Poker for Dummies (Mini Edition) (4 page)

Most games require
ante
or
blind bets
(see the “Betting terms” sidebar in this chapter). If antes are used, each player must post a token amount of money in order to receive cards. As for
blinds,
one or two players are required to make a bet or portion of a bet
before
the hand is dealt. This requirement rotates around the table so that each player pays his fair share.

Each time a round of cards is dealt, players have an opportunity to check, bet, fold, call, or raise. Any time a player decides to forfeit his interest in the pot, he may release his hand when it’s his turn
to act
(to do something related to betting: raise, fold, check, or call). When a player folds a hand, he is not required to place any more money in the pot. If a player bets or raises and no one calls, the pot belongs to that player, the cards are collected and shuffled, and the next hand is dealt. If two or more players are still active at the end of the hand, the best hand wins the pot.

Although there are different rules for each specific version, poker really is this simple. Yet within its simplicity lies a wonderfully textured game structure that is always fascinating, frequently enjoyable, and, for some, a lifelong source of pleasure.

Hand Rankings

Seven-Card Stud and Texas Hold’em are the two most popular forms of poker in which the highest-ranking hand wins. These games are played with a 52-card deck — there is no joker — composed of four
suits:
spades (
), hearts (
), diamonds (
), and clubs (
). Each suit is equal in value, and there are 13
ranks
in each suit. The Ace is the highest ranking card in a suit, followed by King, Queen, Jack, and 10 through 2 (or deuce), in descending order. An Ace may also be used as the lowest-ranking card in a 5-high straight (5-4-3-2-A), which is also called a
wheel
or
bicycle.

Although Stud and Hold’em are played with seven cards, the best hand refers to the best five-card hand. Hand rankings are a function of probability. The rarer the hand, the more valuable it is. See Figure 1-1 for an at-a-glance look at hand ranking in descending value.

Royal flush; straight flush

A
royal flush
is simply an Ace-high straight flush, and is the best possible hand in poker. There are only four of them: A
K
Q
J
10
; A
K
Q
J
10
; A
K
Q
J