How to play new to poker? start here

Everyone at the table was new once. Here’s what actually happens.

1. Pick a game

   Any venue, any night. Get there 30 minutes before the start. It’s free to play.

2. Register

   Give your name to the host, and that’s you on the league from tonight.

3. Take your seat

   You’re given a seat and 10,000 chips, the same as everyone else. Like the league’s Facebook or Instagram post for 2,000 more. Arrive 15 minutes before the start for 3,000 early bird chips. Make a minimum spend at the bar, on food or drink, and you get another 3,000 at the break.

4. Play

   The blinds go up every 12 minutes, so the game speeds up and someone always wins. They start at 100 and 100 on a smaller night, or 100 and 200 on a bigger one.

5. Knocked out?

   It happens to everyone. Where you finish earns you points on your venue’s table and the overall table. The more players on the night, the more points on offer.

6. See where you stand

   Results go up on the site. Type your name into Where do I stand? on the home page.

Best at the top. The cards that make the hand are bold; the faded ones don’t count towards it.

1. 1
   Royal flushA♠︎K♠︎Q♠︎J♠︎10♠︎Ace to ten, all one suit. Most players never see one.
2. 2
   Straight flush9♥︎8♥︎7♥︎6♥︎5♥︎Five in a row, all one suit.
3. 3
   Four of a kindQ♣︎Q♦︎Q♥︎Q♠︎7♦︎Four cards of the same rank.
4. 4
   Full houseJ♠︎J♥︎J♦︎4♣︎4♠︎Three of a kind plus a pair.
5. 5
   FlushK♦︎10♦︎8♦︎5♦︎2♦︎Any five cards of one suit.
6. 6
   Straight10♣︎9♦︎8♠︎7♥︎6♣︎Five in a row, any suits.
7. 7
   Three of a kind7♠︎7♥︎7♦︎K♣︎2♠︎Three cards of the same rank.
8. 8
   Two pairA♥︎A♣︎8♦︎8♠︎3♥︎Two different pairs.
9. 9
   One pair10♠︎10♥︎A♦︎6♣︎4♥︎Two cards of the same rank.
10. 10
    High cardA♠︎J♦︎8♣︎5♥︎3♠︎Nothing else? The highest card plays.

Tap through a hand of Texas Hold’em from the first bet to the showdown. Deal again for a different one: there are three.

Betting: your options

When it’s your turn you can fold (throw your cards away), check (pass, if nobody has bet), call (match the bet), bet or raise (put more in). It’s no-limit, so you can go all in with every chip you have at any time.

The dealer button and blinds

A button marks the dealer and moves one seat left each hand. The two players to its left put in the small blind and big blind before any cards are dealt, so there’s always something to play for. The blinds go up every 12 minutes.

The order of a hand

Two cards each, face down, then a round of betting. Three shared cards (the flop) and more betting. A fourth card (the turn), more betting. A fifth (the river), a final round of betting, then the showdown.

The showdown

Players still in show their cards. Your hand is the best five cards you can make from your two plus the five on the table, using both, one or neither of yours. Best hand takes the pot. If hands are exactly equal, the pot is split.

Table manners

Wait for your turn, and say what you’re doing out loud (“call”, “raise to 400”). Keep your cards on the table where the dealer can see them. Don’t discuss a hand you’re not in while it’s being played. And be kind to new players: everyone started somewhere.

League points

Your finishing position each night earns points on your venue’s table and the overall table. The more players on the night, the more points on offer. Play 6 games in the season and you’re in the Season Final. Finish top of a venue’s table and you win £120 and a trophy, presented at the Final. The best average award goes to the highest average among players with 20 games or more. On a night of 17 to 24 players, a win is worth 150 points, second 120 and third 100.

Questions before your first night? Drop us a line or just ask the host on the night.