As poker's popularity continues to grow in the nation and overseas, players new to the game itself, and experienced home game players, continue sidle up to the great casino online poker tables asking to be dealt in.

Poker originated in the saloons of the Wild West and it has probably the most game variants. It really is played player against players and not just against the dealer as in Blackjack, and there is a lot of psychology involved during play. Poker takes a moment to learn and a lifetime to learn.
The cards are ranked in descending order starting from the highest; Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, Ace. Ace may be high or low. There are four suits; spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs, but no suit is higher than another.

There are actually 2,598,960 possible combinations of cards in a poker hand you can be dealt.
In many games players must 'ante' a nominal amount just to possess the cards dealt. After the cards are dealt, the betting starts. Players bet in to the pot in the middle of the table and it's done in turn clockwise.

The player with the highest rank showing, is the first to talk and to bet. He can either bet or check. By saying 'Check', he passes the decision to bet to the next player that will also check. If all players check, then it really is the end of the round. Everyone opens his cards as well as the highest hand wins.

Say you begin with a $5 bet. If a person else raises $10, he puts $15 in the pot. When your turn comes again you will need to add $10 difference to the pot to stay within the game, and if you want you may also raise and even say 'Pot'. Pot is a raise to the maximum, meaning to bet the same amount as the total money available in the pot.

Well, I think you should now be equipped to go around and play poker. Play intelligently and carefully. Keep an eye out for tells. Know your own limits, and bare in mind - play to win!