Hand rankings
| Hand | What it is |
|---|---|
| Royal flush | A, K, Q, J, 10 of one suit |
| Straight flush | Five in sequence, one suit |
| Four of a kind | Four cards of one rank |
| Full house | Three of a kind plus a pair |
| Flush | Five of one suit |
| Straight | Five in sequence, mixed suits |
| Three of a kind | Three cards of one rank |
| Two pair | Two different pairs |
| One pair | Two cards of one rank |
| High card | None of the above |
Choosing where to play
A poker room against other players and casino poker against the house are different products. Many new casinos only have the second: Casino Hold'em, Three Card Poker and live versions with a fixed paytable. If you want to play people, check the lobby for a real poker room with cash games and tournaments before you deposit.
- Start at the lowest stakes, or free tables if they exist.
- Freerolls (tournaments with no entry fee) are a cheap way to practise.
- Check that the site works well on your phone; a slow app costs decisions.
Position
Acting last is an advantage: you see what everyone else does first. Play your weakest hands only from late position near the dealer button, and keep early-position hands to strong pairs and high cards.
Beginner mistakes
- Playing too many starting hands.
- Ignoring position.
- Calling to 'see one more card' with nothing.
- Chasing losses with bigger stakes after a bad beat.
Poker bonuses are usually released in steps as you pay rake, not paid in one go. Read how the bonus releases and the deadline before you accept one; our guide to casino terms covers what to look for.
Bankroll
Keep poker money separate from everything else and set a loss limit per session. A common rule for cash games is to sit with no more than 5% of your poker bankroll at any table.