All the rules

Everything from the lessons, on one page to look things up. New to poker? The lessons go one step at a time.

How a hand works

1. Two small forced bets. Before any cards are dealt, the two players to the left of the dealer button put in a small bet (the blinds). This gives everyone something to win.
2. You get two cards. Only you can see them. Then each player in turn chooses: fold (give up), call (match the bet) or raise (bet more).
3. Three shared cards (the flop). Three cards are placed face up in the middle. Everyone can use them. Another round of betting follows. If nobody has bet, you can check (pass).
4. A fourth card (the turn), then a fifth (the river). Each is followed by a round of betting.
5. The showdownShowdownAt the end, the players still in show their cards. The best five-card hand wins.Got it. Players still in show their cards. Each makes the best five-card hand from their two cards and the five shared cards. The best hand wins all the chips in the middle (the pot). If hands are equal, the pot is split.

If everyone else folds, the last player left wins the pot without showing their cards.

What beats what

From best to worst. You can use both, one or none of your own two cards.

1. Royal flush
   Ace, king, queen, jack and 10, all the same suit. The best hand there is.
   A♠K♠Q♠J♠10♠
2. Straight flush
   Five cards in a row, all the same suit.
   9♥8♥7♥6♥5♥
3. Four of a kind
   Four cards of the same rank.
   Q♣Q♦Q♥Q♠3♦
4. Full house
   Three of a kind plus a pair.
   J♠J♥J♦4♣4♠
5. Flush
   Any five cards of the same suit.
   A♦J♦8♦6♦2♦
6. Straight
   Five cards in a row, any suits. An ace can be high or low (A-2-3-4-5).
   10♣9♦8♠7♥6♣
7. Three of a kind
   Three cards of the same rank.
   7♠7♥7♦K♣2♠
8. Two pair
   Two different pairs.
   K♥K♣5♦5♠9♥
9. One pair
   Two cards of the same rank.
   A♣A♥Q♠8♦4♣
10. High card
    None of the above. Your highest card counts.
    A♠J♦9♣6♥3♠

Not sure what you have? Tap in your cards and see what beats your hand ›

Other games: Omaha

Feltra also has two Omaha games. Pick them with “Change game” in the table’s Menu. Everything above still applies, with these differences.

• You get four cards, not two. Your hand is always exactly two of your four cards plus exactly three shared cards. Never one, never three.
• Pot-LimitPot limit (pot-limit)The biggest bet or raise allowed is the size of the pot (counting the call you would make first). The bet buttons show this as “Whole pot” (the most you can bet).Got it Omaha: the biggest bet or raise allowed is the size of the pot. The bet buttons show it as “Whole pot”: the most you can bet.
• Omaha Hi-LoOmaha Hi-Lo (hi-lo)Omaha where the pot is split in two: half for the best high hand, half for the best low hand. If nobody has a low hand, the best high hand wins the whole pot.Got it: the pot is split. Half goes to the best high hand (the usual ranking) and half to the best low hand: five different cards, all 8 or lower, with the ace counting low. The lowest top card wins the low half. If nobody has a low, the high hand wins it all.

Other games: Limit Hold’em

Limit Hold’emLimit Hold’em (fixed-limit)Hold’em where every bet and raise is a set size instead of any amount. You still choose to fold, call or raise; you just don’t choose how much.Got it uses the same two cards and five shared cards as Hold’em. The difference is the betting: every bet and raise is a set size.

• Before the flop and on the flop: bets are the small betSmall bet (the small bet)In Limit Hold’em, the set size of every bet and raise before the flop and on the flop. It equals the big blind: 2 chips at Feltra’s tables.Got it (the big blind). At Feltra’s tables that is 2 chips.
• On the turn and the river: bets are the big betBig bet (the big bet)In Limit Hold’em, the set size of every bet and raise on the turn and the river: twice the small bet, so 4 chips.Got it, twice as much: 4 chips.
• The capCap (the cap)In Limit Hold’em, the most betting allowed in one round: one bet and three raises. Before the flop the big blind counts as the first bet. When only two players are left, there is no cap.Got it: each round allows one bet and three raises. Before the flop the big blind counts as the first bet. When only two players are left, that cap is lifted and they may keep raising.

Because the price of a call is fixed, pot oddsPot odds (is calling worth it?)How much you must put in compared with what you can win. If it costs 10 to win a pot of 30, you put in 10 of the final 40, so you need to win at least 1 time in 4 (25%) to break even.Got it get easier to use as the pot grows: a call for one more bet becomes smaller next to what you can win.

Poker words

Every poker word Feltra uses is explained on the Poker words page.

Good manners at a real table

• Wait for your turn.
• Say “raise” before you put chips in.
• Keep your cards on the table where the dealer can see them.