Poker at its core is a simple game. Since so many people play poker, there are many variations of poker. To explain poker rules, focus on the 5-Card Draw. This is an easy version for beginners to learn.

Take a standard deck of 52 playing cards to begin playing 5-Card Draw poker. Aces are ALWAYS high, and worth more than Kings. Kings in turn are worth more than Queens, are worth more than Jacks. Poker cards are divided into four suits. The four suits are:

• Diamonds:
• Clubs:
• Hearts:
• Spades:

They are ranked from high to low in descending order: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.

Poker is an egalitarian card game. The poker suits all have the same value; no suit is more valuable than another. Each player gets five cards. The objective of poker is to be the player that concludes the game with the highest-valued poker hand. From top to bottom, the poker hands are ranked as follows:

Royal Flush - The hardest poker hardest hand to get, you need 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace, all of the same suit.

Straight Flush - It is particularly hard to get five cards the entire same suit in consecutive numerical order. You can "wrap around," such as Q-K-A-2-3.

Four of a Kind - Collect four cards of the same number amount. If there is a tie of at least qualifying hands, the highest-ranking Four-of-a-Kind wins.

Full House - A Full House has three cards of the same numerical rank, followed by two cards of the same numerical rank. A good example of a Full House is Q-Q-Q-7-7, is beaten by Q-Q-Q-A-A.

Flush - When a tie occurs, the player holding the highest ranking card wins. A Flush has five cards of the same suit, their numerical rank is not counted.

Straight - Straight hands are prohibited from a "wrap around." A Straight consists of five cards in numerical order, regardless of their suits.

Three of a Kind - This is three cards of the exact same numerical ranking.

Two Pair - This is two (2) sets of paired cards

One Pair - This is one (1) pair of cards

High Card - If no player holds any cards of value, then the player with the highest single value card wins poker.

Basic Rules

•  To begin playing poker, a player places their ante, a "token bet", into the pot before the cards are dealt. Bets are anything from a few coins to rolls of banknotes.

•  The dealer gives the players cards, handing one card to every single player until every poker player holds five cards.

•  Now the poker players look at their cards and begin to place their bets. New players to the game should let another poker player start the betting.

•  From the start of poker's first round of betting there are different poker scenarios to choose from:

Check : This means that you don't want to be the poker player to open the betting, but want to take a wait and see approach.

Open : If betting has not started when your turn comes, if you want you can "open" the pot with a first bet.

See : This poker rule lets you match another player's bet in so you can stay in the game.

Raise : This goes further than See, by increasing your bet amount for the poker game.

Fold : When you decide to quit because you feel you your hand is weak, place your cards face down on the table. You lose the money you bet.

If you decide to stay in the game, you can swap up to three of your cards. Your three new cards are face down.

•  After every player draws up to three more cards, the betting starts anew. Players can shout out See, Raise or Fold. The poker game finishes when there are no more bids,

•  Everyone to turns their cards over. The player with the highest value hand wins the poker pot.

Once you fold you are out of the game. So remember, you can only stay in the poker game if you don't fold. If you get a good hand, hide behind your best poker face. The trick in poker is to make the other players bet more than they should, and then you can win more money. 'Poker face' is about being a good faker.

Make sure to check out the web's best poker rooms and online tournaments and events.