Poker School

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Hand Rankings

If two or more hands are the same ranking, the winner is the one having the higher cards. For example, a Flush with an Ace high beats a Flush with a King high. If the poker hands remain tied, then the highest card not being held in common (the kicker) determines the winner. Paradise follows standard rule of poker. A poker tip of the trade is to make sure you have these hand rankings memorized. Should poker hands be absolutely identical in ranking, the rule of poker pot distribution will be split evenly between the two or more winning players. If there is an odd chip, the winning player to the left of the button/dealer will receive it. This applies to both play money and poker for real money.

Royal Flush - The highest poker hand. It consists of ace, king, queen, jack, ten, all in the same suit. As all suits are equal, all royal flushes are equal.

Straight Flush - Is five cards of the same suit in sequence. Between two straight flushes, the one containing the higher top card is higher.

Four Of A Kind - Is next highest. It consists of the four cards of any one rank together with any fifth card.

Full House - Ranks next and consists of any three of one kind and any pair of another kind. It is referred to by the three-of-a-kind it contains. The example shown would be "aces full of fives."


Flush - Ranking next consists of any five cards of the same suit, but not in sequence.

Straight - Consists of any five cards of two or more suits in sequence of rank, with the ace ranking either high in sequence or low in the sequence. One does not need to have an ace to have a straight, of course: any five cards in a row will do.

Three Of A Kind - Are any three cards of the same rank plus two other cards which do not constitute a pair and do not include the fourth card of the same rank.

Two Pair - Which ranks next under three of a kind, consists of two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank, and any fifth card which is neither of those ranks. It is referred to by the higher of the two pairs.

One Pair - Any two cards of the same rank, together with three other cards which do not combine with the other two to form any of the higher-ranking hands above:

High Card - None of the cards are of the same rank.

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Poker Rules

Texas Hold'em Rules

Texas Hold'em Poker is a community card game with four betting rounds.

1. One player acts as dealer. This position is called the button and it rotates clockwise after every hand.
   
2. The two players to the left of the dealer are the small blind and the big blind, respectively. They are the only players who have money in the pot before the cards are dealt.
   
3. Every player receives two cards face down. These are hole cards.
   
4. The first betting round begins with the player sitting immediately to the left of the big blind, and continues clockwise.
   
5. When the first betting round is completed, three community cards are flipped face up on the table. This is called the flop.
6. The second round of betting begins with the first remaining player seated to the left of the button. The betting resumes, clockwise.
7. When the second round of betting is finished, a fourth community card is flipped face up on the table. This is called the turn.
8. The third round of betting commences with the first remaining player sitting to the left of the button. The betting moves clockwise, with the bets doubling on the turn.
9. When the third round of betting is over, a fifth community card is flipped face up on the table. This is called the river.
10. The fourth round of betting starts with the first remaining player seated to the left of the button. The betting continues to move clockwise

How to make a hand.

The players must combine their hole cards with the community cards to make the best possible 5-card poker hand. It is possible to use both hole cards, one hole card or no hole card (play the board), in an effort to make a hand.

Omaha Rules

Omaha is a community card game with four betting rounds.

Game Play

1. One player is the dealer; this position is called the button (the dealer position moves clockwise after every hand).
2. The two players to the left of the dealer are the small blind and the big blind. They are the only players who have money in the pot before the cards are dealt.
3. Every player receives four cards face down, called hole cards.
4. The first betting round begins with the player sitting to the left of the big blind and continues clockwise.
5. When the first betting round is finished three community cards are flipped face up on the table, this is called the flop.
6. The second round of betting begins with the first player left of the button and who is still in the hand. The betting continues clockwise.
7. When the second round of betting is finished a fourth community card is flipped face up on the table, this is called the turn.
8. The third round of betting begins with the first player left of the button and who is still in the hand. The betting continues clockwise and the bets are doubled on the turn.
9. When the third round of betting is finished a fifth community card is flipped face up on the table, this is called the river.
10. The fourth round of betting begins with the first player left of the button and who is still in the hand. The betting continues clockwise.

How to make a hand.

In order to make a hand the players combine their hole cards with the community cards on the board to make the best 5-card poker hand. One must use two of the hole cards and three of the community cards when making a hand.

Omaha Hi / Lo Rules

Omaha high-low is a split-pot game. This means that there exists the possibility of making both the best high and low poker hand. Half the pot is awarded to the player with the best high hand, and half the pot is awarded to the player holding the best low hand. If no low hand is feasible or no one qualifies for a low hand, the whole pot goes to the high hand. The goal is to have both the best high and low hand (called scooping the pot).

The High Hand

The high hand is exactly the same as in regular Omaha, where it is the best "normal" poker hand, starting at the top with a royal flush and moving on down the line. Similarly, just as in regular Omaha, one must use two (exactly two) of the hole cards and three (exactly three) of the board cards when making a hand.

The Low Hand

The low hand is slightly more complicated to figure out. One must still use two of the hole cards with three of the board cards in order to qualify for the low hand. However, all low hands must be Eight or lower (the lower the better). An Eight low contains an Eight and four lower cards, a Seven low contains a Seven and four lower cards, and so on. The best possible low is called a wheel and is Five high, 5-4-3-2-A (a Five high straight). The worst possible low is 8-7-6-5-4 (an Eight high straight). Accordingly, in order for there to be a possible low on the board, there must be at least three cards Eight or lower on the board.

Examples

An 8-4-3-2-A low is worse than a 7-6-5-4-3 low.
A 7-4-3-2-A low is worse than a 6-5-4-3-2 low.
An 8-7-3-2-A low is worse than an 8-6-5-4-3 low.
A 7-6-3-2-A low is worse than a 7-5-4-3-2 low.
An 8-6-5-4-3 low is worse than an 8-6-5-4-2 low, which is worse than an 8-6-5-4-A low.

Getting Quartered

In Omaha high-low it is possible to win a quarter of the pot. This can happen when two players have the same high or low hand, but one of the players has the best high or low hand.

Example 1

Player A has the best high and the same low as player B. As such, Player B will receive one quarter of the pot and player A will collect three quarters.

Example 2

Player A has the best high hand but no low and player B and C hold the same low. Player A receives one half of the pot and player B and C split the remaining half. Player B and C got quartered.

7 Card Stud Rules

Differences between Seven-Card Stud and Hold'em

In Seven-Card Stud there are five betting rounds instead of four as in Hold'em. The game is played with an ante instead of blinds. In Stud there are no community cards. The player's hands decide the order of action. On the first round of betting the player with the lowest card has to make a bring-in bet and on the later betting rounds the player with the best hand showing has to act first.

Game Play

1. All players receive two cards dealt face down (hole cards) and one card dealt face up (up card). The cards are dealt one at a time.
2. The player with the lowest up card has to make a bring-in bet.
3. The betting continues clockwise with the player to the left of the bring-in.
4. A fourth card is dealt face up. The action begins by the player with the best up cards and continues clockwise.
5. A fifth card is dealt face up. The action begins by the player with the best up cards and continues clockwise.
6. A sixth card is dealt face up. The action begins by the player with the best up cards and continues clockwise.
7. A seventh card is dealt face down. The action begins by the player with the best up cards and continues clockwise.
8. All players make out the best possible 5-card poker hand.

7 Card Stud Hi / Lo Rules

7 Card Stud Hi Lo is a technically demanding poker game where the best poker hands for the high and low split the pot at showdown. In 7 Card Stud Hi Lo poker, players are dealt 7 cards throughout the course of the hand, but only the best five-card hand possible for each player is used to determine the winner. Note that 7 Card Stud Hi Lo is played with an "8 or better" qualifier, which means that a hand must be, at worst, an 8 for low to be eligible to win the low portion of the pot.

For the purposes of determining the bring-in in 7 Card Stud and in Hi Lo, ties in card rank are broken by suit, with the order being spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs (in descending order).

Each poker player now receives an exposed card, called "Fourth Street". The first player to act is the individual whose exposed stud cards have the highest poker value. By rule, this player may either check or bet. If no player shows a pair amongst his or her exposed cards, the bet will be a small bet ($2 in a $2/$4 game). If any player shows a pair, the betting can be opened for a big bet ($4 in a $2/$4 game).

Each player now receives another exposed card, called "Fifth Street". Again by rule, the first player to act is the individual whose exposed poker hand have the highest poker value.

Starting on Fifth Street and for the rest of the hand, all bets are in big bet increments ($4 in a $2/$4 game).

Each poker player now receives another exposed card, called "Sixth Street". Again, the first player to act is the individual whose exposed cards have the highest poker value.

Each player now receives a seventh and final card (hence, 7 Card Stud), which is dealt face-down and known only to the player to whom the card is dealt. The first player to act is the individual whose exposed cards have the highest poker value.

If there is more than one remaining player when the final betting round is complete in 7 Card Stud Hi Lo, the last bettor or raiser shows his or her cards. If there was no bet on the final round, the player whose exposed cards have the highest poker value shows his or her cards first.

Showdown - Determining the Hi and Lo Winner

The player with the best five-card hand for the high ("Hi") wins half the pot, and the player with the best hand for low ("Lo") wins the other half of the pot. In the event that no hand qualifies for low, the best hand(s) for high wins the pot. Remember that in 7 Card Stud Hi Lo, the "8s or better" is still a requirement in order to win the low, so a player must have an unpaired hand that consists of five cards less than the value of 8. Otherwise, there is no low if no player can meet this hand requirement. After the pot is awarded to the high and low hands, a new online game of 7 Card Stud Hi Lo poker is ready to be played again..

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Poker Tells

What is a Poker Tell?  A tell is any habit, behavior, or physical reaction, that gives other players more information about your hand.  The following are tips supplied to PokerTop10 by the pros, and can apply against novice or advanced players.  Remember, that in poker there are many contradictions and exceptions to the rule.  Also, experienced pros will give out false tells to fool players.

Live Poker Tells

Live Poker #1 Watch the Eyes
This is why many pros wear sunglasses or visors/caps when playing, they know that the eyes rarely lie.  For eg. many players can't help but stare at big hole cards, so their length of time peeking is longer.  Conversely, if a player is looking to steal the pot, he may look to his left to see if the remaining players,  who haven't yet acted, have quickly glanced at their cards and are likely to fold.  Players are more likely to make eye contact with you if they are weak (hoping to represent strength) and more likely to avoid eye contact if they are strong (hoping to represent weakness). If you find yourself in a marginal situation, take a look at your opponent. If they are staring right at you, be more likely to call. If they are looking away, be more likely to fold.

Live Poker #2 Facial Expression
Again, many pros try to disguise their entire face by wearing a cap and looking downward.  This is to avoid the classic stare down that poker pros are famous for.  They may try to study your face for nervousness (detecting a weak hand), or even look for repetitive characteristics like a body "tic".  You may have obvious unhappiness in your face when your hand is weak, and conversely, you may show a contrasting show of confidence when your hand is strong.

Live Poker #3 Weak is Strong/Strong is Weak
In its most simplistic form, this usually applies to novice players but frequently applies to pros as well.  Basically, players like to be actors, and when they have a monster hand they tend to look disinterested.  eg. "Oh, is it my turn to act" or "Oh I guess I will play these cards".  Alternatively, a player  increasing the level of his voice while raising the pot, and trying to look intimidating. may be running a bluff.

Live Poker #4 Anxiety
Anxiety typically occurs in people when they are confronted, or anticipating confrontation.  Psychologists call this the "Fight or Flight" stimulus response, which links back to the days when we were cavemen/cave women.  Physical changes happen including flexing of muscles, eye pupil dilation, palpitating heart rate, dry throat.  In poker, when someone has a big hand they are typically ready for confrontation and can exhibit some of these characteristics.  You may see the chest expanding abnormally, or you may notice the players voice become slightly higher as he makes a comment.  Some of the top players in the game will stare at the vein on the top-side of your face for blood pressure changes.  During a bluff, the player may demonstrate anxiety, but if he knows he will fold the hand if re-raised (non-confrontational end) may look quite comfortable.

Live Poker #5 Trembling Hands
Also, a byproduct of anxiety, beware of a player whose hands are shaking, this nervousness can represent a big hand.  

Live Poker #6 Glance at Chips
Again, relating to the eyes.  It is common for players to quickly glance at their chips if they connect with the board after a flop. If you are involved in a hand on the flop, do not look at it as soon as it is dealt. Instead, take a look at your opponent’s reaction to the flop. Many players will instinctively look down at their chips if the flop has helped them. Be less likely to bluff or play a marginal hand if you spot this type of tell.

Live Poker #7 Table Talk
Table Talk: Pay attention to what your opponents are saying. If a player says that they are only in the hand because they want to go home (often used in tournaments) or that they feel like gambling, they often have a monster hand. Similarly, talkative players that all of a sudden go silent also often have very strong hands. Don’t bluff and fold all marginal hands if you spot these types of tells.

Live Poker #8 Peeking Hole Cards on Flop
Some players will take another look at their hole cards when, for example, the board is showing a potential 3 card flush draw.  Typically, the player is looking to see if one of his cards is connecting, because he remembers only that the two cards are different suits. 

Live Poker #9 Repetitive Betting Patterns
Usually the most revealing tells are based on the way a player habitually bets during particular situations.  For example, maybe the player always checks when he has made the nuts, or a player may regularly fold after being re-raised.    

Live Poker #10 Body Posture/Attitude
Some players show obvious changes in their posture based on their attitude/hand strength.  For instance, you may notice their shoulders drop/slump when they are not confident (weak hand).  Conversely, you may notice the player is very attentive and sitting in an erect position when he has strength.  You may also notice that a player who bluffs a lot, leans forward in a confrontational way... remember Strong is Weak!

Online Poker Tells

Online poker tells all relate to the speed at which an opponent bets. It is important to understand the two ways a player can act in online poker when it is his turn. The most common way is to select one of the several buttons that appears on your screen when it is your turn to act. The other way is to pre-select your action using the “act in turn” buttons. For example, you can select check/fold or bet/raise before the action ever gets to you. When you use these “act in turn” buttons, your action will occur almost instantaneously when it is your turn. One note of caution when using these types of tells. If your opponent is playing two tables, a lot of these online poker tells do not work since the timing of his actions could be thrown off.

Online Poker Tell #1 To Pause or Not to Pause
When playing online, poker rooms limit the amount of time you have to play your hand. Most give you 30 seconds or less. That’s not much time to watch for a tell, but it’s enough. As a general rule, if a player pauses a long time, then bets, that still means he probably has a good hand and is trying to figure out his play. If, however, he pauses for a long time and just checks, it usually means his hand is mediocre at best. Of course, you’ll still have to be careful; some players know about these tells and will deliberately do the opposite of what’s written here to throw you off.

Online Poker Tell #2 Instant Playing
Many online poker rooms have action buttons that will allow players to state their intentions on a hand before the action actually gets to them. The computer will execute this decision as soon as it is the player’s turn. You can tell that a player has used an action button because there will be absolutely no pause between that players action and the previous players. Your opponents will most likely use the “call any” action button if they are on a draw and the “raise any” button if they have a solid hand. They will seldom use these buttons on a bluff, since a bluff is situation dependant. As a result, be more likely to respect these types of bets.

Online Poker Tell #3 Mr. Talkie
Just as in home or casino games, some people talk when they’re nervous or when they’re feeling good. Watch the chat screen. At times, players will say things like “Finally!” or even “What’s up with these flops?!” Those are good insights into what they may be playing with…especially if they’ve said something like this before and gave themselves away. Also watch for phrases such as “This playing online stuff is cool.”—giving away the newbies.

Online Poker Tell #4 “Sorry”
One of the most frequent online tells of a distracted player is long pauses or timing out. Sometimes they’ll even apologize for it. This usually signifies that that player may be distracted. When playing online, many players are at work. Others are playing several games at once. Still others are reading message boards or surfing the net. All of those players will be distracted and not playing at their full potential…and you can take advantage of that. Again, watch the chat, too. Many times you’ll hear, “Oh man! I just lost $20 at my other table!” Good news…he’s distracted.

Online Poker Tell #5 Raising in Position
This tell, also seen offline, is a common tell. If you’re in one of the blinds and everyone folds except one of the people in late position who raise, they may just be trying to steal the pot. If you have anything at all, raise them back. This move will most often result in them folding…but if they don’t, watch out! They may really have something.

Online Poker Tell #6: Waiting for the Big Blind
In most online poker rooms, when you arrive at a table, you have the option of jumping into play, or waiting for the Big Blind. As a general rule, online players are impatient and will jump right into play no matter what the cost. If you see a player come and wait for the Big Blind, this could be a good sign that he’s a patient player and will play only strong hands.

Online Poker Tell #7: Frequent Flopping
All it takes is several hands of play to get an initial read on an opponent. Many opponents will try to always see the flop, no matter how bad their hand is. This is especially true in low limit games where seeing the flop can be very cheap. If you’re playing against someone who’s always getting in to see the flop, you can count on the fact that many of his hands may not be very good…and a little pushing will usually nudge him out of the hand.

Online Poker Tell #8: Frequent Folding
On the converse, some players will always fold their hand. This typically means they are a patient player, waiting for one of the top preflop hands to play. If they end up jumping into a round, watch out…they probably have a strong hand and won’t be afraid to bully you with it.

Online Poker Tell #9: Reloading
Sometimes you’ll notice a player who busts out, frequently reloading his cash. This probably means he has some cash in the bank, but isn’t good enough to keep it in his hand! If you see someone who’s reloading a lot, they have “fish” written all over them. Make them reload again!

Online Poker Tell #10: At the End of Their Rope
Finally, one of the best things about playing online is that you can easily see how much the other players at your table have in cash. If someone started playing with $20 and is now down to $4, chances are they’re at the end of their rope and they will either leave the table or just blow the $4. If they’ve been seeing a lot of flops, raise them with a good hand and try to get the rest. More often than not, you’ll be the one sending them packing.

Online Poker Tell #11: Big Bets Fast
A lot of online poker rooms let you see a table’s percentage of players who see the flop. If the percentage is high, this usually means you have a table of limpers, who want to see the flop no matter what they have in hand. If a good player sees that you’re at such a table, many times he’ll come in, sit down and, after everyone limps in, he’ll go all-in or raise the hand, hoping that everyone will fold. If you’ve got a good hand, it may be worth it to challenge this fast, big better.

Online Poker Tell #12: Folding Instead of Checking
Though most online poker sites have prompts to save you a mistake, some amateurs will fold a hand instead of checking it, when the check would have been free. This is usually the sign of an amateur player. However, a good player may fold instead of check on the river if he’s been bluffing and does’t want anyone to see his bluffing hand. This is also a good tell, since you’re getting a read on a good opponent’s bluff.

Online Poker Tell #13: The Turn and River “Instant” Bet
While Online Tell #2 warned you that instant playing usually signifies weakness, the opposite could be true at the Turn or the River. By now, a player usually has a stronger indication about whether they can beat their opponents. And if the person you’re playing against instantly bets at the Turn or the River, they most likely think they can beat whatever you hold. In this case, only hold on to a strong winner…otherwise you might want to consider dropping the “second best.”

Online Poker Tell #14: Time of Day
Though this isn’t as much a tell as it is a hint to catching the fish, watch what time of day you play. If you play in the US, early morning play usually means you’re playing people from Europe. Evening play usually means you’re playing other US players. Middle-of-the-day play happens during business hours in the US and sleep hours in the UK, so it usually means you’re playing those who aren’t there just for casual play, so your games will turn more serious. Most players find Friday and Saturday night the best times for catching fish, plus right after the US airing of the most recent World Poker Tour.

Online Poker Tell #15: You Name It
Finally, take a look at your opponent’s names. As a general rule, serious players use their real name, a clever alias or a non-descript alias for playing. Fish many times have silly names or “rude” names. Though this isn’t always the case, it’s a general rule that can many times give you a read on the maturity level of your opponent. Some sites allow for personal avatars that can provide clues, too. Again, however, watch out for those who are hoping you’ll suspect this and are playing the opposite.

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