The basic rules of poker

 How to play poker: The fundamental rules for all poker types

Although online poker has become a popular card game, there are many variations of poker.

Telegraph Betting will introduce you to the main concepts of poker, and show you how to use them together to play Texas Holdem.

We'll also talk about the four main types poker under which all poker game can be classified.

After you've mastered the basics, our guides will show you how to play popular poker types.

How to play poker: Common concepts across all types of poker

Rankings for poker-hands

All poker games are based on the same poker-hand rankings. This is used to determine who wins a game of poker.

Different poker game types use the common hand rank in different ways. Low-ball poker, for example, makes the lowest value hand the most desirable.

Our poker-hand rankings pages will show you the order of poker hand strength.

Bluffing

By bluffing your opponents, it is possible to win poker hands with no best hand.

Bluffing involves displaying confidence by betting in a way that implies your hand is stronger than it really is. In the hopes that your opponents will believe your hand and fold, you may be able to project confidence and convince them that you are a better player than you actually are.

Forced bets

Poker requires that you place a compulsory bet before the hand begins. It is usually called the 'ante’ or 'blind'. A lot of forms of poker have a small and big blind. However, the latter are generally larger than the former.

The dealer

Playing physical poker online or offline is possible. However, the dealer's role determines how the blinds are placed and the players place their bets. The game generally unfolds clockwise, starting with the dealer.

Online and in-person casinos, the dealer is not usually one of the player. Therefore, a token denotes which hand the dealer is. This rotates clockwise, from one hand to another. The Importance of Understanding Poker Etiquette