Rules of Poker for Beginners & Pros

Poker is played in many formats. On MPL, you can choose from four of the most popular formats: No Limit Hold'em, Pot Limit Omaha, Pot Limit Omaha 5, and Pot Limit Omaha 6. While the structure may differ slightly, the core Poker rules remain the same. Regardless of which poker variant a player chooses, it is wise to have a thorough understanding of how to play poker and the basic rules before starting to play.

Among the card games, Poker is unique. It is a game of skill and strategy. It is an exciting game once you master the rules and learn to outsmart opponents. In fact, pro players find the thrill in building a combination out of nowhere. With the right strategy, you can turn the odds in your favour. The secret? It is just how well you know the rules of Poker.

Poker Game Rules – Flow of a Standard Hand

What Happens in a Poker Round?

In each round, players have to perform the following actions. Of course, winning depends on the strategic play.

Deal: Every player receives their hole cards, and the community cards are revealed in stages.

Bet: Players take turns to Check, Call, Raise, or Fold based on their hand and the game.

Showdown: If two or more players remain after the final betting round, they reveal their cards.

Win: The player with the best 5-card hand wins the pot. If all others fold, the last player standing wins without a showdown.

Poker Card Values & Deck Setup

MPL Poker utilizes a standard 52-card deck, excluding jokers. The deck is shuffled before every hand. It happens automatically in online poker. Strict fair play rules and a focus on skill-based gaming ensure proper card dealing.

Card Values (High to Low)

A (Ace), K (King), Q (Queen), J (Jack), 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.
Ace can also be used as the lowest card when forming a straight like A-2-3-4-5.

Suits: There are four suits – Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, and Clubs. All suits are of equal value.

Roles of the Dealer, Small Blind & Big Blind

In each hand of poker, three roles rotate around the table: Dealer, Small Blind, and Big Blind. These roles move clockwise after every hand.

Dealer: The player in this position deals cards and acts last in most betting rounds. It gives them a strategic advantage.

Small Blind: The player to the immediate left of the dealer posts the small blind, a forced initial bet that initiates the pot.

Big Blind: The player next to the small blind posts the big blind, a larger forced bet. The first betting round starts with the player to the left of the big blind.

Poker Rules for Betting Limits

There are three types of betting limits used in poker card rules: fixed limit, no limit, and pot-limit. Get to know poker betting rules and learn what each limit implies:

While playing fixed-limit poker games, the betting limit is predetermined before the game starts. The players must bet only the pre-decided fixed amount of chips while betting.

There's no limit set on the betting limits in no-limit poker games. Therefore, the players can bet as many chips as they prefer while betting. No-limit betting is popular in Texas Hold 'em games.

In pot-limit poker games, the players must bet equal to or less than the pot limit. Pot-limit is popular in Omaha poker games, where players can't bet more than the pot limit.

Rules for Table Stakes and All-in

Table stakes in poker card rules refer to the minimum amount a player is required to have or the minimum amount a player's capacity is set at while sitting at a poker table. Table stakes is based on the poker chips concept, which limits the offers a player considers at the table. For instance, if a player has 8 chips, they can only bet 8 or fewer chips. Most poker tables use smaller stakes to limit the risk, making the table more appealing for many players.

When you go all-in, it implies using all your poker chips to bet. A player can go all-in under certain circumstances, such as:

When a player has a small amount of chips left and wants to raise a bet, the player will go all-in to be in the game.

Some players go all-in to intimidate other players and make them fold.

Texas Hold’em Rules

Dealing of Cards

In Texas Hold'em Poker, the dealer deals two hole cards to each player in face-down position. The hole cards are also known as private cards.

Then, five community cards are dealt face up in three stages. Players have to use their two private cards and five community cards to form the best five-card combination.

Betting Rounds (Pre-Flop to River)

Pre-Flop

The pre-flop betting round is the first betting round. The player immediately to the left of the big blind is the first to act, and he has three choices: call the big blind sum, raise, or fold. When players decide to fold, they muck (throw away) their cards face down and wait for the next game to be dealt. The action then moves clockwise around the table till every player has been given the option to call, raise, or fold.

The Flop

Three community cards are dealt face-up in the middle of the table once the first betting round is completed. These three cards, together with their two hole cards, are available to all active players to create the best potential hand. The “flop” refers to these three cards.

All of the bets from the previous session (pre-flop) have been added to the pot. A new betting round begins once the flop has been dealt. The action starts with the first active player to the left of the button. Blind bets no longer compel a player to act, and that player now has two options: check or bet. A check implies that you will not open the bet or fold.

When a player checks, the action passes to the next active player, who also has the option to check. When a player wants to check, they click the "Check" button.

If a player chooses to begin the bet, the option to check is no longer available, and they must either call, raise, or fold, including any opponents who have checked before. We proceed to the next betting round after all bets for this round have been matched, or when every participant has chosen to check.

The Turn

Following the second round of betting (the flop), a fourth card is dealt, known as “the turn” — it is also often called 4th street.

The River

Following the completion of the third round of betting, the fifth and final card, the board card, is dealt, and this card is known as “the river” - it is also sometimes referred to as 5th street.

The Showdown

After the final round of betting is done, it is time to determine who won the hand and how much money is in the pot. Now that the fifth card has been dealt, each player can use two hole cards in conjunction with any of the five cards on the board to form their greatest five-card poker hand. Because the winning hand must be revealed, participants can now disclose their two hole cards. The player who was called must present their cards first.

It's also worth mentioning that you are not required to use your two-hole cards if you do get up in a showdown situation. You are considered playing the board if your best five-card hand is made up of the five community cards. For example, if the five community cards (flop, turn, and river) formed a straight flush, all of the remaining active players would split the pot if no one had a bigger straight flush. Even while each player has a total of seven cards, only five of them matter - your top five.

Betting Options – Check, Call, Fold, Raise

According to poker rules on MPL, players can choose from seven betting actions: Check, Call, Fold, Raise, Fold & Switch, Auto Muck, and Auto Post Blinds, to control the game's flow. Each lets you respond strategically based on your hand and table dynamics.

Basic Poker Rules for Hand Rankings

Poker hand rankings determine which hand wins at showdown. They are the basis of most poker variants, including Texas Hold'em, Omaha Poker, Seven Card Stud Poker, and Draw Poker. In most poker games, the best hand is a Royal Flush, followed by a Straight Flush, Four-of-a-Kind, down to High Card.

Royal Flush:

A Royal flush comprises five cards of the same suit, numbered 10 through Ace. Remember that in poker, all suits are equal. If two or more players have a royal flush (which is very rare), the pot is divided, meaning the players split the winnings.

E.g. A♠️ K♠️ Q♠️ J♠️ 10♠️

Straight Flush:

In succession, five cards of the same suit. This is an example of a 10-high straight flush. If two or more players have a straight flush, the player with the highest straight flush wins. A Queen high straight flush, for example, defeats a ten-high straight flush. You'll note that this resembles a Royal flush, which is because a Royal flush is an ace-high straight flush, but it has its own classification.

E.g. 10♥️ 9♥️ 8♥️ 7♥️ 6♥️

Four of a Kind:

Four cards of the same rank/value make up this hand. If two or more players have the same four of a kind, which could occur when using community cards, the fifth card determines the winner. As a result, a player with four Kings and a 6 would defeat a player with four Kings and a 5.

E.g. K♠️ K♥️ K♣️ K♦️ 6♠️

Full House:

A full house comprises three cards of the same rank and a pair. The pair's strength is considered if two players share the same three cards, which is possible when utilizing communal cards. As a result, three Aces and a pair of 9s would defeat our example hand.

E.g. A♠️ A♦️A♣️ 8♦️ 8♣️

Flush:

Five cards of the same suit.

E.g. J♦️ 9♦️ 8♦️ 5♦️ 3♦️

Straight:

Five cards in a sequence but of different suits.

E.g. 8♦️ 7♣️ 6♦️ 5♥️ 4♣️

Three of a kind:

Three cards with matching ranks and two unrelated cards.

E.g. K♠️ K♣️ K♥️ 8♦️ 3♣️

Two Pair:

Two groups of two cards each of the same rank. One unrelated side card.

E.g. Q♠️ Q♦️ 10♣️10♥️ 2♥️

One Pair:

Two cards of a matching rank with three unrelated cards.

E.g. K♣️ K♣️ 10♣️ 6♠️ 2♥️

High Card:

If none of the above-mentioned combinations are formed, the highest card in hand can determine the ranking. Also, in the combinations above, the highest card factor is used if there is a tie between two players having similar combinations.

E.g. A♥️ 10♣️ 8♦️ 6♠️ 2♥️

Rules of Poker Variants on MPL

No Limit Hold'em Rules

No-Limit Texas Hold'em Poker is the most popular variant of poker. It is played on a table with two to nine players. Here are the poker rules for playing Texas Hold 'em:

In Texas Hold 'em Poker, each player on the table is dealt two hole cards, with five community cards. The community cards are dealt during the various betting rounds.

The primary objective in Texas Hold 'em Poker is to make the best 5-card poker hand from the seven available cards (2 hole cards & 5 community cards).

The players can combine either one or both of their hole cards with the community cards or use just the community cards to make the best hand. If the player chooses to use all five cards on the table to create a hand, it is referred to as “playing the board.”

As per NL Texas Hold'em Poker rules, there is no fixed limit on betting. They have the option to bet all of their chips.

Pot Limit Omaha Rules

Pot Limit Omaha Poker is the second most popular poker variant after Texas Hold 'em. The poker game rules for the two games are quite similar. Omaha is also played between two to nine players at the table. Here are the rules for Omaha poker:

According to PL Omaha rules, each player on the table is dealt four hole cards to start the first betting round.

PL Omaha is similar to Hold 'em because the player needs to make the best 5-card combination from their hand. However, unlike the previous variation, the player must use two of his hole cards and three from the community cards to make his best possible hand.

The pre-fixed Pot-Limit means players can bet only as high as the total value of the pot during their turn. It is more flexible than fixed limit formats.

Pot Limit 5-Card Omaha Rules

Pot-Limit 5-Card Omaha poker is simply an extension of Pot-Limit Omaha, where the number of players at a table and the primary objective remain the same. Here are the key differences between the two:

The only difference in PL Omaha 5 poker rules is that each player is dealt five hole cards in this poker variation.

The players have the option to make their best hand from the 10 cards at their disposal (5 hole cards and 5 community cards).

Also Read: The essential tips and tricks to play poker.

Pot Limit 6-Card Omaha Rules

Pot-Limit 6-Card Omaha is a high-action variation of Pot-Limit Omaha, played between two to nine players. The game follows similar betting rules to PL05, with a few changes.

In PL Omaha 6, each player is dealt six hole cards face down. Just like in other Omaha formats, players must use exactly two of their six hole cards, combined with three of the five community cards, to make their best possible 5-card poker hand.

The player with the highest-ranking hand at showdown wins the pot.

MPL Table-Specific Rules

To ensure smooth and fair gameplay, MPL Poker enforces specific rules around decision-making time, disconnections, and automatic actions at the table. These apply across cash games.

Timers and Decision Time

Every player is given a countdown timer during their turn to act. A visual timer appears next to the player’s seat. The timer starts in green and shifts to red as time runs out. If a player does not act before the timer ends, the system will automatically fold their hand.

Currently, MPL does not allow players to request additional time during a hand in either cash games or poker tournaments.

Auto-Fold & Disconnect Policy

When a player is disconnected from a cash table, the MPL app immediately attempts to reconnect them, provided their internet connection is still active. During the process, the player is allotted extra time to rejoin the table.

• If the player reconnects in time, they resume play normally.
• If not, the system will perform a ‘check’ on their behalf—only if checking is allowed in that situation.
• If a check is not possible, the hand is automatically folded.

The amount of extra time given may vary by game type. Generally, larger pots or higher-stakes decisions grant slightly more time.

Also, a strong internet connection is recommended to play online.

FAQs

What are the rules of poker?

Poker rules are all about forming the best five-card hand using two types of cards: hole cards and community cards. The number of hole cards varies by game type. Community cards are revealed in stages—preflop, flop, turn, and river. It is followed by a showdown to determine the winner. Poker hand rankings are the basis of the game. In draw poker, players can also replace cards to improve their hand.

What are the rules for poker hand rankings?

Poker hand rankings determine which hand wins at showdown. They are the basis of nearly all poker variations. In standard games, the best hand is a Royal Flush, followed by Straight Flush, Four-of-a-Kind, down to High Card. In lowball games like Razz, rankings are reversed, and the weakest hand wins. Success directly depends on your knowledge of hand strength in any variant.

How are cards dealt in Texas Hold’em?

In Texas Hold’em, after shuffling a standard 52-card deck, each player is dealt two face-down cards. They are the hole or private cards. Dealing starts with the small blind and proceeds clockwise. It ends with the player in the dealer or button position. In online poker, shuffling happens automatically.

What is the difference between Omaha and Texas Hold’em rules?

The main difference between Omaha and Texas Hold’em rules is in the number of hole cards dealt. In Hold’em, players get two hole cards, while in Omaha, they receive four. It increases hand possibilities and potential outs. Both are community card poker variants. On the other hand, stud poker uses a mix of face-up and face-down cards without any shared community cards.

Which is the strongest poker hand?

Royal Flush is the strongest poker hand, e.g., 10, J, Q, K, A of diamonds. It can beat every other hand with no tie-breakers. If two players have a royal flush, they share the pot equally.

Can you fold at any time?

Yes, you can fold at any time during any betting round in poker. However, a hand must have at least one active player. If everyone else folds, the remaining player wins the pot automatically.

What happens if two players tie?

If two players tie in poker with the same five-card hands, the pot is split evenly between them. It is called a "chop pot." Suits are not used to break ties in basic poker rules. It is done solely based on the ranking.

What is the minimum number of players in poker?

As per the rules of poker, at least two players are required to play the game. The game can accommodate up to 22 players in principle. However, up to 10 players are the best in most poker games.

Does MPL follow international poker rules?

Yes, MPL Poker follows the same foundational structure as international poker, especially for Texas Hold'em, and Pot‑Limit Omaha. It employs standard hand rankings, betting rounds (pre-flop, flop, turn, river, and showdown), blinds, checks, calls, raises, and folds. The app's gameplay aligns with globally accepted rules and variations.