As poker's popularity is growing within the usa and overseas, players new to the game itself, as well as experienced home game players, continue sidle up to the casino poker tables asking to be dealt in.

Poker originated in the saloons of the Wild West and it has probably the most game variants. It is played player against players and not simply against the dealer as in Blackjack, and there is a lot of psychology involved during play. Poker takes a moment to learn and a lifetime to master.
The cards are ranked in descending order starting from the highest; Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, Ace. Ace may be high or low. You can find four suits; spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs, but no suit is higher than another.

You can find 2,598,960 possible combinations of cards in a poker hand you may be dealt.
In most games players must 'ante' a nominal amount only to possess the cards dealt. Once the cards are dealt, the betting starts. Players bet in to the pot in the middle of the table and it is done in turn clockwise.

The player with the highest rank showing, is the first to talk and also to bet. He may either bet or check. By saying 'Check', he passes the decision to bet to please click the next page next player who will also check. If all players check, then it is the end of the round. Everybody opens his cards as well as the highest hand wins.

Say you begin with a $5 bet. If someone else raises $10, he puts $15 within the pot. When your turn comes again you may need to add $10 difference to the pot to stay within the game, and if you want you can also raise and even say 'Pot'. Pot is a raise to the maximum, meaning to bet the exact same amount as the total money available in the pot.

Well, I think you should now be equipped to go out there and play poker. Play intelligently and carefully. Keep an eye out for tells. Know your own limits, and most importantly - play to win!