Basic Poker

Introduction

Welcome to Basic Poker.

The name of the game in Poker Academy is No Limit Texas Hold'em. It is said that poker is a game that takes a minute to learn and a lifetime to master. Nevertheless, Texas Hold’em has quickly become the most popular poker game online.

When you are finished with these lessons, you will have learned the elements of the game. Take your time, but give it more than a minute. Remember, Texas Hold’em is a game of skill, not luck. When you have completed the test at the end of this section you can proceed to Getting Started.

Good Luck!

No Limit Texas Hold'em
Players may bet any amount at any time.

Fixed limit Texas Hold'em
The amounts of the bets are preset.

Pot limit
Variation of poker games in which the maximum bet a player may make is the size of the pot at the time the bet is made.

Bankroll
Amount of money you have that you can play poker with.

Bet
To put money in the pot.

Blind
Money posted directly to the left of the button, before the cards are dealt.

Blind period
The time each blind lasts. Typical blind periods last for 10, 15, 20, 30 or 60 minutes.

Button (dealer button)
Physical and symbolic designation of the person who is dealing.

Community card (board card)
Card that may be used by each player at the table.

Call
To match another player’s bet.

Check
Not to bet. A player can check when no other player has bet yet. This moves the action on to the next player.

Dealer
The person who is dealing the cards, and therefore decides the position of each player.

Fold
To concede the pot by throwing your hand away.

Hand
Refers to your cards, or to the process of dealing the cards until the winning of a pot.

Kicker
Also called a side card, a card in a poker hand that does not itself take part in determining the rank of the hand, but that may be used to break ties between hands of the same rank.

Loose
Style of play in which you play a lot of hands.

Pocket cards (hole cards)
Player´s two facedown cards (Down cards).

Pot
Money gathered in the middle of the table during a hand. Raise
Add a bet to an opponent’s bet.

Rake
The commission taken by a poker site when hosting a poker game. It is generally 1-5% of the pot in each poker hand, up to a predetermined maximum amount.

Stakes
Amount of money being played for.