There are many ways to play Poker - a testimony to the popularity of the game. Nevertheless, it is not hard to learn the basics of Poker if you use one of its basic forms - 5-Card Draw - as a model.

In Poker, each of the 52 cards in the pack is used. The 'face' cards such as King, Queen and Jack have a high importance and Ace is the highest scoring card of all. Every player gets 5 cards, with the dealer going around the table, passing each player one card at a time.

The rank of Poker hands

Royal Flush - This is the top sequence: from Ace to 10 in the same suit.

Straight Flush - This in any other sequence in the same suit.

Four of a Kind - Four Aces is the highest score

Full House - Three Aces and two Kings is the highest score

Flush - The cards have to be from the same suit. They don't have to follow a sequence.

Straight - The cards have to follow a sequence. They don't have to be from the same suit.

Three of a Kind - Three Aces is the highest score.

Two Pair - Two Aces and Two Kings are the highest score

One Pair - Two Aces are the highest score

High Card - In case no player has a better hand, the one with the Ace wins

Basic Rules

1)  Player joins a poker gamed by putting money into a 'central 'pot'. He or she then gets dealt 5 cards.

2)  Player decides how many cards to exchange.

3)  Player makes on of the following bids:

Open: Whoever starts the bidding says 'Open'.

Check : To let somebody else start the bidding, say 'Check'

See : To stay in the game by matching the bid of other players, say 'See'.

Raise : To increase the bet beyond that of the others, say 'Raise'.

Fold : To leave the game after deciding that the hand is too weak, say 'Fold'. You will lose your initial bet.

4. Once the first 5 cards have been dealt to each player and the bets made, each player can exchange up to three cards.