Basic Poker Rules Every Beginner Should Learn First

Games of chance and skill have been popular for centuries, offering players the thrill of testing their luck. Among all the choices, poker stands out as one of the most popular. With its online availability, poker has become a fan favorite for many existing and new players. As a beginner, it can seem serious, with stacks of chips and players in sunglasses. When you start learning how it works, you’ll realise that it’s actually easier than it looks. 

In this blog, we will talk about all the basic poker rules you need to know.

1. Understanding the Poker Setup

Every player receives the opportunity to deal, and the game goes in a clockwise ​‍​‌‍​‍‌direction. Before learning poker rules for beginners, we need to learn about blinds. Two players post something called the blinds.

• The player sitting directly left of the dealer puts in a smaller forced bet. This is called a small blind.
• The next player to their left puts in a slightly bigger bet. This one is called a big blind.

These blinds make sure there’s always something to play for. Without them, everyone could just fold every hand until they got perfect cards. That can get boring very soon.

2. The Order of Play and Betting Rounds

Now you can actually start learning how to play poker. These are the choices you are presented with:

1. Fold: Give up your hand and any chance at the pot.
2. Call: Match the current bet and stay in the round.
3. Raise: Increase the bet to challenge others.
4. Check: Pass the action without betting if no one else has bet yet.

The game follows a pattern of four main betting rounds in Texas Hold’em:

• Pre-Flop:

The first betting round happens right after every player has two cards. Now you decide to either fold, call, or raise. ​‍​‌‍​‍‌

• Flop:

The dealer places three community cards face-up. Now everyone can see part of the shared board and start forming potential hands. Another round of betting follows.

• Turn:

A fourth community card is added. You can now combine your hole cards and these four to form stronger hands. Another betting round.

• River:

One more betting round is done, and therefore, all players still in the game reveal their cards. And this is known as the showdown. The one who has the highest-ranking five-card hand takes the pot home. 

3. Hand Rankings You Need to Know

Here’s the part you’ve probably seen in every poker scene ever: people showing their cards and someone yelling, “Full house!” Knowing hand rankings is non-negotiable. Without this, the online poker rules are incomplete. You can’t tell if your hand’s good or trash. Here it is, from the best to worst:

• A Royal Flush is the combination of A, K, Q, J, 10 of the same suit.
• A Straight Flush is a choice of five cards in a row, of the same suit.
• Four of a Kind is a combination of four cards with the same number or face.
• A Full House is a combination of the three cards of one rank and two of another.
• A Flush is any five cards of the same suit, which are not in sequence.
• A Straight is the combination of five cards in a sequence, but from different suits.
• Three of a Kind is the combination of three cards with the same rank.
• Two Pair is the combination of two different ​pairs.
• Two cards of the same rank are called a pair.
• When nothing matches, the highest single card wins.

4. The Etiquette

It’s not only about playing cards; it’s also your conduct. At GullyBET, even the top hands are capable of being defeated if you don’t make the right ​‍​‌‍​‍‌moves.

Here are a few things beginners should always keep in mind:

1. Act in turn. Don’t bet or fold before it’s your turn.
2. Don’t show your cards early. It gives away too much info.
3. Be respectful. The dealer and the other players are there for fun, not drama.

Never​‍​‌‍​‍‌ go straight to a high-stakes game. Pick up your rhythm, figure out the patterns, and check your confidence level at low-stakes tables. Besides, folding is not a useless action as some people think. The thing is that extreme bluffing is over very quickly, and smart players recognize it immediately.

Conclusion 

In the beginning, poker seems like a game of luck to a new player’s eyes. Just after playing for a while, you’ll understand that it is more about patience, timing, and player reading. You start to learn the basic poker rules, the right moment to fold, and when to rely on your intuition. Your instincts will also grow with your interest. You will be able to start identifying patterns, discovering bluffing, and the game will keep becoming more and more ​fun.

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