How to Play Poker (with Example Hands)

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In this Article:Article SummaryPoker HelpGetting StartedPlaying Texas Hold’emDeveloping Your StrategyPlaying More ProfessionallyLearning Popular Poker VariationsCommunity Q&A12 References

Poker is a game that may take a day or years to learn, but a lifetime to master. There are many variations of the game, though Texas Hold'em is the most popular. While each variation has its own set of rules, the basics of the game remain the same. Poker is a game of chance and strategy as well as close observation. It involves some psychology, such as reading the players around you to decide when to fold or bluff, or knowing when to call an opponent's bluff. Once you understand the basic rules, hands, and vocabulary of the game, start focusing on strategy in order to master poker.

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To play Texas Hold ‘Em poker, memorize the 10 basic 5-card hands and their values, including the straight flush, pair, two pair, and flush. Learn the betting rounds of poker, called the “flop,” “turn,” and “river.” When you’re dealt the first 2 cards of the game, you have to decide whether to play the cards to make a hand or to fold. If you have a pair of 10s, face cards, or aces, you should almost always raise. Once the flop is revealed, check your cards to see if you should raise, call, or fold for the upcoming rounds.

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