Poker is on the face of it a very simple card game to learn but it can be a hard game to master. The basic rules of the game are detailed within this section so you should be playing sooner than you think. We will leave the subtleties of the game until later on. Remember, that even the best Poker World Champions didn’t know how to play once!Objective It may seem obvious, but the aim of the game for each player is to maximise their winnings (either chips or cash). During each play, the players place their bets into the pot. The winner of the pot is the player who:oHolds the highest ranking hand compared to other players still betting at the showdown.oIs still in the game after all the other players have dropped out of the betting (folded) before the showdown in the belief that they cannot win the play.The Basics Poker is played with a standard deck of fifty-two cards. The cards are split into four suits. These are:ClubsDiamondsHeartsSpadesThe suits consist of thirteen cards. These are Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2. In some versions of the game, two other cards are used. These are the Jokers and are classed as Wild Cards. This simply means that these cards can take any value. The use of these cards is covered in the Advanced Section of www.welovepoker.co.ukNumber of Players Poker is a game for two to eight or more players. However, poker is not a team game and players cannot group together, they must play as individuals.Basic Terminology Unfortunately, some of the poker terms that are used through out the game have not been standardised. We have used the terms shown below throughout our website.Terminology. Hand: The cards, or the particular combination of cards that are held by the player. Play: This is a single round of poker. I.e. A single game from one shuffle to the next. Some poker players call this a hand rather than a play. Pot: During each play, the players put their bets into a common pool which is known as a pot. Action: This is simply the betting. When it is said that the action is to a certain player it means it is his turn to act. He may bet, check, raise or fold. Action Pointer: In most games of online poker, a small blinking arrowhead is used to point at the player who is next to act. Bet: When it is a player’s turn, they have the option of either checking, raising or folding. Bettor: The first person that puts money into the pot on any given round of betting is known as the bettor. Check: Pass on the action to the next player without putting money into the pot. Fold: If a player thinks that they cannot win the game, then they can give up by surrendering their hand and hence taking no further part in the play. This is known as folding. Call: The player places an amount of money into the pot equal to the amount placed by the bettor. Raise: The player places an amount of money that is double the amount of the money put into the pot by the bettor. Re-raise: This is simply the process of raising a raise. Showdown: The end of the play. This is when each play finishes.Prohibitions Here are a few basic rules for the game. Please check on the individual poker sites for any extra rules that they may have. Most of the rules shown below generally apply to games played in actual casinos, but the principle still applies in online casinos too.oPoker is an individual game. Therefore, two or more players cannot collude or attempt to collude. For example: divide the pool without a showdown.oA player cannot pass their turn to deal unless they are physically unable to.oA player cannot view the discarded cards either before or after the showdown.oA player cannot look at the undealt cards, at another players hand, or at a hole card ( in stud poker);oA player cannot take chips or money from the pool during play, except as correct change for a verbally stated bet.oA player cannot leave the table and take their cards with them. In order for them to leave the table, they player should ask another player, preferably a non-active one, to play their hand for them. If the player does not do this and misses their turn then their hand is dead.