How to Play Poker

Whether you’re brand new to the tables or just starting to hone your card skills, our beginner’s guide has everything you need to get started.

Here, you’ll find the basics of poker rules, the most popular game types (including Texas Hold’em), and the hand rankings you’ll be aiming for. Poker is more than just a game of cards — it’s a blend of skill, strategy, and excitement. Whether you’re sharing a casual hand with friends or competing online, the thrill of betting and bluffing creates an atmosphere unlike any other. That’s why poker has stood the test of time, from the saloons of the Wild West to today’s virtual tables.

Learning the fundamentals is your first step toward becoming a true poker ace. So sit back, relax, and let us walk you through everything from raising and bluffing to the thrill of a showdown.

Poker Hand Rankings Guide
A standard deck of cards is ranked from highest to lowest as follows:

A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2

When building your best five-card hand, these are the combinations you’ll be aiming for, ranked from strongest to weakest:

• Royal Flush
• Straight Flush
• Four of a Kind
• Full House
• Flush
• Straight
• Three of a Kind
• Two Pair
• One Pair
• High Card

The higher the value of the cards in your hand, the stronger it is. For example, a pair of Aces beats a pair of Queens, and a straight running 7-8-9-10-J outranks a straight running 5-6-7-8-9.