The basic rules of poker are not complicated to comprehend thanks to poker hand rankings which are pretty straightforward and used in almost all types of poker. If you aren't familiar with hand rankings it is impossible to begin playing. Once you understand what beats what, learning game rules for various poker games is simple.

Card Ranking

The most basic rules of poker begin with the deck itself. A regular poker deck uses 52 cards and each card has its own rank, from the Ace (the highest rank) to the 2 (the lowest of all ranks). In standard poker play, the entire 52-card deck is used, but some forms of poker require the addition of jokers to act as wild cards. A wild card can either be a joker or you may specify a certain card in the standard deck to become wild (for instance, 'deuces wild' means that all four twos in the deck are wild).

Poker Hands

The basic rules of poker games from Texas Holdem to Omaha, Stud and Draw require that a poker hand is always made up of 5 cards. In these games, where the cards themselves come from is what changes, but the poker hand rankings are identical.

Any hand in a higher category beats any other hand in a lower category (for example, any straight beats any three-of-a-kind). If several players hold the same exact hand, the pot is split. Poker hand rankings go as follows (from the strongest to the weakest):

Royal Flush
This is the best possible poker hand. Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10. All same suited.

Straight Flush
Any five-card sequence in the same suit (such as: 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of hearts).

Four of a Kind
Four cards with the same value (such as: four 7's) plus a "kicker."

Full House
Three of a kind combined with a pair (such as: K, K, K with 4,4). If more than one player holds a full house, the full house with the highest ranking three-of-a-kind gains victory.

Flush
Any five cards of the same suit, but not in sequence (such as: A, Q, 9, 6 and 3).

Straight
Five cards in sequence. The cards can be in any suit. (such as: 4 hearts, 5 clubs, 6 clubs, 7 diamonds and 8 spades).

Three of a Kind
Three cards of the same value (such as: eight, eight, eight).

Two Pair
Two separate pairs (such as: Jack, Jack and King, King). If two players hold two pair, the hand with the highest pair is the winner.

Pair
Two cards of the same value (such as: Ace, Ace).

High Card
If a poker hand does not include any of the combinations described above, it's valued by its highest card.

Poker Cards Dealt

The number of cards a player receives is contingent on the type of poker game being played. In 7-card stud poker, for example, players are dealt seven cards. In Texas Hold 'em, however, players are dealt only two cards into their pocket and later must make their final poker hand using both pocket cards and community cards (shared cards that are dealt face up).

Card Dealing in Traditional and Online Poker

The basic rules of poker are really the same when you compare online poker rooms to traditional gaming venues. Games typically use a dealer-button to indicate the position of each hand's dealer. After each game the button typically moves clockwise to the next player. This player will serve as "the dealer" in the next hand.

Now that you know the basics and poker hand rankings, dive in and learn about the different types of poker.