The objective of poker is to win the pot. You can do this by having the best hand or by convincing the other players that you have the best hand and force them to drop out.

POKER HANDS

A poker hand is made from the best arrangement of five cards and are ranked as follows, highest first:

Royal Flush A-K-Q-J-10, all same suit
Straight Flush Any five consecutive cards, all same suit
Four-of-a-Kind Four cards, same value (eg. four 7's)
Full House Three-of-a-Kind and a Pair
Flush Any five cards of the same suit
Straight Any five consecutive cards
Three-of-a-Kind Three cards, same value
Two Pair
Pair
No Pair Five dissimilar cards, mixed suit

SEVEN CARD STUD
Seven card stud is one of the most detailed and complicated of all poker games because of the sheer number of hands that can be made from seven cards. In addition to its complexity, it can be a very expensive game, having five betting rounds, each involving potential raises and reraises.

Because three cards are hidden, the other players' hands are difficult to compute. This adds to the game's volatility and the roller-coaster effects on your bankroll.

The game begins with each player being dealt two cards face down. These are called hole cards. A third card is dealt face up. In games with antes, the person with the highest face-up card starts the betting. He can make a wager or he can check (indicate he won't make a wager but will remain to see if anyone else bets) or he can fold. All players will have the opportunity to match or raise the total bet as the play goes around the table. Or they can fold.

When the betting finishes, a second round is dealt face up. Now, the best two-card hand initiates the betting. Another round of raises and re-raises ensues.

A third round is dealt face up with the same procedure as before. Now, a fourth round is dealt face-up with the same procedure as before.

On the fifth round of play, the card is dealt face down. The final round of betting begins. Al the remaining players now have four cards face up and three cards in the hole. The player has to make the best five-card poker hand out of his seven cards.