Poker basics for new players on King Exchange

Each player gets two hole cards. Five community cards are dealt in three stages: the flop, turn and river. The best five-card hand wins unless everyone else folds. Blinds are forced bets that keep the game moving, and positions rotate each hand.

At any card table, check the minimum and maximum bet and the table name, and whether you play against the house, as in casino Hold'em, or other players. Read the side-bet paytable and the disconnection rules, which can fold your hand. Teen Patti uses different rankings, so don't confuse the two.

• The minimum and maximum bet, and what the table is called.
• Whether it's a game against the house (like casino Hold'em) or other players.
• The paytable for side bets.
• Disconnection rules, which can fold your hand.

Teen Patti has different hand rankings and a faster pace, so don't confuse the two. The Indian card games guide covers Teen Patti, and table games covers blackjack and baccarat.

Poker hands rank from a royal flush, A-K-Q-J-10 of one suit, down through a straight flush, four of a kind, a full house, a flush and a straight. Below those come three of a kind, two pair, one pair and finally high card. The best five-card hand wins.

1. 1Royal flush: A-K-Q-J-10 of one suit.
2. 2Straight flush: five cards in sequence of one suit.
3. 3Four of a kind.
4. 4Full house: three of a kind plus a pair.
5. 5Flush: five cards of one suit.
6. 6Straight: five cards in sequence of mixed suits.
7. 7Three of a kind.
8. 8Two pair.
9. 9One pair.
10. 10High card.

The dealer button moves one seat each hand, and the player on the button acts last after the flop. Acting last means you see what everyone else does first, which is a real advantage. New players do best playing fewer hands from early seats.

Pot odds compare the cost of a call with the size of the pot. If the pot is ₹300 and you must call ₹100, you're paying ₹100 to win ₹400 in total, so you need to win more than 25% of the time. For draws, count your outs (the cards that complete your hand) and multiply by 4 on the flop or 2 on the turn. A flush draw has 9 outs: roughly a 36% chance by the river.

High pairs such as aces, kings and queens, and strong aces like ace-king, are worth playing from any seat. Small pairs and suited connectors play better from late position. Folding most hands is normal; it's what keeps a beginner's money alive.