Poker: practical guide
Learn the game clearly: rules, step‑by‑step examples and strategy to avoid mistakes.
60‑second summary:
Updated: 2025-11-12 • 6–12 min read
- You get 2 hole cards; 5 community cards appear in three rounds (flop, turn, river).
- Win the pot with the best 5‑card hand or by making others fold.
- Four betting rounds: preflop, flop, turn, river.
- Core actions: check, bet, call, raise, fold.
Beginner — first steps
Goal Make profitable decisions (positive EV) and win pots.
Blinds Small Blind and Big Blind start the action.
Actions check, bet, call, raise, fold.
Showdown Best 5‑card hand wins if 2+ players remain.
Intermediate — example hand
- Preflop: Button opens 2.5bb with A♥Q♥; BB calls.
- Flop: Q♣ 7♥ 2♦ — c‑bet 1/3 for value; BB calls.
- Turn: 9♥ — add a flush draw; bet 2/3 for value/protection.
- River: 4♠ — check back; win at showdown with top pair/top kicker.
Strategy & tips
- Open tighter early positions; wider in CO/BTN.
- Small bets on dry flops; larger on connected boards.
- Use pot odds and equity; don’t chase everything.
Rules — quick reference
| Rank | Hand | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Royal flush | A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠ |
| 9 | Straight flush | 9♥ 8♥ 7♥ 6♥ 5♥ |
| 8 | Four of a kind | Q♦ Q♣ Q♥ Q♠ + card |
| 7 | Full house | J♠ J♦ J♥ + 7♣ 7♦ |
| 6 | Flush | 5♣ 9♣ Q♣ A♣ 3♣ |
| 5 | Straight | 5♦ 6♣ 7♠ 8♥ 9♦ |
| 4 | Three of a kind | 8♠ 8♦ 8♥ + two cards |
| 3 | Two pair | 10♣ 10♥ + 6♦ 6♠ + card |
| 2 | One pair | 9♠ 9♦ + three cards |
| 1 | High card | A♦ + four cards |
Common mistakes
- Playing too many hands out of position.
- Underbetting wet boards; overcalling without odds.
- Bluffing without blockers or credible story.
Glossary (acronyms)
EV: Expected Value.
SPR: Stack‑to‑Pot Ratio.
IP / OOP: In / Out of Position.
UTG / MP / CO / BTN: Table positions.
SB / BB: Small Blind / Big Blind.
CBet: Continuation Bet.
3‑bet / 4‑bet: Re‑raise / Re‑re‑raise.
FD / NFD: (Nut) Flush Draw.
OESD / GS: Open‑Ended / Gutshot straight draw.
Nuts: Best possible hand.
Blockers: Cards removing villain combos.
Pot odds / Implied odds.
FAQ
Both. It can be low (A‑2‑3‑4‑5) or high (10‑J‑Q‑K‑A).
Call when your estimated equity is higher than bet/(pot+bet).