Poker

Simple rules for the game of poker

For those readers that have not played the game before here is a description of the various hands, that you must surely have heard of, by just being part of the culture.

Though there are many different various forms of games that all fall under the category of 'poker' the game that comes to mind when the word 'poker' is mentioned, is the game 5 card draw.

A common 'house rule' is the 'ante', which is a mandatory bet before any cards are dealt, and is implemented to ensure a minimum, small pot. A hand begins with the dealer dealing 5 cards to each player. Each player then, after evaluating the strength of his hand, makes a bet. This first round of betting starts with the person to the left of the dealer and proceeds clockwise. A bet may be any of the following:

a simple bet, which is the first bet of a round the person betting announces his bet and throws that much money to the center of the table, into the 'pot'.
a call, the person betting matches the present level of the bet, throwing the appropriate amount of money into the pot.
a raise, the person betting feels his hand is strong and raises the present level of the bet, throwing into the pot the amount of the present bet plus the amount that he is raising the bet. This is usually done in two steps, "I see your X." throw in that much money, following by "and raise you Y" throw in the amount of the raise, Y.
the fold, laying down their cards (face down, least another player learn what cards are no longer available in the deck), they give up any chance of winning the hand, and abandon any bets they've contribute to the pot. They also suffer no further financial risk. This is done if the hand they have is determined to be too weak to win.

This round of betting continues until all players have either called or folded.

It is customary to limit any or all of the following, the total amount of the bet for any hand, the total number of raises, the total number of rounds of betting, a minimum strength hand to open the betting, and a minimum strength hand to win the pot. These restrictions can bee applied by the dealer of the hand or by general consensus at the beginning of the evening. Other strange and peculiar restrictions and/or additions can be added by the dealer of a given hand, before any cards are dealt.

Hands (Ace is always high):
Name Description Total Number of hands that match

Total The total possible number 5 card poker hands 2,598,960

High Card A hand that fits none of the below described the below described hands. 1,303,550

An example would be (KD, 10S, 7H, 5D, 3C)

Pair A hand that consists of one and only one pair 1,098,240

An example would be (KD, DS, QH, 3D, 3C)

Two Pair A hand that contains two pairs. 123,552

An example would be (10D, 10S, 7H, 7D, 2C)

3 of a Kind A hand that contains 3 of one kind of card 54,912

Eg. (KS, KD, KC, 5S, 5D)

Straight A straight has all of the cards in sequential order according to rank 9,180

Eg. (KD, QH, JD, 10C, 9S)

Flush A hand whose every card is of the same suit 5,122

Eg. (KS, 10S, 9S, 5S, 3S)

Full House A hand that contains 3 of a kind + and a pair 3,744

Eg. (KS, KD, KC, 5S, 5D) which would be designated as (King's over 5's)

4 of a Kind A hand that contains 3 of one kind of card 624

Eg. (QS, QD, QH, 7D, 2C)

Straight Flush A hand that satisfies both the straight and flush criteria 32

Eg. (8S, 7S, 5S, 4S, 3S)

Royal Flush A Straight flush with an ace as the high card 4

Eg. (AS, KS, QS, JS, 10S)

5 of a kind Possible only with wild cards ???

4 of a kind with a wild card
3 of a kind with two wild cards
pair with 3 wild cards

Hands (Ace is always high):
Name	Description	Total Number of hands that match
Total	The total possible number 5 card poker hands	2,598,960
High Card	A hand that fits none of the below described the below described hands.	1,303,550
	An example would be (KD, 10S, 7H, 5D, 3C)
Pair	A hand that consists of one and only one pair	1,098,240

	An example would be (KD, DS, QH, 3D, 3C)
Two Pair	A hand that contains two pairs.	123,552
	An example would be (10D, 10S, 7H, 7D, 2C)
3 of a Kind	A hand that contains 3 of one kind of card	54,912
	Eg. (KS, KD, KC, 5S, 5D)
Straight	A straight has all of the cards in sequential order according to rank	9,180
	Eg. (KD, QH, JD, 10C, 9S)
Flush	A hand whose every card is of the same suit	5,122
	Eg. (KS, 10S, 9S, 5S, 3S)
Full House	A hand that contains 3 of a kind + and a pair	3,744
	Eg. (KS, KD, KC, 5S, 5D) which would be designated as (King's over 5's)
4 of a Kind	A hand that contains 3 of one kind of card	624
	Eg. (QS, QD, QH, 7D, 2C)
Straight Flush	A hand that satisfies both the straight and flush criteria	32
	Eg. (8S, 7S, 5S, 4S, 3S)
Royal Flush	A Straight flush with an ace as the high card	4
	Eg. (AS, KS, QS, JS, 10S)
5 of a kind	Possible only with wild cards	???
	4 of a kind with a wild card 3 of a kind with two wild cards pair with 3 wild cards

Which of two hands is the greater hand of two hands that fall in the same
category above is determined by comparing the highest ranked card of each.
The 'groupings' are compared largest to smallest, i.e. for two full house
hands, the ranks of the 3 of a kind grouping are compared first, then 
(if necessary, as in two pair hands) the ranks of the pairs are compared.

Examples:
full houses:	(AS, AD, AC, 2S, 2D)	would beat (KS, KD, KC, QS, QD)
two pair:	(QD, QS, 6H, 6D, 3C)	would beat (JC, JD, 10H, 10S, 5C)
two pair:	(QC, QD, 10H, 10S, 5C)	would beat (QD, QS, 6H, 6D, 3C)
high cards:	(QD, 7S, 6H, 5D, 3C)	would beat (JC, 10D, 9H, 8S, 5C)

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