Poker

Poker “A card game played by two or more persons, in which the players bet on the value of their hands, the winner taking the pool” (Dictionary.com 2009).

Texas Hold 'Em is undoubtedly the most popular and complex poker game being played around the world today. Both men and women alike are spending countless hours attempting to master the game. The many variables of the game include poker knowledge, betting practices, mathematical odds, and pure luck, making it a game that cannot be mastered.

Poker knowledge of the four suits of cards and basic hand combinations is required to know when playing. The suits are as follows: diamonds, hearts, spades, and clubs; 2 through ace; ace being the highest. A player also needs to know the winning order of hands, which are as followed:

• High Card - whoever’s card is the highest. 2 to the ace.
• Pairs – two cards the same (2, 2)
• Two pair- two pairs of cards the same (5, 5 & 7, 7)
• Three of A Kind – three cards the same (8, 8, 8)
• Straight - 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 in any suit
• Flush - Any five cards of the same suit
• Full house - Three cards the same 7, 7, 7, and two others the same 5, 5
• Four of A Kind - A, A, A, A
• Straight Flush - 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 all of the same suit
• Royal Straight - 10, J, Q, K, A, of any suit
• Royal Straight Flush - 10, J, Q, K, A, all of the same suit

The basics for the play of Texas Hold 'Em include the following:
Two cards are dealt face down to each player (known as a players hole cards), followed by the first round of betting. After the first round of betting is complete, the first three community cards are dealt face up (called the flop), followed by the second round of betting. Next, the fourth community card is dealt face up (called the turn or fourth street), followed by the third round of betting. Finally, the fifth community card is dealt face up (called the river or fifth street), followed by the fourth and final round of betting. A player can use any combination of their two hole cards and the five community cards to create the best possible five card hand” (Answers.com 2009).

When starting the game with 52 cards in the deck the odds and betting will change with each card dealt, along with the number of players starting the hand, and the number of players in the hand after the flop, the turn, and river. This makes the computation of figuring odds an infinite number. The length of time it takes for someone actually to become skilled at betting practices combined with figuring mathematical odds is of course different for everyone, but there are many great books, articles, and websites available to help a person with learning anything from the most basic skills, techniques, and strategies to the most advanced of these.
Despite the fundamental knowledge of the game and the mathematical knowledge of odds, the element of luck is always present. For instance, any new player could sit at the same table with a skilled player and at the end of the game, due to dumb luck, be just as successful as the seasoned player is, for that particular game anyway.

Here is an example:

Scott and Phebe are in a Texas Hold 'Em game and the other four players at the table fold before the flop leaving the two to battle. Phebe is dealt a J, 7 and Scott is dealt a pair of aces. Scott bets $500 and Phebe calls. The flop comes out as J, 5, 8. Scott bets $1000 and Phebe calls, thinking her J’s are the best. Then comes the turn card, which is a 2. Scott bets $2500 thinking he is ahead in the hand, and Phebe calls thinking she is ahead.

The river card comes, and it is a 7. Now showing on the board is J, 5, 8, 2, 7. Scott fires $4000 thinking that his aces beat a paired board card. Phebe calls seeing how she has now made two pair, J’s and 7’s. Although Phebe was behind during the entire hand with a pair of J’s, she got lucky on the River with a 7 to make two pair and win the hand. All due to dumb luck!