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How to Play Poker for Beginners

Though one of the most popular casino card games, there are many variations of poker. From draw poker, to stud poker and even community card poker games, like Texas hold ‘em, there is a poker variation for everyone. However, newcomers to the game often need some guidance to determine the rules of each, and that’s what we aim to do here.

In addition to providing information on how to play poker for beginners, we also allow players to customize their own poker set for at home play. Before you check out our wide selection of custom poker chips and accessories, let us explain the basics of how to play poker, the variations of the game, and the best five-card hands. Below is a beginners guide to playing poker. 

Poker Variations

Poker is not a single card game but rather a family of card games. The most common form of poker beginners learn to play is draw poker, typically 5-card draw. While popular for at home games, draw poker is rarely seen in casinos or tournament play. In draw poker, each player is dealt a complete hand before the first round of betting. In following rounds, players can replace cards in their hand by drawing new hands.

Stud poker, on the other hand, is one of the most common forms of poker found in casinos. With this, players are dealt a mix of face up and face down cards. Seven-card stud and five-card stud are the most common forms of stud poker and the goal is to get the best five card combination from your hand and the face up cards.

Other forms of poker, including Texas Hold ‘em and Omaha Hold ‘em, are forms of community card poker. In community poker, cards are dealt face down to each player and some cards are dealt face up and are community cards. The goal is for each player to get the best possible five card hand using both sets of cards.

Five-Card Poker Hands

In poker, there are ten basic hands used to determine which player wins. The ten basic poker hands are detailed below in hierarchy of lowest to highest in poker hand rankings for your convenience.

  • High Card: In a high card hand, no two cards are the same and they do not fall in sequence or have the same suit.
  • One Pair: One pair is simply two cards that have the same rank and three others that do not. (Example: 2,2,5,7,8)
  • Two Pair: In a two pair hand, you have two sets of two card pairs. (Example: 2,2,5,5,9)
  • Three of a Kind: In a three of a kind hand, you have three cards of the same value. (Example: 2,2,2,7,9)
  • Straight: With a straight hand, you have five cards in sequential order but they have different suits. (Example: 5,6,7,8,9)
  • Flush: In a flush, all five cards are of the same suit, but not in sequential order.
  • Full House: In a full house, three cards are of matching value and two are matching cards of another value. (Example: 5,5,5,8,8)
  • Four of a Kind: Four of a kind is when your hand consists of four identical valued cards and one that doesn’t match. (Example: 4,4,4,4,9)
  • Straight Flush: In a straight flush, all five cards are in sequential order and have matching suits.
  • Royal Flush: The highest possible poker hand, the royal flush, consists of the highest cards in sequential order with the same suit. (Example: 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace, all of the same suit.

Customize Poker Sets with Custom Made Casino

Whether you are looking for poker chips, a wedding favor, a custom poker table, or a custom poker set, Custom Made Casino has you covered. When your not testing out your skills in onilne poker, take a look at our custom poker chips here for your own poker night or call us at 845.499.8734 if you have any questions!