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

Poker originated in the saloons of the Wild West and has probably the most game variants. It is played player against players and not only 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 learn.
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 will find 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 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 within the middle of the table and it is done in turn clockwise.

The player with the highest rank showing, is the first to speak and also to bet. He may 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's the end of the round. Everybody opens his cards and the highest hand wins.

Say you start with a $5 bet. If a person else raises $10, he puts $15 in the pot. When your turn comes again you need to add $10 difference to the pot to stay in the game, and if you want you may also raise as well as say 'Pot'. Pot is a raise to the maximum, meaning to bet the same amount as the total money available 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 especially - play to win!