"It doesn't take a rocket scientist to be good at poker."

Poker is a game of skill, strategy, and a bit of luck. While it may seem intimidating to newcomers, understanding the basic rules and hand rankings is the first step to becoming a successful player. In this guide, we'll delve into the world of Texas Hold'em, one of the most popular poker variants.

In Texas Hold'em, players start with two cards (hole cards). Five community cards are then dealt face-up on the table: the flop, the turn, and the river. To win the game, you either have to bluff your opponents into folding a strong hand or hold the best hand at the end.

Poker Hands Ranking

In poker players compete to form the best five-card hand using a combination of their two hole cards and five community cards. Understanding the order of poker hands is essential for making informed decisions. Here's a look at the hands ranking in the order of strongest to weakest:

1. Royal Flush A Straight Flush with an Ace as the highest card. Example: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10 of Hearts.

2. Straight Flush Five consecutive cards of the same suit. Example: 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen of Spades. A Straight Flush is outranked by a royal flush or a higher straight flush, in this case 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace of Spades.

3. Four of a Kind Four cards of the same rank. Example: Four Jacks. A Four of a Kind is outranked by the above draws or a higher four of a kind, in this case four Queens or higher.

4. Full House Three cards of one rank and two cards of another. Example: Three Queens and two Jacks. A Full house is outranked by the above draws or a higher full house determined by higher three of a kind card, in this case three Aces and two Fours.

5. Flush Five cards of the same suit, need not in consecutive order. Example: 7, 9, Jack, Queen, Ace of Diamonds. A Flush is outranked by the above draws or by comparing highest ranking cards in the hand, in this case a 4, 5, Queen, King, Ace of Hearts.

6. Straight Five consecutive cards of any suit. Example: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 of any suit. A Straight is outranked by the above draws or by a higher Straight, in this case 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen.

7. Three of a Kind Three cards of the same rank. Example: Three queens. A Three of a Kind is outranked by the above draws or by a higher ranking Three of a Kind, in this case three Aces.

8. Two Pair Two pairs of different ranks. Example: Two Aces and Two Queens. A Two Pair is outranked by the above draws or by a higher ranking two pair, in this case two Aces and two Kings.

9. One Pair Two cars of the same rank making a pair. Example: Two Jacks. A Pair is outranked by the above draws or by a higher pair, in this case two Queens.

10. High Card The Highest card in your hand in case you don't have any other combinations. Example: You don't have any of the above draws and your highest ranking card is King of Hearts. A High Cars is outranked by all the above draws or by a higher card.

Stages in a Poker Game

A poker game, particularly Texas Hold'em, is typically divided into three main stages: pre-flop, post-flop, and showdown. Let's look each of the stages in detail:

1. Pre-Flop This is the initial stage of the game where each player receives two cards face-down. These cards are known as "hole cards."

2. Post-Flop After the pre-flop betting round, three community cards are dealt face-up on the table. These are known as the "flop."

3. Post-Turn and Post-River After the flop, a fourth card (the "turn") and then a fifth card (the "river") are dealt face-up on the table.

4. Showdown If multiple players remain after the river, they must reveal their hole cards. The player with the best five-card combination using their hole cards and the community cards wins the pot.

The Poker Table

In a typical poker game, players are seated around a circular table. Each player is assigned a specific position, which can significantly impact their strategic options.

In all the official games, a dedicated dealer is responsible for shuffling and dealing the cards. But in home or party poker, players rotate the dealer role among themselves. The dealer position moves one spot clockwise after each hand and thus the small and big blind positions as well.

Note: The dealer or the 'Button' position is the strongest position on the table as the player with the button gets to make the decision at last after analyzing everyone's moves.

The action or betting always start with the first person left of the dealer button known as the Small Blind. The Small Blind are required to place a mandatory bet, typically half the size of the big blind.

The player to the left of the small blind is the big blind and are required to place a mandatory bet, typically twice the size of the small blind.

The size of the small and big blind is typically determined by the stakes of the game. For example, in a 1/2$ game, the small blind would be $1, and the big blind would be $2.

After each hand, the dealer button moves clockwise to the next player. This rotates the positions of the small and big blind, ensuring that all players contribute to the pot.

A player's position at the table can significantly influence their strategic options. Players in late positions (closer to the dealer) have the advantage of seeing what other players do before making their decisions. This allows them to adjust their strategy based on the strength of their hand and the actions of their opponents.