Poker can be safely considered the most popular card game. He becomes the theme of many books and films. Excitement, money, luxurious women - the first associations that come to mind with the word "poker". Surely everyone wanted to play it at least once, but first you need to familiarize yourself with the rules and tricks in order to know which combination in poker is the strongest.
Bit of history
Poker appeared in Europe at the end of the 16th century, presumably in Italy or France. Not for nothing that the name of the strongest combination in poker means "royal suit". Of course, over time, the rules have changed significantly and today it is difficult to say with certainty where poker actually came from and what were the rules at the time of its inception.
The USA, in particular Los Angeles, is considered the world capital of poker. A few decades ago, it was in America that this game won love, thanks to which it almost became a national sport. Even today, around the world, poker is not as popular and widespread as in the United States. There are more than 6 varieties of games that have changed depending on the region and time. Their rules may vary slightly, but the strongest combination of cards in poker remains unchanged.
Combinations
It is necessary to know the combination by heart in order to more easily predict winning moves or moments when it is not worth raising the bet, but better to pass. Next, combinations will be given in order of increasing value, up to the strongest combination in poker.
The concept of a high card does not even need to be memorized, but it can come in handy if, for example, several players have two pairs. The winner will be a person who has a couple higher in seniority.
Combinations:
- A pair is two cards of any suit of equal value.
- Two pairs - respectively two pairs of cards of the same value.
- Set - three cards of the same value, for example, three "6" or three Kings.
- Street - five cards, located in the deck in order: "7, 8, 9, 10 and jack."
- Flash - five cards of the same suit. To do this, the hand must have 2 cards of the same suit and 3 more on the table, or 4 on the table and 1 in the hand. But then the probability increases that the other player will have the same combination.
- Full house - a combination of one pair and a set, that is, two cards of the same value and three more of the other (the same).
- Four of a kind - four cards with the same merit, the people also call the "chest".
- A straight flush is a combination of a straight and a flush, which is easy to guess from the name. You need to collect 5 cards of the same suit, arranged in order in the deck.
- Flash royal - the most powerful combination in poker, straight flush, which contains cards from 10 to ace.
Rules of the game
At first, all players are dealt 2 cards, of course, no one knows what happened to another. In order (usually clockwise) bets are placed. The one who sits near the croupier begins (the croupier is a person who deals cards and leads the game).
There are several possible moves:
- to deliver;
- to support;
- increase;
- skip;
- discard cards.
The initial bet (bet) is set by the first player. To support (call) means to put as many chips as the previous one. To raise (raise –raise) it is necessary to bet more than the previous one, no matter how much.
All in - bet on all chips that a player has. You can skip a move (check, pass) only if the player has already made bets and the previous one did not raise the bet. Most often, a “check” is used when there is no confidence in the strength of the combination, therefore, it is likely to lose. Well, and discarding cards, a person shows them to everyone and leaves the game.
The further course of the game
On the first move, they usually raise no more than 1-2 chips. Then the croupier reveals three cards, laying them out in the middle of the table. It is already becoming more obvious whether victory is possible. After that, the players make bets in the same order, focusing on the current situation. Next comes the fourth map. Players ponder the situation and walk. The last, fifth card opens. Players have the opportunity to make the latest bets. After all, they open their cards, and the most powerful combination is revealed, the owner of which takes the bank.
The rules of poker are more than simple and very different from traditional card games. To win, you need to collect a stronger combination of cards than opponents. However, it is far from always that at least several players come across straight, flush or square. Rarely, but sometimes it happens that victory is determined solely by the highest card in hand. It is at this stage of the game that it is important to know which combination in poker is stronger.
The benefits of literate bluffing
Bluffing is mainly used when you have cards that add up to a very weak combination. But since the rules allow the player who is not the only one to lose cards to win, sometimes it is worth resorting to a slight trick. For example, willingly raising your bet each time, you will make it clear to your opponents that you have winning cards. In this situation, many will throw off their own. Only those who truly have every chance of winning, and those who will unravel your fraud, will remain.
Bluffing is appropriate in cases where you can confidently say that it is unlikely that any of the opponents could have developed a strong combination in poker based on open cards.
All in is sometimes used as a trick to immediately scare away those who are not sure of their position. If players discard cards before they are open in the final, then the person who bet everything takes all the chips as a winner. However, he may not even open the pair that was with him.
Professional cheating
The films often show professional cheaters who, with the help of a beautiful companion or waitress, find out which of the rivals has the strongest combination in poker. This is unlikely to crank out in real life, but with less serious opponents or in a friendly company, this is quite possible.
Separately, it is worth mentioning the croupier - the only person who can really influence the course of the game. When playing cards, a professional dealer can easily play winning combinations for one of the players. However, with constant wins, rivals may suspect something.
The harmful effects of gambling
In many countries, in particular in Russia, many gambling is prohibited. This is due to the fact that people can lose a very serious amount, partly with the help of cheaters. After that, clubs, game organizers or a specific person who won you can be forced to repay debt through racketeering and violence. This leads to an increase in crime, suicide and homicide.
In America, more than one group of mafiosi, gangs, etc. was formed on this basis. Over time, a large number of underground gambling clubs appeared in which a person cannot get from the street, and an exceptionally narrow circle of the elite knows about its existence. Games are played exclusively at high stakes.
Advice
The most useful tip for playing poker is to stay calm. Most of all you are able to substitute natural emotions or involuntary movements. It is noticed that some people with unsuccessful cards always make the same gestures that issue them. However, knowing this well and completely controlling yourself, you can, on the contrary, confuse opponents or give them a false idea about the state of your affairs.
Many people have their own tactics of playing the game, someone prefers to give up immediately in case of uncertainty, and someone plays boldly, confidently and puts all in, even without good cards. It will be optimal to find a middle ground, not substituting itself under the loss of a significant amount, but at the same time risking at the moment when it is worth doing it.
Of course, the strongest combination in poker is very rare, so you should not be upset and immediately pass, regardless of the cards that have been dealt.