As poker's popularity keeps growing in the country and overseas, players new to the game itself, and also experienced home game players, continue sidle up to the casino poker tables asking to be dealt in.

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

You will discover 2,598,960 possible combinations of cards in a poker hand you can be dealt.
In the majority of games players must 'ante' a nominal amount just to have the cards dealt. In the event the cards are dealt, the betting starts. Players bet into the pot within the middle of the table which is done in turn clockwise.

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

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

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