POKER RULES

Poker uses the standard pack of 52 cards, (in same games Joker is also used). The card ranking is as follows:
(highest) A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 (lowest).

Wild cards (like the Joker, or any other card that is specified as a Wild Card in the game) take on whatever rank or suit you want it to take.

The number of cards dealt depends on what type of game you are playing: For example in 5 card stud, you are dealt five cards and 7 card stud, you get seven. All winning combinations though are made of 5 cards or less.

Ranking of the Hands (listed from highest to lowest)

Five of a Kind - A five of a kind, only possible when using wild cards.

Full House - A full house is a three of a kind and a pair, such as A-A-A-5-5. When two players have a full house, the tie is broken by the three of a kind. For example a Q-Q-Q-2-2 would beat 10-10-10-A-A.

Flush - A flush is a hand where all of the cards are the same suit (e.g. A-Q-10-6-5, all Clubs).

Straight - A straight is 5 cards in rank order, but not of the same suit (like 2-3-4-5-6). The Ace can either be high or low card (A-K-Q-J-10 or 5-4-3-2-A) but not anywhere in the middle (J-Q-K-A-2 is wrong).

Three of a Kind - Three same cards of any rank. The highest ranking three of a kind would win. Two Pair - Two pairs of same cards and a 5th card (A-A-10-10-3 for example). The highest ranking pair wins if tied.

One Pair - One pair of the same rank cards.

How to play

Betting - In most poker games you start with an ante. The money is put in the center of the table and this is called the pot. Game is played in a clockwise order and you only have 3 options:

Call - Betting the amount required to match what has been bet since your last bet, and stay in the game. (if you started with $10 for example, and someone raises to $15, when your turn comes and you want to stay in the game you need to put an additional $5 in the pot).

Raise - You can raise the bet by matching the initial bet, plus an additional amount.

Fold - Dropping out of the current hand and losing the possibility of winning the pot.

VIDEO POKER RULES

The rules of Video Poker are pretty much similar as above. The difference is that your are playing against a machine, and your goal is to have the best possible poker hand.

The machine deals 5 cards and you can keep (Hold) as many cards as you want trying to get the best rank possible.

The following pay table is from a typical Jacks or Better game.