The Basics of Poker
Unlike blackjack, poker is not a purely skill game. To play, each player is required to place a minimum amount into the pot before any other player can bet. If a player folds, that player will lose any chips in the pot.
The game is played with a standard 52 card deck. The deck is divided into four suits. These suits are hearts, diamonds, spades, and clubs.
The best possible hand is a straight flush with five cards of the same suit. Typically, a straight flush ace is high or low.
The “backdoor flush” is when a player hit a card needed to achieve the “backdoor flush” on the turn or river. A straight flush ace isn’t wraparound if it goes K-A-2-3-4.
The high card in poker breaks ties when there are more than two people with the highest card. The same is true of the high card in other card games.
In a pot-limit game, each player is permitted to bet or raise the pot. There are three types of bets: the ante, the small blind, and the big blind. All players must post a minimum amount in each round. The ante is typically the smallest bet.
The kitty is a special fund used to pay for new decks of cards. In a stud poker game, the kitty is usually twice as large after the draw as before. Kitty chips are awarded to players who are still in the game and to players who have not folded.