An Introduction to Poker
Welcome to the first lesson of the Pokerology.com course. This is the introduction to a wealth of knowledge about the most exciting card game ever devised – poker. If you are on this website and reading this initial lesson then my bet is you either:
- Have no idea what poker is or how it’s played, but would like to learn how to play.
- Know a little bit about poker, but want to know more.
- Have played poker before, but want to advance your knowledge and skills.
Whichever category you fall into, it doesn’t really matter because we’ll be starting at the very beginning. Either you already know it or will learn it as you go through these lessons offered up by Pokerology.com. The “it” I refer to is that poker is an incredibly enjoyable, challenging and addictive game. Once the poker bug has bitten you there is seldom a cure. If that is true, and based upon the number of years I have played and enjoyed the game, I believe it to be, then it is worth your time and effort to play the game well.
You will soon learn that there are many different variations of poker, but the one thing they have in common is that you have to use your best five cards to make your hand. All forms of poker use a fifty two card deck made up of ranks starting with a two, commonly called a deuce, and continuing by number through ten and then in order comes the Jack, Queen, King and Ace. There are four different suits; Spades; 
, Hearts; 
, Diamonds; 
and Clubs; 
, all of which are of equal value in poker. So, four different suits of thirteen different ranks make the fifty two cards in a complete deck.
The object of poker is very simple – to win the money in the centre of the table, called the pot, which contains the sum of the bets that have been made by the participants of that hand. Players make their bets or wagers on the belief they have the best hand or in the hopes they can make a better hand give up, abdicating the pot to them. There is an old poker expression which states that a bet saved is a bet earned. This underscores the concept of discretion being the better part of valor and not continuing to call bets made by others, unless you believe you have the best hand. You may have heard the same concept expressed by the sage advice of “don’t throw good money after bad”.
Where did it Begin?
Some people believe the origins of poker reach back hundreds of years to Persia where a poker-like game was played. While this may be true, London based author Des Wilson’s Ghosts at the Table is a fascinating account of the genesis of poker which he has chronicled from the American Old West to the Mississippi riverboats to the Texas road gamblers to modern day Las Vegas. Of one thing there is no doubt – poker has become an international phenomenon. The World Series of Poker which is regarded by many as the Holy Grail of the game draws players from all over the world. The American Old West has turned global and poker is everywhere.
A Game of People Played with Cards
It has often been said that poker is not a card game but a game of people played with cards. Anthony Holden, British author of both Big Deal and Bigger Deal had this to say regarding people and poker: “Whether he likes it or not, a man’s character is stripped bare at the poker table. If the other players read him better than he does, he has only himself to blame. Unless he is both able and prepared to see himself as others do, flaws and all, he will be a loser in cards, as in life”. If you dedicate yourself to working through all of the offered lessons coupled with playing time to gain the requisite experience, you will come to recognize just how true Mr. Holden’s quote is.
Is Poker Good For You?
Poker is good for you. A bold statement you say? I can name several ways this statement is true. The game of poker is challenging and therefore keeps your mental acuity sharp. It supplies the adrenalin rush of competition that most gamesmen crave. It can fill your time with a camaraderie that can be rewarding. Last but not least, played well, poker can provide you with the extra coin of the realm which one can always find a use for. All in all it’s not a bad group of rewards for playing a card game.
Getting Started…
If you’re totally new to poker then we recommend you work your way through the lessons one at a time. We also strongly recommend you take this opportunity to open an online poker account and start playing just as soon as you feel comfortable. Studying the poker lessons here at Pokerology is crucial, but you will learn so much more by combining this with actual playing time. If you’re worried about the money, then don’t be – it doesn’t have to cost you anything since you can try your luck at the play money tables until your comfortable playing for real money. For more information please see our Beginners Guide to Online Poker.
Okay, now let’s get back to the course. The first step in learning how to play poker is to understand how the playing cards mix together to make hands ranging from the best to the worst. So let’s get to the next lesson and find out about the poker hand rankings.
Next Lesson: Beginners Level » Module 1 » Lesson 2 » Poker Hand Rankings