Welcome to Poker!
Whether you're playing poker online, at a casino, or with friends at home, poker is a game of skill, strategy, and psychology. This comprehensive guide will teach you everything you need to know to start playing poker like a pro.
Step 1: Understand the Basics
What You Need to Play Poker
52-Card Deck
Standard deck with 4 suits: hearts, diamonds, clubs, spades
2-10 Players
Texas Hold'em works best with 6-8 players
Chips or Money
Use poker chips or play with fake money online
Dealer
Either rotate dealing or use a dealer button
Step 2: Learn Poker Hand Rankings
Understanding Poker Hands (Most Important!)
The goal of poker is to make the best 5-card poker hand. Here are the rankings from highest to lowest:
Royal Flush
The best possible hand - Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten all same suit
Straight Flush
Five cards in sequence, same suit (not Royal Flush)
Four of a Kind
Four cards of the same rank
Full House
Three of a kind plus a pair
Flush
Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence
Straight
Five cards in sequence, different suits
Three of a Kind
Three cards of the same rank
Two Pair
Two different pairs
One Pair
Two cards of the same rank
High Card
No matching cards - highest card wins
Step 3: Learn Texas Hold'em (The Most Popular Poker Game)
How Texas Hold'em Works
Texas Hold'em is the most popular poker variant. Each player gets 2 private cards (hole cards) and uses 5 community cards to make their best hand.
1. Pre-Flop
You get 2 hole cards. Blinds are posted.
2. The Flop
3 community cards are dealt
3. The Turn
4th community card
4. The River
5th and final community card
5. Showdown
Best 5-card hand wins the pot!
Step 4: Learn the Betting Actions
What You Can Do When It's Your Turn
🗂️ Fold
Discard your cards and lose any chips you've put in the pot. Best to fold weak hands.
📞 Call
Match the current bet to stay in the hand. "I'll call your $20 bet."
⬆️ Raise
Increase the bet amount. Shows strength or tries to win the pot immediately.
✅ Check
Pass the action to the next player (only when no bet has been made).
💡 Pro Tip: Position Matters!
Players who act later (better position) have more information about what others will do. Early position players should play tighter (fewer hands).
Step 5: Understand Blinds and Antes
Forced Bets That Keep the Game Moving
Small Blind (SB)
The player to the left of the dealer posts half the minimum bet
Big Blind (BB)
The player to the left of the small blind posts the full minimum bet
Ante (Optional)
All players put in a small amount before getting cards
Step 6: Learn Basic Poker Strategy
Starting Hands to Play
As a beginner, focus on premium starting hands:
🎯 Premium Hands (Always Play)
- AA (Pocket Aces) - Best starting hand
- KK (Pocket Kings) - Second best
- QQ (Pocket Queens) - Still very strong
- AK (Ace-King) suited - Excellent hand
👍 Decent Hands (Play Sometimes)
- JJ, 1010 (Pocket Jacks/Tens)
- AQ, AJ suited (Ace with face card)
- KQ suited (King-Queen same suit)
- Medium pairs (99, 88)
🗂️ Hands to Fold (Usually)
- 72 offsuit (worst hand)
- Unsuited connectors under 10
- Small cards without suited aces
- Most hands with gaps
Step 7: Practice with Free Poker Games
The Best Way to Learn Poker
Practice is essential! Try our free poker games or these recommended options:
Step 8: Common Poker Terms You Should Know
Poker Vocabulary
Ready to Start Playing Poker?
Now that you know the basics, it's time to practice! Try our free poker game or explore more guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to learn poker?
You can learn the basic rules in 30 minutes, but mastering poker strategy takes months or years of practice.
Can I make money playing poker?
Yes, but it requires skill, discipline, and bankroll management. Most players lose money initially.
What's the difference between cash games and tournaments?
Cash games let you buy in and leave anytime. Tournaments have a fixed buy-in and play until one winner remains.
Should I play online or live poker first?
Online poker is great for learning because you can play more hands quickly and at lower stakes.