POKER PLAYING TIPS

Poker is a game of chance that requires a high level of skill. The term poker faced epitomizes the facial expressions of a highly skilled poker player who can win by bluff even when he or she has a worthless hand. The online poker player is pitted against the dealer who deals you a hand of 5 cards. The dealer's first card is dealt facing up. Using the strength of your hand and the value of the dealer's first card, you have to decide whether to increase your bet to maximize your winnings or to fold to minimize your loss. If you call and the dealer's hand qualifies, you will be paid out according to that casino's schedule based on the value of your hand. The dealer's hand must contain at least an Ace-King (so called pair) or better to qualify.

Casinos feature variations of their poker game layouts and the way you actually go about playing it on line but the following is a fairly general overview of the game of stud poker.

Use the Deal button to start a new game of stud Poker. Use your Call button when you think your hand can beat the hand the dealer will get. You cannot Call if you do not have sufficient funds to bet. You capitulate when you press the Fold button and you will lose your ante (initial bet). At the beginning of each game, you are required to put up an 'Ante' which is the name for the first bet in that game. This amount appears on the Ante box. To increase or decrease the Ante bet, click on the relevant Increase or Decrease button to change your bet size. You may use larger chip sizes by selecting the relevant size you desire from the Chip Size menu.

When you have set your Ante (bet), click the Deal button. You will be dealt 5 cards and the dealer 1 card, all these cards will be turned face up. If your hand consists of any of the designated poker combinations they will be shown next to the cards dealt. You now have to decide to 'Call' or 'Fold' and then click the appropriate button.

If you fold, you will automatically lose your Ante and that hand is over. If you 'Call' an additional wager equal to double the Ante (original bet) is required. This second amount is called your 'Bet'. The Bet is automatically deducted from your balance when you click the Call button. If you do not have enough credits to make the Bet you will not be able to complete the game. You must go and purchase additional credits before completing this hand. Once you 'Call' the dealer is dealt a further 4 cards which are then revealed to you.

If the dealer's hand does not have a rank of at least an Ace-King the dealer fails to qualify. If this occurs the game is over. Your bet is returned to you together with double your ante, irrespective of the value of your cards.

If the dealer's hand qualifies, it is compared to your hand. If the dealer's hand is superior, you lose both your Ante and your Bet. If the dealer's hand is inferior, you receive twice your Ante and you are paid out on your Bet according to the payout schedule. The odds for your hand are shown with the hand information displayed on the screen during play, and in the Payout Schedule.

If both your hand and the dealer's hand tie on equal rank, the person with the next highest-ranking card is the winner. In the unlikely event of an absolute tie, you get all your money back. The next game can start as soon the current game is over. If you haven't got enough credits to make both the Ante and a Bet, you will receive notification that you have insufficient credits to continue playing. You will have to purchase more credits if you wish to continue playing.

Poker Rules

Like any other online game, stud Poker has it own set of rules.

The Dealer must have at least an Ace-King to start. If the dealer fails to start, the player will be paid double his or her original bet.

The game is played with a single deck of 52 cards. There are no wild cards.

Your wager (often called ante) will remain on the table until the game is completed.

The Poker Hands.

These are the standard combinations of poker hands that are normally used in calculating the winnings of the player in this game.

Royal Flush is the highest possible hand in Poker and Hearts is the top suit

A K Q J 10 (if it is not all the same suit it is a straight)

Straight Flush is five sequential cards of the same suit such as 7 8 9 10 J of spades

Four of a Kind is four cards of the same value such as four 8's

Full House is a combination of three cards of one value and two cards of another value such as three jacks and a pair of deuces (two's). Picture cards must be of the same standing all kings, all queens or all jacks.

A Flush is any five cards of the same suit.

Straight Five cards in sequence of any suit.

Three of a Kind is Three cards of the same kind and two odd cards such as three threes and any two other cards

Two Pairs is any two different pairs and any other card

One Pair is any two cards of the same value such as a pair of sevens. As an example a king and a jack is not a pair but two jacks or two kings are. They must be two cards of the same denomination.

Ace-King - the hand includes an ace and a king and nothing else of substance

The Payout Schedule varies according to the rules of the relevant casino but as a guide, a royal flush usually pays in the vicinity of 1000 to 1 and an Ace, king combination can be as low as even money. Check the poker rules at the casino where you are playing. The odds are against you if you do not know the rules before you begin to play.

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Good Luck!