Hand rankings
- Royal flush
- Straight flush
- Four of a kind
- Full house
- Flush
- Straight
- Three of a kind
- Two pair
- One pair
- High card
Position and starting hands
Acting last lets you see what everyone else does before you decide. Play your widest range on the button and in the cut-off, and a tight range in the first seats after the blinds.
Most winning players fold three hands out of four before the flop. Pairs, high aces and suited connected cards are the starting point; offsuit low cards are not.
Choosing where to play
- Start at micro stakes or freerolls, where mistakes are cheap.
- Check that the poker room uses a certified RNG and has player traffic at your stake.
- Know the difference between poker against players and casino poker games against the house.
Our poker page lists new casinos with poker and the guide to new poker variants explains Six Plus and fast-fold tables.
Bankroll and discipline
Keep a poker bankroll separate from other money. With K 2,000 and a 20 buy-in rule, a K 100 buy-in is the top of your range. Move down when the bankroll drops; tilt after a bad beat is the most expensive habit in the game.
Mistakes to avoid
- Calling too often in the hope of improving.
- Bluffing players who call everything.
- Playing tired or after drinking.
- Moving up stakes to win back losses.