♠ Poker Hands Ranking – Know the Worth of What You Hold

Poker hand is the combination of five cards, which decide how much your luck favours you in a poker session. As per the poker rules, there are following different hand combinations, which can decide your position in the game.

Royal Flush

A royal flush combination is obtained, when you have an ace, a king, a queen, a jack and a ten from the same suit in your hand. Needless to say, it is the highest hand in a poker game and can’t be beaten by any other hand.

Straight Flush

A straight flush combination is formed, when you have five consecutive cards from the same suit in your hand. For instance, 10-9-8-7-6 is known as a straight flush, with 10 as the top card and 6 being the lowest. However, 3-2-1-K-Q is not a valid straight flush.

Four of a Kind

Also known as quads, the combination of four of a kind represents four cards of similar rank from each of the suit. The remaining 5th card can be of any other rank from any of the suit. For instance, 4-4-4-4-A is called the four of a kind combination.

Full House

On the next rank, you have full house hand combination, which represents 3 out of the 5 cards of same rank and other 2 cards of different rank. For example, 4-4-4-3-3 is called the full house hand. In case two players have full house combination the hand with higher rank of 3 similar cards has an upper hand. For instance, 5-5-5-4-4 is higher than 4-4-4-3-3.

Flush

Flush is a hand combination in which all five cards belong to the same suit. For instance 9-7-5-4-3 from spade suit forms a flush hand. In case two players have flush hands, then one having top card with higher rank can beat another. However, if top cards are same, then second cards are compared and so on. For instance, among 9-8-6-4-2 and 9-8-6-5-2, the second combination beats the first one, as 5 at the fourth position beats 4 in the first combination.

Straight

In a straight hand combination, the five cards belong to different suits, but form a sequence of consecutive numbers. This means that 5-4-3-2-A forms the straight hand, if each one of these cards belongs to different suite.

Three of a Kind

Also known as trips or prile, the three of a kind combination denotes three cards of equal rank from three different suits. In this, remaining two cards may be anything and may belong to any of the four suites.

Two Pairs

As the name suggests, in two pairs you have two different pairs of cards having similar ranks. For instance, 10-10-9-9-6 forms two pairs hand. In case two players have combination as 10-10-9-9-6 and 10-10-8-8-6, then first one beats the second.

One Pair

Simply, the combination with a pair of equal rank cards forms one pair hand combination. For instance, 9-9-7-5-3 is one pair hand.

High Card

The hand with combination, which doesn’t represent any of those mentioned above, is called the high card. When two players get a high card hand, one with highest ranking top card beats another. Thus, 9-6-4-3-2 beats 8-6-3-2-A.

To understand poker playing easily, you should learn about the rank and meaning of each hand combination. This will help you to manage your bankroll efficiently and maintain your presence in the game until desired.

♠ Poker Playing – Tracing the History of Most Entertaining Game of Gambling

The generation of our times has discovered a convenient way to play poker at online casinos. But, if you are a true poker admirer, you must take deep interest in tracing the history of this spectacular game. Poker has been appreciated as a part of our amusement activities. But, where were the seeds of the game sown? Let us find it out.

Some Early Speculations about Birth

The origin of poker is associated with a number of theories and thus, there is no definite origination point of this captivating game. Here are most popular of these theories surrounding the birth of poker:

• It is probably the most popular belief that poker found its origin in China, where Emperor Mu Tsung pioneered the domino cards in 969 AD.
• Another theory related to the commencement of poker takes us to Persia, where poker is considered to be inhibited from a popular game called As Nas.
• The Egyptian Treasure Cards, popularly known as Ganjifa, are also considered to point towards the development of modern day poker.
• The ancient Tarot Deck, popular in its various forms in countries like Italy, Spain, Germany and Switzerland, is also considered to leave an impression over the cards involved in modern day poker game.

Contribution of Poque in History

Apart from similarities between the names of poque and poker, there are other similarities, which enforce us to believe them as the faces of same coin. Poque was a popular French game, played in early years of 15th century and introduced to the world in subsequent years. It was a card game, based upon betting and bluffing as the main ingredients.

The game was taken to Canada by French people in the 17th century and it was in the subsequent century that game was introduced in New Orleans. This game shared resemblance with Irish game Poca and Germany based Pochen.

How Was the Popular Term Coined?

The popular term called poker was coined in mid of 19th century after the end of American Civil War. The earliest forms of poker were played with 20 card pack and consisted of four players. Later, the number of cards was modified from 20 to 52 and the foundation stone for a refined form of poker game was laid down.

Now, the magnetism of poker began to grab the attention of gamblers from different parts of America, the present day hub of this entertaining game. Today, we have different versions of this popular game available in the form of Omaha, Stud Poker, Manila, Draw Poker, Razz and No Limit Texas Hold’em, which is the most popular one.
Land based casinos have been the most fascinating place for entertaining your gambling spirits with poker. However, the present day online casinos have changed the scenario, but offline casinos have not completely lost their charismas. But, nothing is more enchanting than sitting at home and getting involved in the online poker playing.

So, the game we love to play with enthusiasm today has a long golden history. Thus, next time you participate in a poker session, you must feel proud of taking further the tradition of playing poker.

♠ Poker Game – Journey from Land Based To Online Casinos

Poker has always been a favorite pastime of people across the globe. The game has always influenced the minds of common players as well as celebrities from different walks of life. This is indeed the most popular game played with the help of cards and chips. The game is accompanied by simple to understand rules, which are far difficult to master. But, once you are able to develop your roots in this game, you may see the fortune smiling at you. The game has experienced a huge transition from land based casinos to online casinos and we are here to evaluate this journey.

How the Scene Has Changed

Traditionally, the land based casinos used to present the scene of a smoke packed room and a group of players assembled around poker table to burn their leisure and trigger the line of fortune. With a boost and bang in online gambling, the land based casinos have been replaced by online casinos. And, land based casino rooms have cleared the path for virtual online poker rooms. Everything has changed, but the goodness of poker has retained itself. In fact, the online casinos have intensified the recognition of this game.

Advantages Accompanied By Transition

The transition of offline poker to online poker has added more than few advantages to this engrossing game. Here are few points to prove the weight of this statement:

• The prize money has become bigger than before. In fact, playing poker has been included in one of the serious ways of making online money.
• The poker players are not required to leave the comfort zone of their homes to play poker at a casino. Everything is available right on your desktop, as you relax on your seat at home.
• The online gambling has induced a kind of legality in the game, which was not openly played in the past.
• The online poker playing has involved the participation of different types of people, who used to feel it inappropriate to take part in poker gambling. Thus, you may see, men, women, youngsters, oldies and others playing online poker and trying their fortune.
• One has the choice to move on to another online casino, in case he or she is not satisfied with the facilities offered by the first one. It was not possible in the case of traditional offline casinos.
• One may play casino at any point of time, by taking out time from his or her busy schedules.
• Finally, the online poker tournaments have gathered immense popularity as wonderful ways of amusement and earning potential money.

Online Poker Playing – Addiction or Amusement

There is a very thin line of difference between addiction and amusement associated with online gambling. The unlimited benefits offered by the game must not become the hassles of your routine. A person must understand that online poker playing is a way to refresh your day after a hectic schedule and if the luck favors you, it may bring you appreciable rewards. But, it is necessary to balance this practice with other activities of your life.

Online poker playing is in its nascent stage and is expected to rule the online casinos for many more years to come. If you have been influenced by the charisma of this game, it is time to learn its rules and make your way to an online casino.