How to play Poker

The Poker Deck

Poker is typically played with a standard deck of 52 cards (excluding jokers). Cards are ranked from highest to lowest as follows: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. Depending on the variant, Aces can be high or low.

Poker Hands Ranking

Understanding hand rankings is crucial:

1. Royal Flush: A, K, Q, J, 10, all in the same suit.
2. Straight Flush: Five consecutive cards of the same suit.
3. Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank.
4. Full House: Three of a kind plus a pair.
5. Flush: Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence.
6. Straight: Five consecutive cards of different suits.
7. Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank.
8. Two Pair: Two pairs of cards of the same rank.
9. One Pair: Two cards of the same rank.
10. High Card: If no one has a pair or better, the highest card wins.

Texas Hold’em is the most widely played poker variant, especially in major tournaments like the World Series of Poker. The goal is to form the best possible five-card hand using any combination of two hole cards (dealt to each player) and five shared community cards.

Gameplay

Betting Rounds

Texas Hold’em has four betting rounds, adding layers of interaction and anticipation. The first round of betting takes place after players receive their hole cards. Subsequent betting rounds follow the flop, the turn, and the river. At each stage, players can bet, check, raise, or fold, contributing to the pot as the hand progresses.

Winning

The winner is determined at the showdown if more than one player remains after the final betting round. The player with the highest-ranking five-card hand wins the pot. Alternatively, if all other players fold at any point, the last remaining player wins the pot without needing to show their hand.

Betting Options

Players take turns to act during betting rounds, with the following options:

• Check: Pass the action to the next player without betting, but only if no previous bet has been made during that round.
• Bet: Wager an amount of chips.
• Call: Match the current bet made by another player.
• Raise: Increase the current bet.
• Fold: Surrender your cards and forfeit the round.

Betting Limits

There are three main types of betting structures:

• No-Limit: Players can bet any amount up to their total chips.
• Pot-Limit: Players can bet up to the size of the pot/bet (all chips in the pot so far).
• Fixed-Limit: Bets are made in pre-determined amounts, which may vary by card room. The fixed limit, when offered, will typically be displayed on or near the table.

• All-in: Betting all your remaining chips.
• Blinds: Forced bets that start the action in games like Texas Hold’em.
• Burn: Discarding the top card of the deck before dealing community cards.
• Buy-in: The amount of money or chips needed to enter a game.
• Cold Call: Calling a raise after one or more players have already raised.
• Straddle: An optional blind bet placed by a player before the cards are dealt, typically twice the size of the big blind. The straddling player acts last during the preflop betting round. Straddles are only permitted in cash games and not in tournaments.
• Button (Dealer Button): A marker that indicates the dealer position in a poker game. The button rotates clockwise after each hand to ensure all players take turns being the dealer.

Now that you’re familiar with how to play poker, why not plan a visit to Napoleons?

• Napoleons Hull: Experienced dealer-hosted poker games, where our professional team manages each round, ensuring a smooth, structured game.
• Napoleons Sheffield: Poker at Napoleons Sheffield is agent-led, with our professional team managing the card room to ensure a smooth and structured experience for all players.

Please note that each card room operates under its own set of rules, as some are managed by agents rather than directly by us. We encourage all players to respect the specific rules of the venue they visit.

Other versions of poker may also be available. If you have any questions about additional variants played, please speak to the card room supervisor.

Both venues offer a welcoming and professional atmosphere, perfect for your next poker experience.