Ultimate Book of Card Games: The Comprehensive Guide to More Than 350 Games (72 page)

ONE PAIR
Two cards of the same rank. In a showdown, the higher pair wins (J-J-10-6-3 beats 9-9-A-K-Q).

TWO PAIR
Two cards of one rank and two of another. In a showdown, the highest single pair wins (J-J-3-3-2 beats 10-10-9-9-4).

THREE-OF-A-KIND
Three cards of matching rank. In a showdown, the highest triplet wins (Q-Q-Q-4-2 beats A-J-J-J-7).

STRAIGHT
Any five cards in sequence, regardless of suit. In a showdown, the highest card in sequence determines the winner (K of clubs-Q of clubs-J of diamonds-10 of hearts-9 of spades beats 6 of diamonds-5 of clubs-4 of diamonds-3 of hearts-2 of spades). Note that A-K-Q-J-10 is the highest possible straight, while 5-4-3-2-A is the lowest. Also note that ranking is not
continuous,
so that wrapping around an ace is not allowed (Q-K-A-2-3 is not a valid hand).

FLUSH
Any five cards of matching suit. In a showdown, the highest-ranking card determines the winner (K of hearts-J of hearts-8 of hearts-5 of hearts-2 of hearts beats Q of clubs-J of clubs-9 of clubs-7 of clubs-5 of clubs because the king is higher than the queen). If two players have high cards of matching rank, the next-highest card determines the winner.

FULL HOUSE
Any three-of-a-kind plus any pair. In a showdown, the highest triplet wins.

FOUR-OF-A-KIND
Four cards of matching rank (e.g., J-8-8-8-8).

STRAIGHT FLUSH
Five sequential cards of matching suit. This is the Holy Grail of poker, very rare and very beautiful. The highest straight flush, called a royal straight flush, is A-K-Q-J-10, all in the same suit.

LOW HANDS
In games that include low hands, players compete for the worst possible five-card poker hand. The “best” worst hand is 6-4-3-2-A
because these are the lowest possible cards without a pair or straight. (Note: In some casinos, the best low hand is 5-4-3-2-A, which is called the wheel; it is the dealer’s choice in home games whether or not to accept this low straight.) After 6-4-3-2-A, the next “best” worst hand is 7-4-3-2-A. Just remember that it’s always the lowest
high
card that determines the winner in a showdown.

WILD CARDS
Some games include standard wild cards. Other games may be spiced up on a whim, if the dealer chooses, by publicly declaring a wild card (or cards!) at the beginning of any poker game, before the cards are dealt.

Wild cards do not change hand rankings, but they may be used to make losing hands into winning ones. For example, if the dealer calls a game where 3s are wild, the hand 7-4-4-3-2 improves from a pair of fours to three-of-a-kind. Because hand rankings are applicable in all situations, wild cards may not be used to create nonstandard hands (unless players agree before any cards are dealt). In other words, there is no such poker hand as “five-of-a-kind.” Nice try.

ANTES & BETTING
Poker games generally start with all players contributing an
ante
, or pre-bet, to the pot. The value of antes is not fixed; some games require large antes, some small antes, some no antes at all. Casinos have standard antes for most games. At home games, a good rule of thumb is that antes should at least equal the value of the game’s minimum bet (typically 25 to 50 cents).

After you ante, betting is done in
rounds
, usually after a set number of cards are dealt to all players. When you make a bet, state the cash amount and place the corresponding number of chips into the pot.

Chip values vary from game to game, depending on the
table stakes
(how much money you are gambling for). Black, purple, and green chips are typically highest in value, followed by blue, red, and white. In “friendly” home games, chips might be worth something like $5 (black), $1 (blue), 50 cents (red), 25 cents (white).

Betting always proceeds clockwise around the table, usually starting with the player to the left of the dealer. Once all players have called the bet, raised it, or folded (
see below
), the pot is said to be
neat
and the next card (or round of cards) is dealt.

Most poker games have a preset
betting limit
, such as $2–$5 maximum per bet. Most games also impose a limit on the number of raises allowed per round of betting (three or four is common). For example, in a three-raise game with a $2 betting limit, player one may open the bet up to $2, while players two, three, and four may each raise the opening bet up to the $2 limit. At this point, each player would have to pay a total of $8 into the pot (or fold).

Here are the common betting terms in poker:

OPENING BET
The first bet is typically made by the player showing the highest (sometimes the lowest) cards. In games where no cards are visible, betting is opened by the player to the left of the dealer.

CHECK
A second option for opening is to
check
the bet (passing the decision to the next active player). After a check, if a subsequent player opens the betting, players who previously checked must call or raise the announced bet, or fold, when it’s their turn again. If all players check, the round of betting is skipped and the next round of cards is dealt. At some tables, a check may also be called a
knock
, which derives from players rapping their knuckles on the table.

CALL
After a bet is announced, subsequent players may
call
(match) the bet by placing the appropriate number of chips into the pot.

RAISE
When it’s their turn, players may raise the announced bet up to a preset limit. Note that nearly all games limit the number of raises to three or four per betting round.

ALL-IN
This option is for players who are low on chips and cannot afford to raise a bet or to have their bet raised. By placing all your remaining chips into the pot, it means you may not be forced out of the game by subsequent raises or bets. Instead, all subsequent bets are placed in a
side pot
that you are not eligible to win. At the showdown, there are two possible outcomes: 1) somebody beats the all-in player and takes both the main pot and the side pot, or 2) the all-in player beats everybody at the table and wins the main pot, while the side pot is awarded to the player with the next-best hand.

FOLD
Players may
fold
(give up, call it a night, run away) at any point during their turn. After folding, they are out of the hand for good and must forfeit any money already contributed to the pot. When folding, players should turn their cards face down on the table and resist the temptation to complain publicly about their miserable cards.

POKER ETIQUETTE
Poker has its own etiquette. Here are five of the most important points:

1. Never bet or fold out of turn.

2. Keep your cards in sight at all times—never put your cards under the table or walk away from the table with your cards.

3. Advice—don’t give it, don’t take it. It’s always a bad idea to discuss your cards with other players.

4. Know what’s in your hand. Cards may speak for themselves, but it helps if you can correctly interpret what they are saying.

5. Don’t walk out with the winnings. If you plan to leave early from a home game, announce it before the game starts. In casinos, the opposite holds true: get out as quickly as possible once you win a large haul.

1. DIFFICULTY
   :
   high
   
2. TIME LENGTH
   :
   short
   
3. DECKS
   :
   multiple
   

When James Bond goes to Monte Carlo, he heads straight for the Baccarat tables. Baccarat has been around since the fifteenth century, and over the years it’s developed a reputation for glamour and sophistication.

It’s a rare home game that features Baccarat. The game is simply too tedious—the real fun comes from the unique atmosphere of the casino Baccarat room: plush chairs, roped-off tables, discreet staff, and very high stakes. The minimum bet at casinos is rarely less than $50. Often it’s more like $200 to $500 per hand. Some casinos are attempting to transform Baccarat into a mainstream game with lower stakes; so far the attempts have not been successful.

Baccarat is a very straightforward game. Once the game starts, there are absolutely no decisions for players to make.

DEALING THE CARDS
Baccarat tables seat seven to fourteen people. Each seat corresponds to a number on the table, where you place your bets. Traditionally, three dealers service a table, with the middle dealer known as the
croupier
. While some casinos still use three-dealer tables, single-dealer tables are becoming more common.

The dealer starts each game by dealing two cards, face down, to a fictional
player
and a fictional
banker
. Your only role is to wager on which hand will be closest in value to 9 or if they will tie. All bets are made before the cards are dealt.