Poker Rules
The all important aim of the game is to make the best 5 card hand that you can. The main online games played are Texas Hold'em and Omaha, with a variation called Omaha Hi/Lo. We outline how these games are played on the appropriate section of this site.
Poker Hand rankings
The most important thing to get right when playing poker is the ranking of what are the best winning hands. Once you have captured this detail, then you are ready to get started and begin to practice how each of the different games are played. Also for each of the different game options it is important to check out the appropriate best hands.
- High card - The highest ranked card is an Ace, and the ranking runs from the Ace down through the picture cards all the way to 2.
- Pair - Any two cards of the same rank, for example two Queens. The ranking of pairs mirrors that of the cards in general, so the strongest pair is a pair of Aces and the weakest a pair of 2s.
- Two Pair - Two sets of cards of the same rank, for example two queens and two sixes.
- Three of a kind - Also called trips, this is where you have three cards of the same rank, for example three sevens.
- Straight - Five cards in sequential rank order, for example 8, 9, 10, Jack and a Queen. An ace may be used as both a high and a low card.
- Flush - Five cards of the same suit, for example five diamonds.
- Full house - A combination of a pair and three of a kind.
- Four of a kind - Four cards of the same rank, for example four Queens.
- Straight Flush - A straight (see above) but with all the cards in the same suit.
- Royal Flush - The daddy of all poker hands, a royal flush is a straight flush involving the 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace.
