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Poker is played throughout the world, but it is probably still most popular in its country of origin, the USA.
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There are 52 cards in the pack, and the ranking of the individual cards, from high to low, is ace, king, queen, jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. There is no ranking between the
suits - so for example the king of hearts and the king of spades are equal.
A poker hand consists of five cards. The categories of hand, from highest to lowest, are listed below. Any hand in a higher category beats any hand in a lower category
(so for example any three of a kind beats any two pairs). Between hands in the same category the rank of the individual cards decides which is better, as described in more detail below.
In games where a player has more than five cards and selects five to form a poker hand, the remaining cards do not play any part in the ranking. Poker ranks are always
based on five cards only.
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Game Rules
- Omaha Hi-Lo
In high-low split, each player makes a separate five-card high hand and five-card ace-to-five low hand (eight-high or lower to qualify), and the pot is split between the
high and low (which may be the same player). To qualify for low, a player must be able to play an 8-7-6-5-4 or lower (this is why it is called "eight-or-better", or
simply "Omaha/8"). A few casinos play with a 9-low qualifier instead, but this is rare. Each player can play any two of his four hole cards to make his high hand, and
any two of his four hole cards to make his low hand. If there is no qualifying low hand, the high hand wins (scoops) the whole pot.
The brief explanation above belies the complexity of the game, so a number of examples will be useful here to clarify it. The table below shows a five-card board of
community cards at the end of play, and then lists for each player the initial private four-card hand dealt to him or her, and the best five-card high hand and low hand
each player can play on showdown:
In the deal above, Chuck wins the high-hand half of the pot with his J-high straight, and Brenda and Emily split the low half (getting a quarter of the pot each)
with 7-5-3-2-A.
Some specific things to notice about Omaha eight-or-better hands are:
* In order for anyone to qualify low, there must be at least three cards of differing ranks 8 or below on the board. For example, a board of K-8-J-7-5 makes low
possible (the best low hand would be A-2, followed by A-3, 2-3, etc.) A board of K-8-J-8-5, however, cannot make any qualifying low (the best low hand possible
would be J-8-5-2-A, which doesn't qualify). Statistically, around 60% of the time a low hand is possible.
* Low hands often tie, and high straights occasionally tie as well. It is possible to win as little as a 14th of a pot (though this is extraordinarily rare). Winning a
quarter of the pot is quite common, and is called "getting quartered." One dangerous aspect of playing for the low pot is the concept of 'counterfeiting'. To illustrate,
if a player has, for example, 2-3 and two other cards in his hand and the flop is A-6-7, that player has flopped the 'nut low'. However, if either a 2 or a 3 hit the board
on the turn or the river, the hand is 'counterfeited' and the nut low hand is lost (the player still has a much weaker low hand however). This is why there is significant
extra value in possessing the 'protected' nut low. To illustrate this, if the player has 2-3-4 in his hand his low is protected, i.e. if a 2 or 3 hits the board he still has the
lowest possible hand. To lose the nut low in this case either a 2 and a 3, a 2 and a 4, or a 3 and a 4 would have to hit the board on the turn and the river (giving the
nut low to a player holding 4-5, 3-5 and 2-5, respectively), an unlikely possibility. For similar reasons it is significantly better to possess the protected nut low draw
over the low draw. For example, this could be having A-2-3 with a flop of 7-8-9; any low card below 7 on the turn or river gives the player the best low.
* When four or five low cards appear on the board, it can become very difficult to read the low hands properly. For example with a board of 2? 6? A? 5? 8?, the
hand 2? 4? 5? K? is playing a 6-5-4-2-A (either his 2-4 with the board's A-5-6, or his 4-5 with the board's A-2-6--either way makes the same hand). In this situation
he is often said to be playing his "live" 4, that is, his 4, plus some other low card that matches the board but still makes a low because the one on the board isn't
needed. A player with 3? 5? 10? J? is playing a "live" 3, for a low of 6-5-3-2-A, which makes a better low. However, a player with 3? 7? Q? Q? can only
play 7-5-3-2-A low; even though he has a "live" 3, he must play two low cards from his hand, and so he must play his 7-3, and cannot make a 6-high low hand.
* Starting hands with three or four cards of one rank are very bad. In fact, the worst possible hand in the game is 2? 2? 2? 2?! Since the only possible
combination of two cards from this hand is 2-2, it is impossible to make low. As no deuce remains to appear on the board, it will be impossible to make three
deuces or deuces full, and anyone with any matching card to the board will make a higher pair. Likewise, starting with four cards of one suit makes it less likely
that you will be able to make a flush. Starting with four different suits yields no chance for a flush, and starting with four disconnected cards reduces straight possibilities.
Computer analysis of the best starting hands has proven that the best starting hand for Omaha is A-A-K-K with both Ks suited to the As. For the Hi-Lo variation,
the most valuable starting holding is A-2 (suited), A-3 (suited).
* Hands to avoid tend to contain mainly middle ranked cards, which are of little use for any low splits and which tend to generate lower pairs and sets, weaker
flushes and lower straights and can be very expensive.
* Low hand ranks from best to worst: 5-4-3-2-A ('the wheel'), 6-4-3-2-A, 6-5-3-2-A, 6-5-4-2-A, ... , 8-7-6-5-4. See also ace-to-five low
Professional poker players can sense what their opponents have in their hands. When just beginning you may not be able to read your opponents with that level of skill, but if you
can take a moment to read the cards on the board, you can tell with certainty what they do not have. Reading the board lets you know what hands are possible, and from there
you can use other information from your opponents to gauge what hands are probable. And act accordingly.
Poker Definitions
- three pair
In a seven card game, such as seven card stud or Texas hold 'em, it is possible for a player to have 3 pairs, although a player can only play two of them as
part of a standard 5-card poker hand. This situation may jokingly be referred to as a player having a hand of three pair. Note that in Omaha, it is possible
to "have" 4 pair in the same manner.
tight
Compare to "loose", "aggressive", "passive".
to go
A term used to describe the amount that a player is required to call in order to stay in the hand, "Alice was deciding whether to call now it was $50 to go."
toke
In a brick and mortar casino, a toke is a "tip" given to the dealer by the winner of the pot. Tokes often represent a large percentage of a dealer's income.
top kicker
In community card poker games, top kicker is the best possible kicker to some given hand. Usually it would be an Ace, but with an Ace on the board it
would be a King or lower. Having "top pair, top kicker" is frequently enough to win a Texas Hold'em hand.
top pair
In community card poker games, top pair is a pair of the same rank as the highest ranking card on the board. Compare second pair, bottom pair.
top two
A split two pair, matching the highest-ranking two flop cards.
trey
A 3-spot card. Casino personnel refer to the 3? as the "trey of clubs".
trips
When one of a players hole cards in hold 'em connects with two cards on the board to make three of a kind. This differs from a set where three of a kind is
made when a pocket pair connects with one card on the flop to make three of a kind.
12-way straight draw
A hand in draw poker such as 6? 7? (Joker) 9?, in which any of twelve cards (4 fives, 4 eights, 4 tens) can fill a straight.
under the gun
The playing position to the direct left of the blinds in Texas hold 'em or Omaha. The player who is under the gun must act first on the first round of betting.
underdog
An underdog or dog is a player with a smaller chance to win than another specified player. Frequently used when the exact odds are expressed. Harry
might have been bluffing, but if he really had the king, my hand was a 4-to-1 dog, so I folded.
underfull
In a community card game, a full house that is one of the lowest full houses possible. For example: in Texas hold 'em, a player holding a pair of deuces
with a final board of 2A33Q holds an underfull (Deuces full of Treys). The highest possible full house is Aces full of Treys. Also "underboat".
up
When used with a card rank to describe a poker hand, refers to two pair with the named card being the higher pair. For example, a hand of QQ885 might
be called "queens up".
up and down straight draw
An open ended straight draw. Also called an 'up and down' or an 'up and down draw'.
up the ante
Increase the stake. Also commonly used outside the context of poker.
vig, vigorish
The rake.
vnh
Abbreviation for "very nice hand", used in online poker chat.
wake up
To "wake up with a hand" means to discover a strong starting hand, often when there has already been action in front of the player.
walk
A walk is the situation where all players fold to the big blind.
wash
To mix the deck by spreading the cards face down on the table and mixing them up. A dealer may wash the deck before shuffling.
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