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Poker rules

Although poker is a game of people played with cards, normally involving money, it is also a game that has rules. Each game has its own set of rules and a format that has to be followed in order to make the game work and keep it honest and fair for everyone. Below you will find basic and advanced poker rules for most of the poker variations: Texas Holdem, Omaha, Seven Card Stud as well as not so common Deuce to 7, Razz, Badugi and other poker variations.

Poker Hand Rankings

  • Poker hand combinations are listed here by strength. Each poker hand has a picture as an example and a short description next to it. The hand order is ranked from the highest to the lowest.

  • Royal Flush

    Royal Flush - Straight Flush from 10 to the ace.
    Example: T♣, J♣, Q♣, K♣, A♣

  • Straight Flush

    Straight Flush - Straight with all five cards of the same suit.
    Example: 5♦, 6♦, 7♦, 8♦, 9♦

  • Four of a Find

    Four of a Kind - Four cards of the same rank. Suit is irrelevant. Example: Q♥, Q♣, Q♦, Q♠

  • Full House

    Full House - Three cards of one rank together with two cards of another rank. According to the international poker rules, when more than one full house is competing, the one with the highest ranking group of three wins.
    Example: T♠, T♣, T♥, J♣, J♥

  • Flush

    Flush - Five cards of the same suit. When more than one flush is competing, the one with the highest card wins.
    Example: 4♦, 6♦, 9♦, K♦, A♦

  • Straight

    Straight - Five cards in sequence. In poker rules, when more than one straight is competing, the one with the highest card wins. An ace can be taken as either high or low (but not both high and low in the same hand).
    Example: 7♥, 8♦, 9♥, T♣, J♠; suit is irrelevant.

  • Three of a Kind

    Three of a Kind - Three cards of the same rank.
    Example: J♥, J♣, J♦

  • Two Pair

    Two Pair - Any two cards of one rank together with two cards of another rank. When more than one hand has two pairs of the same rank, the hand with the highest card outside the paired cards wins.
    Example: 2♠, 2♣, 6♥, 6♠

  • One Pair

    One Pair - Two cards of the same rank. In case two hands have pairs, the highest pair wins. When more than one hand has a pair of the same rank, the hand with the highest card outside the pair wins.
    Example: T♥, T♦

  • Highest Card

    Highest Card - When players have none of the above, the hand with the highest card wins.
    Example: K♥

Poker rules

  • Texas Holdem

    Texas Holdem

    The Most Popular Poker game in the world Texas Hold'em explained in the simple, down to earth language for the beginners of poker. Read more

  • Omaha

    Omaha

    Learn to play once the most popular poker variation Omaha Poker. Easy to read and understand Omaha poker rules in a illustrated way. Read more

  • Seven card stud

    Seven card stud

    Illustrated seven card stud rules for beginners. Learn the basic seven card stud poker rules and start playing online. Easy to follow instructions. Read more

  • Other poker variations

Poker strategy

Beginner's Poker guide

Beginner's poker tips

About poker

Poker is played all over the world. It was created in the USA but split over the world in a few decades and is not played in North and South America in Asia, Australia, Europe and even in Africa. Different poker events roll over the globe every year: WSOP, WSOPE, Aussie Millions, Asian Open and etc. Anyway, poker is still most popular in the place it was started, the USA. Different poker variations have different poker rules, but there are some rules that are the same for all the poker games. These are fundamental poker rules and should be known by every poker player. It's a must to know thing. Obviously, there are official and unofficial poker game rules. Let's say tournaments organizers usually base on international poker rules, while home poker game lovers can think of any sort of crazy rules. Casino and poker rooms do have different poker policies, but they anyway rely on the basic poker traditions. Check our poker rules to get the basic knowledge and it will help you to become a winning poker player.

Congratulations! You have just learned the most important poker rules part - the poker hand rankings and you are now ready to take your first step in playing poker against real opponents. We suggest you check beginner poker strategy section and start playing poker with low stakes. If you are ready for your real money adventure; or improve your skills playing at play money tables until you feel comfortable enough to play for real money. Download Titan Poker's free software , install it and start playing. As soon as you are ready to play at real money tables, enter our special bonus code POKERWORKS and receive a huge 100% up to $500 bonus. Good luck!


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