You’re in a game of poker and you’ve just been dealt a pair of kings. That’s not a bad hand, but it’s also not a good one. Nonetheless, the pair of kings is better than nothing, and you’ve just beaten Alex and Charley. But who’s the winner of the game? How will you know? Here’s what you should know before you make a decision on your next hand.
The basic rules of poker are simple: each player has five cards and the objective is to build the best five-card hand possible. If no player can beat the other players’ five-card hands, then the other players win the hand. Likewise, if you have two pairs, or a pair plus a high card, you win the game. However, if you can get at least one pair with a higher card, you can break a tie.
Always respect the dealer. Your opponents don’t want you to cheat, so don’t argue with them. Even if they’re the best in the game, dealers make mistakes. If you notice a mistake, politely explain the problem and ask the dealer to correct it or call the floorman. However, you shouldn’t stoop to their level and let your opponents take advantage of you. Then, you’ll be winning!
When the only standard pack is used, the highest hand is a straight flush. A straight flush consists of five cards of the same suit. An ace can be high or low. Aces can wrap around other cards, though. Ace high straight flushes are the most popular and are considered royals. However, the chances of a royal flush are a tiny fraction of a million, and the odds are almost 650,000 to one.