Poker is a card game of skill, nerve and chance. Unlike most casino games, you do not play against the house. You play against other people. The best hand wins, but a good bluff can win the pot too.
This guide explains how poker works in plain English. You will learn the hand rankings, the betting actions and how a round of Texas Hold’em runs. We also cover the other popular versions, the odds and some simple tips for beginners.
You do not need any experience to follow it. For other games, see our full set of casino game guides.
A Short History Of Poker
Poker did not appear overnight. It grew out of many older games that used ranked cards and bluffing. One story says a card game was played in China before 969 AD. Another points to a Persian game called As Nas, which used 25 cards and rounds of betting. Nobody can prove these links, so treat them as stories.
The first written mention of poker in America came in 1834. Jonathan H. Green described a cheating game played on Mississippi riverboats. The game spread through saloons during the Wild West years. Soldiers on both sides also played it during the American Civil War.
In 1970, the first World Series of Poker took place in Las Vegas. It grew into the biggest poker event in the world. The game then boomed online. The first real money online poker room, Planet Poker, opened in 1998. In 2003, an amateur named Chris Moneymaker won the World Series main event after qualifying online. His win brought a wave of new players.
| Period | What changed |
|---|---|
| Before 1800s | Early card games with ranking and bluffing develop |
| 1834 | The first written mention of poker in America |
| 1800s | Poker spreads through riverboats and saloons |
| 1970 | The first World Series of Poker is held in Las Vegas |
| 1998 | The first real money online poker room opens |
| 2003 | An online qualifier wins the World Series main event |
How Poker Works
There are many kinds of poker. They all share the same basic idea. Each player tries to win the pot, which is the money everyone has bet. You win it in one of two ways. You can hold the best hand at the end, or you can make everyone else fold.
To do that, you need to know two things. First, you need the hand rankings. Second, you need to know the betting actions. We cover both below.
Poker Hand Rankings
Hands are ranked from best to worst. This order applies in most poker games. Learn it before you play.
| Hand | Example | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Royal flush |  |
Ten to Ace in one suit |
| Straight flush |  |
Five cards in a row, all in one suit |
| Four of a kind |  |
Four cards of the same rank |
| Full house |  |
Three of one rank and two of another |
| Flush |  |
Five cards of one suit, not in order |
| Straight |  |
Five cards in a row, in mixed suits. The ace can be high or low. |
| Three of a kind |  |
Three cards of the same rank |
| Two pair |  |
Two cards of one rank and two of another |
| One pair |  |
Two cards of the same rank |
| High card |  |
None of the above. The highest card decides. |
If two players hold the same type of hand, the higher cards win. For example, a pair of Kings beats a pair of Nines. If the hands are still equal, the pot is split.
How Rare Is Each Hand?
Some hands are much harder to make than others. The table shows how often each hand appears in five cards dealt from a fresh deck.
| Hand | About how often |
|---|---|
| Royal flush | 1 in 649,740 |
| Straight flush | 1 in 72,193 |
| Four of a kind | 1 in 4,165 |
| Full house | 1 in 694 |
| Flush | 1 in 509 |
| Straight | 1 in 255 |
| Three of a kind | 1 in 47 |
| Two pair | 1 in 21 |
| One pair | About 1 in 2.4 |
In games like Texas Hold’em you choose your best five from seven cards. As a result, strong hands appear more often there.
Betting Actions In Poker
Every round has betting. When it is your turn, you pick one of a few actions.
| Action | What it means |
|---|---|
| Check | Pass without betting, if nobody has bet yet |
| Bet | Put chips in the pot for the first time in a round |
| Call | Match the current bet |
| Raise | Increase the current bet |
| Fold | Give up your cards and your chance at the pot |
| All in | Bet every chip you have left |
If you fold, you lose any chips you already put in. If everyone else folds, you win the pot without showing your cards.
How Texas Hold’em Works
Texas Hold’em is the most popular poker game in the world. Each player gets two private cards, called hole cards. Five shared cards are dealt face up in the middle. These are the community cards. You make the best five-card hand from your two cards and the five on the table.
- The blinds are posted. Two players put in forced bets, called the small blind and big blind. This starts the pot.
- Hole cards are dealt. Everyone gets two cards face down. A round of betting follows.
- The flop. The dealer turns three community cards face up. Another round of betting follows.
- The turn. A fourth community card appears, followed by betting.
- The river. The fifth and last community card appears, followed by the final betting round.
- The showdown. Players still in the hand show their cards. The best hand wins the pot.
The dealer button moves one seat clockwise after each hand. It decides who acts first and who posts the blinds. If you do not want to show a losing hand at the showdown, you can usually muck it. That means you toss it face down.
Popular Poker Games
| Game | What is different |
|---|---|
| Texas Hold’em | Two hole cards and five community cards |
| Omaha | Four hole cards, and you must use exactly two of them |
| Seven Card Stud | No community cards. Each player gets seven cards, some face up. |
| Five Card Draw | You get five cards and can swap some for new ones |
| Three Card Poker | A casino game played against the dealer with three cards |
| Caribbean Stud | A casino game played against the dealer with five cards |
The first four are played against other players. The last two are casino table games played against the house. Their odds and strategies are different, so do not mix them up.
Ways To Play: Cash Games And Tournaments
| Format | How it works |
|---|---|
| Cash game | Chips are real money. You can join or leave at any time. |
| Tournament | You pay a fixed entry fee and get a set number of chips. You play until one player has them all. |
| Sit and go | A small tournament that starts as soon as enough players sit down |
Tournaments let you play for a small, fixed cost. A cash game lets you leave whenever you like. Beginners often find tournaments easier to budget for.
Poker Terms Explained
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Pot | The total money bet in a hand |
| Blinds | Forced bets that start the action |
| Hole cards | Your two private cards |
| Flop, turn, river | The three stages of community cards |
| Showdown | When the remaining players reveal their hands |
| Bluff | Betting with a weak hand to make others fold |
| Tell | A habit that gives away the strength of a hand |
| Rake | The fee the poker room takes from each pot |
| Position | Where you sit in relation to the dealer button |
| Pot odds | The price of a call compared with the size of the pot |
Basic Tips For Beginners
Poker is a game of skill over the long run. However, luck still matters in any single hand. These habits help new players avoid common errors.
- Play fewer hands. Most beginners play too many weak starting hands. Fold the weak ones.
- Value position. Acting last gives you more information. You can play more hands there.
- Bluff with care. Bluffs work best against a few players, not a crowd.
- Watch the other players. Look at how they bet. It tells you what they may hold.
- Stay calm after a bad beat. Frustration leads to poor decisions. Take a break.
- Start with small stakes. Low stakes let you learn without big losses.
Here is one example of how rare strong hands are. With two cards, you will be dealt a pair of Aces about once in every 221 hands. So most hands you get will be weak. Patience pays.
How Much Should You Spend?
Poker can swing a lot. Even a skilled player has losing sessions. So choose a stake that fits your budget.
Here is a simple example. Say you set aside R500 for the evening. You enter a small tournament with a R100 buy-in. That gives you five entries, and you can stop after each one. Alternatively, you might join a cash game with a small buy-in and leave when your money is gone. Either way, set the limit before you sit down.
Remember that poker rooms take a rake or a fee from every pot or entry. Over time, that fee adds up. For that reason, even good players need to win more than their share.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Playing too many hands. Strong players fold most of their hands.
- Calling too often. Calling without a plan costs money. Decide whether you are betting to win or folding.
- Bluffing at the wrong time. Do not bluff someone who never folds.
- Chasing losses. Playing bigger to win your money back can drain your bankroll fast.
- Ignoring position. Playing first in every hand is harder.
- Playing when tired or upset. Poor focus leads to poor decisions.
Poker Compared With Video Poker
Video poker uses poker hands, but the game is very different. Read the table below to see how.
| Feature | Poker | Video poker |
|---|---|---|
| Opponents | Other players | None, you play a pay table |
| Bluffing | Central to the game | Not possible |
| Skill | High, and includes reading people | Moderate, using a strategy chart |
| Pace | Slower, with betting rounds | Fast, one hand at a time |
If you like poker hands but prefer to play alone, try our video poker guide. If you enjoy a card game against the dealer, read our blackjack guide.
Playing Poker In South Africa
You may find poker tables and tournaments at some land-based casinos in South Africa. Ask the casino what it offers before you visit. Casinos are licensed and regulated by the provincial gambling boards. You must be 18 or older to play.
Online poker is a different matter. The National Gambling Act of 2004 does not allow online casino gambling in South Africa. No South African online casino licence exists. Offshore sites accept South African players, but they are not licensed here. As a result, you have no local regulator to turn to if something goes wrong. Our online gambling laws guide explains the position in detail.
For more on poker and the rand, see our page on online poker in South African rands. You can also read our online casino reviews for the bonus rules and licence details of each site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is poker a game of skill or luck?
It is both. Luck decides single hands. Over many hands, skill makes the bigger difference.
What is the best poker hand?
A royal flush is the best hand. It is a ten, jack, queen, king and ace of the same suit.
What is the easiest poker game to learn?
Texas Hold’em is easy to learn and has plenty of help available. Its simple structure of flop, turn and river makes it easy to follow.
What does the blind do?
The blinds are forced bets that start the pot. They make sure there is always something to play for.
Does bluffing always work?
No. It only works when your story makes sense and your opponents can fold. Use it sparingly.
Is online poker legal in South Africa?
No. The National Gambling Act of 2004 does not permit online casino gambling, and no South African online casino licence exists. Land-based casinos are licensed by provincial gambling boards.
Where To Play Poker Online
Online casino gambling is not licensed in South Africa. The site below is offshore, and you play at your own risk. Read the review before you deposit, and remember that you must be 18 or older. We checked its game list on 8 November 2026. We have only confirmed poker variants at one casino we cover. These are table games played against the casino, not against other players.
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Punt Casino Lists poker variants among its table games, next to blackjack, roulette and baccarat. |
| Visit CasinoRead Review | |
18+ only. Gambling can be addictive. Only play with money you can afford to lose. If gambling is causing you harm, call the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation helpline on 0800 006 008.