As poker's popularity keeps growing in the nation 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 is a lot of psychology involved during play. Poker takes a moment to learn as well as a lifetime to understand.
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 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 just to have the cards dealt. Once the cards are dealt, great online gambling agent 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, will be the first to talk as well as to bet. He may either bet or check. By saying 'Check', he passes the decision to bet to the next player that will also check. If all players check, then it's the end of the round. Everyone opens his cards and the highest hand wins.

Say you begin with a $5 bet. If somebody 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 within the game, and if you want you may also raise or perhaps say 'Pot'. Pot is a raise to the maximum, which means 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 first and foremost - play to win!