Poker rules:

• The basic form of poker is played with a standard 52- card deck. The cards are ranked according to the value of the number on the card or the value of the face. The ranking, from highest to lowest is as follows: Ace (A), King (K), Queen (Q), Jack (J), 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. The Ace can also be used to complete a low straight: A, 2, 3, 4, 5 as well as numbers and faces there are 4 different types of suits which are used to determine the value of a poker hand. These are: Spaces (S), Clubs (C), Diamonds (D) and Hearts (H).
• Poker is not played against the casino (known as the house) rather it is played against the other players. There can be up to 8 players in a standard game. First each player contributes an amount known as an "ante" to the pot in the center of the table.
• Each player receives five cards dealt face down. Players pick up the cards and look at them and then decide if they wish to stay in the game. If so, a bet must be placed by making three of the following choices:
• Call: if you call, you just bet enough money to match what has been bet since the last time you bet.
• Raise: If you want raise you first have to call the highest bet on the table.
• Fold: If you fold you drop out of the current round and lose any chance of winning the pot in the middle.
• Once all bets are called the first round of betting is complete.
• Players may choose to exchange with the dealer any number of cards from their hand. This is known as "the draw". Once the draw is complete a second round of betting takes place. If all bets are called there is a showdown.
• The winner is the player with the highest ranking hand. If only one player remains (no showdown) they will win the pot without having to expose their cards.
• At the showdown the player hands are compared according to the following rankings:
• Straight flush: This is five cards of the same suit in sequence, such as 2 spades, 3 of spades, 4 of spades, 5 of spades and 6 of spades. The highest hand possible is Ace, King, Queen, Jack and ten of the same suit. This AKQJT is known as the Royal flush. The lowest straight flush is five, four, three, two and aces all of the same suit. This will beat any of the hands that follow.
• Four of a kind: Four of the same rank of card with any fifth card, like 5 spades, 5 of clubs, 5 of diamonds and 5 of hearts with any other card. The best ranking is four aces and the lowest hand of four of the type being four two"s.
• Full house: Three cards of the same rank along with 2 other cards of the same rank, such as 3 tens and 2 sevens. The highest full house known as "Full house Aces" is when there are 3 aces along with any other pair.
• Flush: five cards in sequence, such as Jack of spades, 8 of spades, 6 of spades, 4 of spades and 3 of spades. The highest possible flush would be Ace, King, Queen, Jack and nine of the same suit.
• Straight: Five cards in sequence, they can be a combination of two suits or all four suits. For example Queen of clubs, Jack of Clubs, 10 of spades, 9 of clubs and 8 of clubs is classed as a straight. The highest straight flush is Ace, King, Queen, Jack, ten, known sometimes as the "Top straight". The lowest straight is five, four, three, two and ace sometimes known as a "wheel"
• Three of a kind: three cards of the same rank and two other cards "kicker" like ten of spades, ten of hearts, ten of diamonds, Queen of clubs and king of spades. The highest Threes possible is 3 aces.
• Two pair: two cards of the same rank with any other two cards of the same rank such as 2 tens and 2 eights with any other card. If you have to compare two hands each with two pairs the one with the highest pair wins.
• One pair: Two cards of the same rank with any other cards of different ranks for example 2 eights with any other 3 cards. Again here two hands are compared as in Two pair and the best hand wins.
• Card high: Any hand that does not qualify as one of the better hands above, such as Jack of clubs, 9 of spades, 7 of hearts, 6 of diamonds and 2 of spades your hand will be Jack high. If no other player has a pair or rank above then the player with the highest card wins.

Poker Strategy:

The golden rules to apply when playing any poker game is as follows:

1. Don't play cash poor
2. If you have got nothing in your hand, get out
3. If you have got a cinch hand, make them pay to see it
4. If they have got you beat, fold
5. The goal is to beat the other players, not have the highest hand. If everyone else folds, you take the pot.
6. Don't try to beat a better player; if you're lucky, you will win small; if your not, you'll lose big.
7. There's an even chance that you won't better your opening hand.
8. When it comes to draw poker strategy we begin by considering the rank of the winning hands. In the rules of draw poker, we introduced the 5 card hands and their ranking.

Here's an idea on the odds of receiving those hands on the opening deal:

Based on these chances of receiving an opening hand, there are a few things you can immediately conclude:

• The more players at the table, the greater the chance that one or more players has a Pair, for example.
  
• The more players at the table the lower the relative value of the lesser ranked hands.
  
• If you haven't got a pair or better, or four cards to a flush or straight, fold immediately.
  
• If you hold nothing in the opener your chances of improving and beating the other players are too slim. This means that you'll fold most of your opening hands "Draw Poker"
  
  

Chances of completion:

In the end, it's these odds that must advise you on your Poker betting decisions.

Poker Hand Rankings

The various poker hands from highest to lowest:

1. Royal Flush: The five highest cards, the 10 through the Ace, all five of the same suit. A royal flush is actually an ace-high straight flush. Which suit it is doesn't matter in poker. Two people with royal flushes would tie. Ex. 10, J, Q, K, A diamond	2. Straight Flush: Any five cards of the same suit in consecutive numerical order Example here shows 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 heart flush
3. Four of a Kind: All four cards of the same denomination Ex: Q, Q, Q, Q	4. Full House: Any three cards of the same denomination, plus any pair of a different denomination. Ties are broken first by the three of a kind, then the pair. Ex: K, K, 3, 3, 3
5. Flush: Any non-consecutive five cards of the same suit, Our example shows an ace-high spade flush.	6. Straight: Any five consecutive cards of any suit. Ace can be high or low. Our example shows 9-to-king straight.
7. Three of a Kind: Any three cards of the same denomination. Example shows three 8's	8. Two Pair: Any two cards of the same denomination, plus any other two cards of the same denomination. If both hands have the same high pair, the second pair wins. If both pairs tie, the high card wins. Our example shows pairs of Q, Q, & 7, 7
9. Pair: Two cards of the same denomination. Example shows a pair of J	10. High Card: If no other hand is achieved, the highest card held wins.

Video Poker Rules & Strategy:

Video Poker rules:

Video Poker is thought to be a game of luck, maybe because of it's resemblance to slot machines in some aspects. However, this is far from being the case. Playing video poker requires skill too.

The object of Video Poker is to get any of the winning combinations of poker hands. The winning combinations and the payoff schedule are listed on a payout schedule attached to the machine.

Getting started, choose any of the below recommended casinos:

• Deposit coins into the machine to place your wager. The bet must be placed beforeeyou draw your cards, and can't be changed once play starts.
• After placing your bet, push a button marked "Draw/Deal", this will result in you seeing your initial hand of five cards.
• Then decide if you wish to keep any of the cards in your hand. If you do you push the "Hold/Cancel" button under the card(s) you wish to keep. In the event you change your mind and don't wish to keep a previously held card push the "Hold/Cancel" button a second time and the hold will be canceled.
• Make sure that there is confirmation on the screen that you have held the cards that you want to hold (the word "hold" flashes under your held cards).
• Press the Draw/Deal button a second time to obtain new cards for those not held.
• If you have a winning hand the machine pays off and is then ready for another game.

The following hands win, ordered top to bottom from the best hands to the worst respectively:

Royal flush
This is the highest possible hand in poker. A Royal Flush consists of Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10 of the same suit.

Straight flush
This is the second highest hand possible. A Straight Flush consists of five cards in order and of the same suit; (note that an ace can usually be counted as the lowest card in the order) for example A, 2, 3, 4, 5 is a group of five ordered cards.

Four of a Kind
This hand consists of four cards of the same value plus one other odd card (for example Q, Q, Q, Q, 3).

Full House
Is a hand containing three cards of one rank plus two cards of another rank (for example J, J, J, 4, 4 or 6, 6, 6, 8, 8).

Flush
If all five cards in a hand belong to the same suit you have a Flush (for example 4 of Clubs, 5 of Clubs, 7 of Clubs, Queen of Clubs and Ace of Clubs)

Straight
A straight consists of five cards in order, but not of the same suit (for example Ace of Diamonds, 2 of Clubs, 3 of Hearts, 4 of Clubs and 5 of Spades).

Three of a Kind
Is a hand containing three cards of the same value along with two odd cards (such as 7, 7, 7, A and 2).

Two Pair
A pair is two cards of the same value or rank. You have two pair if the hand has two pair plus an odd card (for example 6, 6, 7, 7, 2).

One Pair (Jacks or better)
A pair is two cards of the same value or rank, in video poker only pairs of jacks, queens, and kings or aces pay off.

Remember that the cards will not usually be in order when displayed on the screen, be careful when looking at your hand! Most video poker games will not make you aware of a hand/potential hand until the game is over.

Video Poker Strategy:

The Video Poker machines are programmed to pay-out up to 100% when players play at the expert level, the reason the casinos can do this is because most, or one can say almost all of the players don't play anywhere near the expert level required.

The following tips can bring your playing closer to an expert level and improve your chances of winning.

Play only machines that offer full payback that is they will, in theory, payback all of the monies played. If the machine payback is not posted then look at the chart on the machine and pick out one that pays the most for a full house and a flush. The greater the return then the higher that machine pays-out. For example on a jacks or better machine:

The payouts for every machine are attached to the machine. Always play the maximum number of coins shown on the machine so you will be entitled to receive the bonus payout for a royal flush. Also make sure to check that the machine has accepted all of your coins before playing. If you do get a big win you want to be completely sure the five coins were played. The payouts for every machine are attached to the machine.

Play progressive machines, they can pay large amounts for a royal flush and make the payout more in line with the difficulty of obtaining a royal flush (about once in every 40,000 hands). Play progressive machines that are showing about 80% of the payoff amount (example $2,000 on a machine that has a payoff of $2,500), and be sure to play the required number of coins to be eligible for the payoff.

If you have four cards and need one in the middle to fill a straight don't count on a draw. On the other hand if you have four consecutive cards and only need one at either end to fill a straight then take a shot at making the straight.

Prefer any pair over holding a high card. Many players would discard a pair of two's and keep one or more high cards, this is not a good strategy, you have better odds trying for three of a kind.

Always prefer a high pair over a four-card open straight, a four-card open flush or a three-card royal. Try for three of a kind knowing that at least you have recovered your bet.

Always keep a low pair over a four-card open end straight. The low pair has more value than going for the straight and should be kept.

A three-card royal should be kept over a low pair, a four-card flush and a four card open end straight. The bonus for the royal flush makes it a better play.

If your first five cards doesn't have at least one high card don't be afraid to draw five new ones.

Basic Playing Strategy Summary:

• Cards in your hand Draw
• 4 of a kind or better 0 cards (keep all your cards)
• 4 cards to a royal 1 card
• Full house or flush 0 cards (keep all your cards)
• 3 of a kind 2 cards
• 4 card straight flush 1 card
• Straight 0 cards (keep all your cards)
• 2 pair 1 card
• High pair 3 cards
• 3 cards to the royal 2 cards
• 4 card flush 1 card
• Low pair 3 cards
• 4 card straight 1 card
• 3 card straight flush 2 cards
• 2 high cards 3 cards
• 1 high card 4 cards
• Garbage 5 cards