How to Play Poker reviews the rules of the most popular draw, stud and community games. It also goes over the most basic principles of poker strategy and lingo to give you a leg-up on the competition.

• Poker is one of the most popular card games in the world. It's also the most portable. Poker is played at home, in casinos, online and (if the film world is to be believed) in secret underground clubs full of con artists and high rollers. Whether you've become addicted to Celebrity Poker Showdown or are just looking for a way to enjoy a weekend night with your friends, there's no better time to learn the game of poker than now.

• All you need to stage a poker game is a deck of cards and a convincing poker face. There are, however, a few other accessories you might consider to make your home game more like the ones you see on TV or at the casino:

1. One Deck of Playing Cards: They don't need to be "casino quality." The standard 52-card deck found at any drug or grocery store is more than adequate for even the most serious poker lovers.
2. Poker Chips: In many poker games, betting is done with colored chips standing in for different cash amounts. You can also bet cash, potato chips, M&Ms, your clothes or whatever else you have available. Poker chips can be purchased at most Wal-Marts, Targets and game stores.
3. Dealer Button: A "dealer" button is a white chip that shifts from player to player every time a new round of playing starts. In a home game, it indicates who the dealer is for the next round as the responsibility for dealing shifts from person to person. In a casino, the button indicates who bets last. A dealer button is not essential to home play, but you will see the buttons used in casinos.

• Poker is a general term which encompasses several types of card games. All poker games, however, adhere to the same basic rules and use similar terminology:

1. Number of Players: 2-10
2. Goal: To win the "pot" based on the best possible combination of 5 cards.
3. Dealing: Each player is "dealt" a certain number of cards. The number of cards dealt depends on the type of poker game being played. Dealing can occur all at once or over a series of rounds between which betting takes place.
4. Hands: A hand refers to your cards and the best combination you make from those cards. A "hand" also refers to a round of dealing and betting over a single pot. Once someone wins the pot, a new hand begins.
5. Betting: Players either bet or fold (quit playing) based on the quality of their hand versus their best guess as to what other players are holding.
6. The Pot: The aim of poker is to win the pot. The pot is all the money bet over the course of a hand. Once a pot is won, a new hand begins.

• While there are many variations on the game of poker, most variations fall into one of three categories:

1. Community Games: Players' hands include some shared set of cards. The most common variation is Texas Hold 'Em.
2. Draw Games: Players discard a certain number of cards and draw the same number of new cards. The most common variation is 5-Card Draw.
3. Stud Games: Players keep all of the cards they're dealt. The most common variation is 7-Card Stud.

• No matter which variation of poker you're playing, the hand rankings will be the same. Even a lowball version of the game in which you try to draw the worst hand is based on the following system:

• There are four suits - diamonds, hearts, spades and clubs.

1. The suits are of equal value.
2. Suits come into play in flushes and straights. The type of flush or straight you have and its worth is dependent on whether the cards in your hand are of the same or different suits.

• Every card is marked by a letter or number which determines its rank.

1. The highest ranking card is the Ace (A).
2. There are numbered cards (2-10) and face cards.
3. The face cards include the Jack, Queen and King (J, Q, K).
4. The Ace (A) can stand-in as the lowest card in the hand A-2-3-4-5.
5. The cards are ranked from highest to lowest as follows: A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.
6. The rank of cards will help determine the winner of a tie when two players have similar hands.

• Just as individual cards have ranks, hands or combinations of cards have ranks. These hand rankings determine who is the winner of a round of poker:

1st: Royal Flush: Five highest ranking sequential cards of the same suit.

2nd: Straight Flush: Five sequential cards of the same suit

3rd: Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank.

4th: Full House: Three cards of the same rank, plus two of another same rank. Any suit.

5th: Flush: Any five cards of the same suit.

6th: Straight: Five cards of sequential rank. Any suit.

7th: Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank. Any suit.

8th: Two Pair: Two pairs of cards of the same rank. Any suit.

9th: One Pair: Two of the same cards. Any suit.

10th: High Card: When no one has a pair or higher, the highest card wins.

• If you are playing a variant of poker which uses a "wild card," a "five of a kind" hand is possible. The "wild" card is typically a joker or a random card called at the beginning of the game. Five of a Kind is the highest ranking hand. It even beats the almighty Royal Flush.

• When there is a tie between hands with the exact same cards, the "kicker" or the highest ranking card that does not make up the hand serves as a tiebreaker. For instance, an A-A-K-6-8 beats A-A-9-5-3 because the King is higher than a 9.

• The person who deals the cards to other players is called the "dealer." Casinos have designated dealers. At home, each player takes a turn dealing. How many cards are dealt and whether those cards are dealt face up or down depends on the game being played. The following rules guide the dealing ritual:

1. Shuffling: Before dealing the cards, the dealer shuffles them thoroughly. You can read up on a variety of shuffling techniques at Pokerology.com.
2. Cutting: After shuffling the cards, the dealer hands the cards to the person sitting on his or her left. That person cuts the cards - meaning he or she picks up approximately half of the cards from the top of the deck and places them next to the lower half. The dealer restacks the cards - completing the cut. The top half of the card deck is now at the bottom.
3. Dealing Order: The dealer deals the first round of cards clockwise, beginning with the person to his or her left. Each player is dealt one card at a time.
4. Betting: In a home game, the dealer always bets last. At a casino, the dealer does not play. The betting order shifts between each round with the person betting last indicated by a dealer chip.

• Betting in poker starts before the cards are dealt and continues with each round. Any limits on the amount that can be bet or raised vary from game to game.

• The first bet occurs before any cards are dealt. Each player must put some money into the pot to begin the game. There are two types of opening bets:

1. Antes: Antes are most often used in draw and stud games. It is a pre-determined amount that everyone must contribute to start the game.
2. Blinds: Blinds are typically used in community games like Texas Hold 'Em. A blind is a mandatory bet that the two players sitting immediately to the dealer's left must make to start play. The person immediately next to the dealer puts in the "small blind." The person to that person's left puts in the "big blind," which is twice the amount of the small blind. After the cards are dealt, every player, including the one who put in the small blind, must bet at least the amount of the big blind to stay in the game.

• When it's your turn to bet, you can do one of the following:

1. Fold: If you have a weak hand or the betting is too high, you should fold. Folding is dropping out of play. You surrender your cards by placing them face down on the table and sliding them to the dealer.
2. Check: If no one else has bet yet, you can check, which is essentially passing on your turn without folding. If everyone checks in the first round of draw game, it gives you the opportunity to draw a new card without risking any money or dropping out of the game. To check, simply say "check" or tap the table.
3. Call: Calling means that you bet the same amount as the previous player. If other players have already bet, the minimum you can do to stay in a hand is call the previous bet.
4. Raise: Raising means you bet more than the previous player.

• Thanks to the World Series of Poker and Celebrity Poker Showdown, Texas Hold 'Em is the most popular type of poker currently played in the United States. A community game, Texas Hold 'Em is played with two "hole cards" dealt only to you and a shared set of community cards, which are placed face up in the center of the table.

• Number of Players: 2-10

1. The two players to the left of the dealer put in the small blind and the big blind.
2. Each player is dealt two cards.
3. There is a round of betting, starting with the player to the left of the player who contributed the big blind. Each player must put in at least the amount of the big blind to continue playing. The player who put in the original big blind can either raise or check on his or her first turn.
4. The dealer deals three cards face up on the table. This is called the "flop."
5. There is another round of betting.
6. The dealer deals a fourth card face up on the table. This is called the "turn."
7. There is another round of betting.
8. The dealer deals a fifth card face up on the table. This is called the "river."
9. There is another round of betting.
10. If two or more players remain, they show their cards to determine the winner. The winner has the best 5-card poker hand formed with his or her hole cards and any combination of the community cards on the table.

• One of the most popular poker games is Five-Card Draw. Much like in other draw games, cards are dealt face down to players, who can keep their hand as-is or exchange one or more cards for new ones.

• Number of Players: 2-8, Best with 5-6

1. Each player antes.
2. Players are dealt five cards each. Face down.
3. Each player bets on his or her hand, starting to the dealer's left.
4. In the second round, each player discards one to five cards and is dealt an equal number of new cards.
5. Players bet a second time.
6. If two or more players remain, players show their cards to determine a winner according to the standard poker hand rankings.

• Seven-Card Stud is the most popular of the stud style of poker games. In stud games, players are dealt both face up and face down cards over the course of several rounds.

• Number of Players: 2-6

1. Each player antes.
2. Players are dealt two down cards and one up card.
3. There is a round of betting.
4. Players are dealt another up card.
5. There is another round of betting.
6. Players are dealt another up card.
7. There is another round of betting.
8. Players are dealt another up card.
9. There is another round of betting.
10. The seventh and final card is dealt face down. (Total: 3 Down Cards, 4 Up Cards)
11. There is another round of betting.
12. If two or more players remain, they show their cards to determine a winner. The winner has the best 5-card poker hand according to standard poker hand rankings.

• Online poker is both immensely popular and a great place for beginners to learn the rules of the game. Online poker software will prompt you when it's your turn to play and present you with all your possible moves. Best of all there are many low stakes games where you can play for very little or free.

• Here are some things to consider when choosing an online poker site:

1. How many tables are available for play?
2. Are there any free tournaments offered or bonuses given if you refer new players?
3. What types of poker games are available?
4. What is the experience level of the players?
5. What is the rake, the percentage the website takes from each pot?

Party Poker - Probably the biggest site by a distance, and with plenty of games at all levels. Well suited for beginners, and has a large number of inexperienced players.

PokerStars - The second biggest site, and popular with regular players. Perhaps the best software of any site, and plenty of games at higher levels. Games with larger sums of money at stake are likely to attract strong players.

Full Tilt Poker - Similar to PokerStars, and has a number of high-profile pros playing.

Legal Issues

Be aware that not all of these sites accept players from every country, and that the legal issues surrounding playing for money vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, even from state to state within the US. The Poker Players Alliance provides detailed information on the legal aspects of poker for Americans..

Playing online poker for money is completely legal in the United Kingdom.

• You think you know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em? Not so fast. The information you're getting from others players may not be on the up and up. Poker's not just a card game. It's a game of deception and missing information. Don't get taken in. Review these basic tenants of poker strategy before you hit the high rollers' table:

• Attributed to poker ace David Sklansky, the fundamental theorem of poker states that every time you play your hand the way you would if you could see your opponent's cards, you gain. Every time your opponent plays his or her cards differently from the way he or she would play them if he or she could see your cards, you gain. This theorem forms the basis of many poker strategies. You are using deception to induce your opponents to play differently than they would if they could see your cards.

• If you are missing a card to complete a hand, you can calculate the likelihood of your drawing the card you need and thus determine whether you should bet, call or fold. To calculate the pot odds, you'll need to know:

1. Your Outs: The cards you need to complete your hand. Let's say you're one card away from a straight (5-6-7-8). You could finish your hand with a 4 or a 9. There are four 4s in a deck and four 9s. You have 8 possible outs.
2. Remaining Cards: The cards you haven't seen. In stub games, subtract the number of cards in your and everyone else's hand from 52. In draw games, subtract the total number of cards you have and those you have discarded from 52. In community games, subtract the total number of cards in your hand and the total number of community cards on the table from 52.
3. Bet Formula: The maximum amount you should bet is determined by calculating the percentage of your outs to remaining cards, multiplying that percentage to the pot plus the amount you need to bet to stay in the game.

• You're playing five-card draw. The pot is $60. You're facing a $10 call to stay in the game. Your hand is one card away from a straight (5, 6, 7, 8, K). Should you call in the hopes of being able to turn the K into a 4 or 9?

1. Calculate Your Outs: Four 4s or Four 9s could complete your hand. You, therefore, have 8 outs.
2. Calculate the Remaining Cards: There are only 5 cards you know the value for out of 52. There are 47 remaining cards.
3. Calculate the Percentage of Outs to Remaining Cards: 8 is approximately 17% of 47.
4. Calculate the Bet: Multiple 17% by the total pot ($60) plus the minimum bet ($10). The total ($11.19) is the maximum amount you should call for this round.

• The rules of poker are more strictly enforced in a casino than they are in most home games. Fortunately, there's a professional dealer there to help if you ever feel lost. If you don't know what the minimum bet is on a table or what type of poker you're sitting down to play, just ask.

• Here are a few other things to keep in mind before you tear up Vegas:

1. Be polite. Don't swear or trash talk.
2. Don't look at your cards until all the players' cards have been dealt.
3. Don't expose your cards unless you're competing for the pot in the last round. If you fold, slide your cards face down to the dealer. Exposing them gives away important information to other players.
4. Do not take the chips off the table until you're ready to leave the game. If you win a pot and remain at the table, your chips stay on the table.
5. Don't throw your chips into the pot. When you place a bet, place your chips neatly in front of you in an easily countable stack. The dealer will pull them into the pot.
6. Tip your dealer.
7. Unless you're Daniel Negreanu or Phil Hellmuth, lose the sunglasses. Professional players wear glasses to avoid unconsciously revealing their hands with their eyes. You're not quite there yet. Really.

• Poker Tournaments, particularly Texas Hold 'Em Tournaments, are a fun way to hone your poker skills so long as you have the cash to spare. In a poker tournament, you can't cash out at any time. You play until you have no chips left or until you've won the tournament.

• Here are a few other characteristics of poker tournaments:

1. All players pay a cash buy-in and are given the same number of chips.
2. Players are divided into a certain number of tables. The game continues until someone has won at each table. Those winners progress to face each other in a new round.
3. The ante or blind amounts will increase over the course of the tournament in order to keep the game moving.
4. For beginners, it's best to play while the blinds are cheap. This is the best time to build your stack because you'll be sacrificing more of it as the tournament continues in order to stay in.
5. Most tournaments have predetermined cash prizes for second and third place finishers.

• You're ready, ace. Just remember that poker is supposed to be fun. Keep your bets within reason. Keep the trash talk to a minimum, and enjoy the company of your fellow players.

• • Mahalo's Guide to Poker
• Wikipedia: Poker - Poker Hand Rankings - Poker Strategy
• Quamut: How to Play Poker
• Quamut: How to Play Texas Hold 'Em
• SoYouWanna.com: How to Play Poker
• HowStuffWorks: How to Play Poker Online
• Golden Rule of Poker: What is Online Poker? - Poker Cheat Sheet - Poker Articles
• PaddyPokerPower.com: How to Play Poker
• About.com: How to Play Five Card Draw WARNING: Pop-ups
• ESPN: How to Play Poker
• BravoTV.com: Texas Hold 'Em Rules
• wikiHow: How to Play Poker
• Poker.net: The Beginner's Guide to Poker
• Poker News: Poker Rules
• PokerListings.com: Poker Rules for Beginners and Official Poker Rules
• Poker Tips: Poker Rules
• PokerCards.com: Learn How to Play Poker
• YouTube: 2006 World Series of Poker - Final Table & Final Hand (Time: 5:45)
• YouTube: Rounders Clip (Time: 3:22)
• YouTube: How to Play Texas Holdem - Phil Gordon (Time: 1:42)
• YouTube: Poker Teaches - Harvard Law School (Time: 52:21)