How to Play Poker – How to Play Great Poker, Made Easy
Of all card games probably the two that require the least amount of space for such a game is Poker (turn each hand into a separate hand) and Blackjack (make each hand into a separate hand). But despite of how simple it may look, poker is not easy to learn. And for a card game that is meant to appear as a simple game like poker, it takes a lot of practice, know-how and, of course, luck.
There are two main styles of poker, namely:
- Straight
And
- Stud
Straight is the oldest kind of poker game. A series of hands, the ultimate hand, the royal flush, is very important in making a great poker player. A poker player usually positions himself in front of the dealer so that he can watch the play more closely and can avoid the bluff of the other players who are reading their minds. It is advisable to start with a lower hand in the beginning and “raise” with a better hand placed in front of you by way of intimidation tactic.
Stud poker, on the other hand, is a game in which the best hand has no better idea than any other hand. When playing stud poker, you are essentially playing a game of 52 card, or five cards together. The highest card of a stud poker hand is the 10, and the rest are the lower cards. Cards can be dealt either face-up or face-down. If the cards are dealt face-down, a lot of confusion can occur because you are not given any idea about what cards you opponents are holding. In the latter case, your opponents are able to try to guess what you have based on their previous observation of how you play.
Of special note is that a good poker player should be able to beat a bad player in about 20 consecutive games. Anything less than that and you can be beaten. Some people may assert that it is impossible to beat bad players, but good players can be beaten. Good players, however, are willing to be flexible, so that the game is more interesting and hence more profitable for them.
After all of these words, it can be concluded that poker, though created to be entertaining and enjoyable for the players, is not so entertaining and enjoyable that it could not work for other people, as some may have implied. People can find different ways to win at poker, all of them effective at different times, though strategy is not one of them. Mostly, winning comes down to the person who is talented and experienced enough to be able to identify and take advantages of the other people’s weaknesses and their mistakes. So, a talented poker player should be secure enough in his own skills to take advantage of others’ weaknesses. He does this by observing them, their mistakes and their strengths. Anyone who reads books and articles arguing that poker is based on luck is wrong. Poker is not a game of chance. It is a game of mixed luck and skill. You may lose a hand, but you can still win the next one as well.
The particular skill required to win poker is not so difficult to master
The particular skill required to win poker is not so difficult to master. It is developing an ability to estimate your opponent’s hand, and to plan your moves that will have the highest chances of leading you to victory. While you do this, you will also be taking advantage of opportunities brought by the particular hand your opponent is representing.
Just as some great poker players rely on their own experience and discipline to come out on top, so too can you do the same. You will be most successful if you are able to identify your opponents’ tendencies at least before they do to. Then you can take advantage of them. You will not only do you best to protect your hand against them, but you can also get the most of them as well.