The second part of this Poker guide deals with the rules and terminology. Most of you interested in this guide will probably know all this already but for the sake of completeness I´ll write it down anyway.

Basic Rules

There are many varieties of poker games but they all follow the same basic format:

* Players contribute toward a central 'pot' that contains play chips or chips representing actual money
* Players are dealt cards (a 'hand'), some or all of which are concealed
* Wagers are made on the strength of the cards in rounds of betting
* After the betting rounds are over, the player with the strongest hand - or the last player left standing after the others have folded - wins!

Rank of Hands

The rank of hands remains the same no matter which type of Poker you play.

Royal Flush
A Royal Flush is an ace high straight flush. It´s the best hand you can have.

Straight Flush
A straight flush is a five-card straight, all in the same suit.

Four of a Kind (or Quads)
Quads are four cards of equal rank

Full House
A full house is a set (three) of cards of one rank and a pair of another rank.

Flush
A flush is any five cards, all of the same suit.

Straight
Five cards of sequential rank

Three of a Kind (or Set)
Three cards of the same rank

Two Pair
Two cards of one rank and another two cards of another rank.

Pair
Two cards of the same rank

High Card:
The hand with the highest card(s) wins.

In the event of a tie with either four of a kind, three of a kind, two pair, or one pair, the highest unpaired side card or 'kicker' in a player's hand wins the pot.


Texas Holdem Rules

To begin with players are dealt two 'hole' cards that only they can see and use. Then, five 'community' cards are dealt in the middle of the table that everyone can see and use with their hand. Players can make their five-card hand from both, one or none of their hole cards in combination with the community cards.

The game is split into four rounds of betting, and the game moves clockwise around the table. Betting starts from the player position next to the dealer button, which moves one place to the left after each hand. In online games, the dealer button replaces the 'real' dealer.

If two or more players hold equally-strong winning five-card hands and tie, the pot will be split between the two players. If there is an odd chip left from the winnings, the player sitting closest to the left of the dealer button will receive this. At PartyPoker.com the value of an odd chip is 1 cent
The Blinds

Before the game starts, the two players sat to the left of the dealer post 'blind' bets, these are called blinds because they are made before the players have seen any cards. The blinds ensure that there is some money in the pot to play for as the game starts. The player to the left of the dealer posts the 'small blind', and the player positioned to his left then posts the 'big blind'.
Pre-Flop

Before the game starts, the two players sat to the left of the dealer post 'blind' bets, these are called blinds because they are made before the players have seen any cards. The blinds ensure that there is some money in the pot to play for as the game starts. The player to the left of the dealer posts the 'small blind', and the player positioned to his left then posts the 'big blind'.

Call
match the amount bet in the big blind,
Raise
increase the amount bet, or
Fold
give up his cards and stake in the game.

When the betting resumes, the player who made the big blind (the first full bet), can 'check' or opt to stay in the game without adding anything to the pot. However, if an opponent has raised, the big blind has three options: he has to either fold, call, or re-raise.

The Flop
This stage involves dealing three 'community' cards face up on the table. Players can use these to make their five-card hand. A second round of betting follows.

The Turn
The fourth community card is dealt face up on the table. The third round of betting follows.

The River
The fifth and final community card is dealt, followed by the final round of betting.

The Showdown
If there is more than one player left in the game, there is a showdown in which the players reveal their cards and the highest hand wins (see Rank of Hands). If two players share an identical hand, the pot is split.


Terminology

As I write more parts of this guide I´ll update this section.

Aggressive
Adjective to describe a player who raises and re-raises and rarely calls. Is also used to describe games.

Backdoor
Making a hand other than the one intended. Example: Having J/10 of Clubs with a flop of A of Clubs, 5 of Clubs, 6 of Spades. The turn and river are K & Q of Hearts. You made a straight instead of the intended (and more likely) flush.

Bet
To place chips into the pot.

Blank
A useless card.

Call
Matching the bet amount.

Call Cold
To call both a bet and raise(s).

Cap
To take the last of the maximum amount of raises allowed per round of betting.

Check
When it's a player's turn to act and there has been no action in front of them and he opts not to bet, he 'checks.'

Check-raise
When a player first checks and then raises in a betting round.

Drawing
Playing a hand to improve.

Gut Shot
To draw to and/or hit an inside straight.

Hand
A player's best five cards.

Implied Odds
The odds you calculate, considering the assumed result of betting for the remainder of the hand.

Kicker
The highest unpaired side card in a player’s hand.

Limper
A player who calls a bet.

Nuts
The best possible hand at any point of the game. A hand that cannot be beat.

Overpair
A pocket pair higher than any of the cards on the board.

Position
Where a player is seated in relation to the dealer, therefore establishing that player's place in the betting order.

Pot
The money or chips in the center of a table that players try to win.

Raise
To increase the previous bet.

Re-raise
To raise a raise.

Tight
Either a player who doesn't play many pots, or a game that doesn't have much action.

Under the Gun
Being the first person to act, being in the earliest position.