All poker games use a standard 52 card deck, and the cards are ranked: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, Ace. (Aces count as both high and low). Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts and Spades are all of equal value.

There are four suits (spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs). No suit is higher than another. All poker hands contain five cards, the highest hand wins.

The aim is to have the best hand out of the cards you are dealt, with the following winning hands listed in order of rank.

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Seven Card Stud

Seven Card Stud is a game for between 2 to 8 Players, requiring both patience and skill. Five rounds of betting take place during each hand, with the maximum bet being doubled after the third round – inevitably leading to large pots that are won by the Player with the best hand.

Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo Poker

Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo Poker is based on Seven Card Stud in that it also consists of five rounds of betting. In this instance, Players play for two pots – the best low hand and the best high hand. Again the maximum bet doubles after the third round of betting, resulting in large pots. Players are less inclined to fold bad hands during this game, as the highest and lowest hands split the pot equally.

Omaha Poker

Similar to both Omaha Hi/Lo Poker and Texas Hold’em, Omaha Poker requires its 2 to 10 Players to create the best five-card combination from a total of nine cards – the strongest combination winning the pot. As the nine cards are made up of four pocket cards and five community cards, the resulting combinations are stronger than those in other Poker games.

Five Card Stud

Winning a hand of Five Card Stud is dependent on both the cards that Players are dealt, and the visible cards on the table. With four rounds of betting, it is a game that requires skill in being able to judge the strength of individual hands, finish with the best hand, and win the pot.

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Poker Hand Rankings

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Royal Flush
The ultimate hand, the Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten of any one suit.

Straight Flush
A straight in one suit, i.e. five cards of the same suit in ascending order.

Four of a Kind
Four cards of the same value.

Full House
Three of a kind and a pair, with the three of a kind counts first.

Flush
Five cards of the same suit.

Straight
Five cards of assorted suits in ascending order.

Three of a kind
Three cards having the same face value.

Two Pair
Two sets of pairs.

One Pair
One pair of cards.

High Card
Highest card wins the hand in the event of one of the above hands being present.

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Texas Hold’em