How to Play Poker: The Basic Hand Ranks

Though there are many different versions of poker games, there is some basic knowledge one could use to play poker with nearly any variation of the game. The poker game is a betting card game played in several rounds, different games have different rounds.

Within each round, the player has the option to fold (quitting the game with no more betting), to call (stay in the game without raising the bet, but one does not always have the option to do this) or to raise (the bet). The main objective of any poker game is to reach the final round, and in that round be the player with the highest hand. Some of the main poker games are: Texas Holdem, Omaha Poker, and Omaha Holdem.

Every game has some different rules and different strategies. In some games, each player has their own private set of cards, while in others, some of the cards in their hand are communal. The ranking of cards in order from high to low is Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten, Nine, Eight and so on down to two. In some games, the Ace can be used in as a low card in a hand with a straight. To play poker, one must know the ranking order of poker hands. In order from highest to lowest, the poker hand rankings are:

1. Five of a Kind
2. Straight Flush
3. Four of a Kind