Online Poker & Poker Rules

Posted on 8th December 2007

Poker

• One of the most beautiful games in the world and one of my favorite pastimes. Texas Hold’em poker. The main object of the game is to get the best hand possible with the 2 cards you have in your hand and the 5 cards on board. The hand ranks are as follows :
  
  1. One Pair: One pair refers to two cards out of five cards with the same value Ex: A-A-K-7-6 (or) J-J-8-5-3. If these pairs are equal, compare the highest ranking odd cards from each hand; if these are equal compare the second highest odd card, and if these are equal to compare the lowest odd cards. So A-A-7-6-5 beats A-A-7-3-2 because the 6 beats 3.
  
  2. Two Pair: Refers to two different pairs of cards and one another card. Ex: A-A-K-K-5 (or) J-J- 10-10-7.
  
  3. Three of a kind: Refers to three cards of the same numerical value and two other cards. EX: A-A-A-3-2 (or) 5-5-5-K-J.
  
  4. Straight: Refers to five cards in the sequential order of different suits. EX: 6-5-4-3-2 (or) Q-J-10-9-8.
  
  5. Flush: Refers to five cards in non-sequential order of the same suit. EX: A-9-7-5-2 (or) K-J-8-6-3.
  
  6. Full House: Refers to three cards of the same numerical value and a pair EX: A-A-A-5-5 (or) 6-6-6-2-2.
  
  7. Four of a kind: Refers to four cards of the same numerical value and any other card. EX: A-A-A-A-3 (or) 5-5-5-5-7.
  
  8. Straight Flush: Refers to five cards of the same sequential order of the same suit. EX: 7-6-5-4-3 (or) 9-10-J-Q-K all spades.
  
  9. Royal Flush: Refers to 10-J-Q-K-A (or) A-K-Q-J-10 of the same suit. It's nothing but the best straight flush. As all suits are equal, all royal flushes are equal.
  
  10. Now what happens when the five cards do not form any of the combinations listed above. That's when High Card comes in to play. When comparing two such hands, the one with the better highest card wins.




Poker History

Where it all began. In the late 15th century poker was introduced with the same suits that are still used today. The reason for the no change in suits was there where very easy to trace


Online Poker

In 1994, The Government of Antigua, Bermuda passed the free trade and Processing Zone Act. This made it possible to any online casino’ to legally run under licences granted by this law.
It was not until 1996, when Inter Casino first launched the first online casino where an actual real bet wager could be placed. Companies were not long to follow and with-in 3 years there were over 700 online casinos. It became very popular, very quick and on 30 May 2002, an online casino produced its first millionaire. The lucky player won a massive $1,594,649.


Here are some excellent links to get you started with learning Poker:

BumperPoker.com – BumperPoker