Despite the wide range of games and variations available, there are some fundamental principles that all poker variants share. These rules are used to determine the order of winners and the proper use of the deck of cards. Most poker variants include some sort of betting intervals to ensure that all players have a chance to make a hand. Some versions of poker even use alternate hands.
A “Straight” is a hand of five cards of the same suit. It is sometimes called the “trip.” A Straight is the best possible hand in a given moment. For example, a Straight 7-8-9-10-J beats a Straight 3-4-5-6-7. A Straight is also the best possible hand in a game of 7-card stud.
A “Five-card Draw” is a poker variant in which each player is dealt five cards face down. After a period of betting, the hands are revealed and the player with the highest ranking hand wins the pot.
The “Big Blind” is a forced bet that is placed by the player to the left of the button. Normally, players who have not yet participated in a round of betting will be required to post a “big blind.” It is also sometimes called the “ante.” In some variants, the ante is a substitute for the big blind.
The “showdown” is a poker term used to describe the final round of betting when all of the players have been dealt their cards. In most variants, a “showdown” only occurs when there are callers in the final round of betting. However, some games feature a “side pot” which is created from additional money bet by remaining players. The name “side pot” is also a misnomer as the pot actually consists of all bets made in the final round of betting.
The “string raising” is a poker term that translates to announcing a call and a raise at the same time. The string is an example of the three card trumps. The trumps are a straight and a flush. In the case of a flush, a player can achieve a “backdoor flush” by hitting the right cards on the turn and river.
The “Ace-Ace” is a poker term that translates as a high card. It can be used to devalue a poker hand. For example, if the dealer has an Ace and a King, the hand is a “full house” and is difficult to beat. Similarly, a player holding an Ace and a King can have a “full house.”
The “Five-card Draw” is referred to as the “fifteen-card” because each player is dealt five cards face down, rather than the traditional seven. The “five-card draw” is a good poker term to know, especially if you’re playing in a tournament.
The “Two Pair” is another poker term that is used to describe a pair of cards of the same value. In the “Two Pair” game, a player can also achieve a “backdoor flush” by playing a pair of cards of the same value that he or she is not yet holding.