Poker, The Real Deal

Create the best hand possible.

Hold’em is a popular version of poker. Varieties follow this basic format.

• Ante: You place an initial bet, called an ante, to signal that you are playing this hand.
• Hole: Each player is dealt two cards face down (“the hole”). This is followed by a round of betting, during which you can either fold, check, or raise your bet.
• The Flop: Three community cards are dealt face up (“the flop”), followed by another round of betting.
• The Turn: A fourth community card (“the turn”) is dealt face up, followed by more betting.
• The River: Finally, a fifth community card is dealt face up, followed by a last round of betting.

Poker and table games based on poker come in many forms, but the following hands are common to all types of poker:

Royal Flush: 10-Jack-Queen-King-Ace, all in the same suit

Straight Flush: Five cards of the same suit in consecutive ranking

Four Of A Kind: Four cards of the same rank

Full House: A Three Of A Kind with a Pair

Flush: Five cards of the same suit

Straight: Five cards of consecutive rank, regardless of suit

Three of a kind: Three cards of the same rank

Two pair: Two sets of two cards of the same rank

Pair: Two cards of the same rank

Blind Bet: In some forms of poker, players sitting at certain spots of the table will have to make a wager before seeing any cards.
Call: To make a wager equal to the amount of the wager made immediately prior.
Raise: To make a wager higher than the last bet.
Check: To waive the right to start betting while retaining the right to act if another player begins to bet.
Fold: To refuse to call a raise; the player leaves the hand and discards their cards.

• Don’t slow roll or angle shoot.
• Avoid tanking or acting out of turn.
• Don’t eat during a game.
• Keep table conversation polite and nonconfrontational.
• Be courteous to your dealer.