|
|
The game of Poker.
The actual time when the conception of poker was first established is hard to say. There's games going back as far as the 15th century "like the German game Pochspeil" that resemble the game of poker consisting of such plays as bluffing, rankings of hands and most important betting, but who's to say.
The earliest known time of the game even close to how we play poker today would have been around the early to mid 1900's. Most likely though being a revised version of earlier games like the Persian game as nas, being played with a deck of 20 cards with each player being dealt five cards highest hand wins. As the 20 card deck game started to gain its popularity around the gold rush and the Mississippi riverboat era, it was soon after revised to a 52 deck of cards, this is when poker started to evolve to the game we know and play today.
Many other changes and additions with poker and the 52 card deck came during the American civil war era, including games like draw poker, stud poker and the hands like the straight was added. Other American changes were added also around 1875 like wild cards, around 1900 lowball and split-pot poker were introduced and community poker games around 1925.
No matter where the origin of poker really comes from the game itself has become the most widely spread card game around the world and is played in many countries as one of the favorite games to play.
|
|
|
Quick poker strategy.
Poker is a game of skill the more you know the better your chances are of winning. Even though luck can be a big factor for some players this is usually not the case for most players. Point being, luck wont hold up against an experienced poker player.
It is important to remember when playing poker have a strategy before you begin to play. Its not just about trying to win every hand or how fast you can win its about losing as little as possible on the bad hands and winning as much as possible on the good hands. Trying to play every hand just don't work you will lose in the long run. Good poker players play hands when they know the odds are in their favor.
Playing good poker is also knowing when to fold. If you are dealt a bad hand to start the odds are the hand is not going to get any better when you draw your cards. Many poker players have a hard time folding a hand, so unless you plan on losing alot of money folding at the right time is a good strategy to learn. Waiting for the right hand will increase your odds of winning and give you an edge over those who don't. Also, never worry about the weak players they are usually gone pretty quick. Its all about keeping up with the good poker players, this is where you will learn what you need to know to become a better poker player yourself.
Another thing to remember, you always have a better chance of winning more money in the later part of the game, "staying in to the later part of the game is important" The reason why, players who lose early in the game and have left the table have also left their money, which means, there's less players and more money on the table and the stakes are going to be higher increasing your odds of winning bigger money pots. In real money poker it is not always about being the last man standing though, you can walk any time you like "Unless house rules were made at the begining of the game that says otherwise." Taking second or third position is better than a total lost, you still walked away a winner.
Theres many of ways you can play your poker strategies,"And it does not hurt to change it up a bit every now and then it keeps players guessing to your stategy" but as mentioned above waiting for the right hand will yield best results. Sometimes though this is not an option, especially with aggressive players who seem to bet every hand. It's always useful knowing when to step it up a bit yourself and be a more aggressive player.
Lets say there's a player you know their a good poker player, but they seem to place high bets every time and bet almost every hand. You know some of the bets are a bluff, question is which ones. First I would try to get a read on the player, see if you can notice any differences in their reactions on certain plays, like how quick they might bet a certain hand, different body motions eye contact etc. Eye contact can give away even the best poker players bluff. Also, players that are over aggressive are more likely to put themselves in a bad situation then a passive player, even though they are good poker players they are always pushing the limits.
If you can't get a read on an aggressive player you will have to eventually have to call their bluff, if not, "you will go broke waiting for the right hand" just make sure to do this when you feel they are buffing. When playing aggressive players, I've always notice when you catch them bluffing they try to change tactics of their play, and for most aggressive players this is hard to do and can throw their play off which makes it more likely they will make even more mistakes unless they are just extreamly lucky players.
It's always important to pay attention to each player at the table and the way they play, especially at the beginning of the night. This allows you to know who the good players are and who the weak players are going to be. Then you choose which strategies you will use for each player. No matter how you play never allow the other poker players to get a good read on your play if you do its over. You will be raking in all the small pots and losing all the big pots.
Theres only one way to win in poker, rake more big pots than small pots, the bigger the rake the more money you have which increases your odds of winning.
|
|
|
Basic poker rules.
Poker uses a standard deck of 52 playing cards.
The cards rank from high to low as follows: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. Ace may also be the lowest card. Suit values are the same. Standard poker hands contain five cards. If wild cards are used it can be either the joker are any card chosen.
Playing the game
First you place a bet in the center of the table "The ante" before dealing the cards.
5 cards are dealt face down to each player in clockwise rotation.
The first player to the left of the dealer has the choice to bet or check on the cards they were dealt. If the first player chooses not to bet and checks it then moves to next player to the left until a all players have had a choice to either bet or check. If a player has chosen to bet then the next player has a choice to call fold or raise and then the next player would have the choice to call fold or raise again and so on until it has moved back around to the player that made the last raise and game proceeds. Standard rule is usually three raises.
Drawing cards
Each player now has a choice of throwing up to three cards down and receive up to three new cards to better their hand. After players have received new draw cards now is time to bet on their hands. Starting with person who made first bet or final raise the player has a choice to bet on their hand. If this player chooses to check the bet moves to the next player and so on. When one of the players has chosen to bet the next player has a choice to call fold or raise and then the next player would have the choice to call fold or raise again and so on until all bets are complete and bets are placed in the center of the table.
Laying hands down
After all bets are done each player lays their hand on the table and the person with the best hand wins the pot. In the event of a tie where two players have the same hand the pot is devided equally. Same with a three way tie. All cards read for face value when they are laid down on the table. There is no rank difference between a spade or a club etc, suits are all equal.
|
|
|
Poker ranking hands.
Royal Flush
A hand with Ten, Jack, Queen, King, Ace of the same suit.
Straight Flush
A hand with a straight with all five cards in the same suit.
Four of a Kind
A hand with four cards of the same face value.
Full House
A hand with three cards of one face value and two cards of another face value.
Flush
A hand with five cards of the same suit.
Straight
A hand with five cards in numeric sequence 2,3,4,5,6 etc, cards can be in any suit. A's can be used in high or low straight. Example high 10, J, Q, K, A Example low A, 2, 3, 4, 5
Three of a Kind
A hand with three cards of the same face value
Two Pair
A hand with two cards of same face value and another two cards of same face value.
Pair
A hand with two cards with same face value.
High Card
A hand with the highest card of face value.
Wild cards
If a wild card is used it can be any card choosen usually the jokers are added as a wild cards.
|
| |
