call the bet (bet the same amount as the previous bet), raise the previous bet, or fold (drop out of the game).

Players can check only when no other player has bet money so far. To stay in the game, players must bet equal to or higher than the previous bet. Choosing to fold at any point will give up any bets players have made at that point.

When players have finished betting, they reveal their cards and the dealer will declare a winner. If the best hands are of the same rank in anything but a royal flush, the hand with the higher cards wins. If there are two royal flushes at the table, players will split the pot.

For more tips on poker and other casino games, visit the Southern Gaming website.