Let’s say Alex checks, Charley calls, and Dennis raises a dime. His pair of kings isn’t great, but it’s also not terrible. Since neither of you owe any money to the pot, you check. Dennis raises to twenty cents and you’re on your way to playing! How do you handle this situation? Keep reading for helpful advice! Hopefully, these tips will help you play poker like a pro.


The highest two-card pair in a hand is called a pair. This hand will win over the next-highest pair, which will be the third highest pair. If the pair is the same rank, then the pair is equal, but if they are not, the hand wins. In other words, two-pair pairs are the most powerful hand in a poker game. This hand has two advantages: it is the strongest pair, and it also beats the second-highest pair.

Betting phases

Poker players go through different betting phases, or intervals between decisions. These phases vary depending on the rules of the game. If you want to increase your chances of winning a game, it is important to understand the betting phases. You can make informed decisions about when to make each bet to maximize your winnings. Here are some of the most important phases:


In poker, betting limits vary from game to game. They can limit how much a player can bet or raise per hand, and they also affect the timing of when to place bets. For a new player, limits in poker can make them feel like a fish out of water. Each limit has different strategies and mistakes to avoid, so it’s important to know which betting limits to play at. Read on to learn more about poker betting limits.

Tie hands

In poker, tie hands happen when two players have the same five-card combination, such as two pairs of sevens or a lower pair and a high card. Certain board textures make ties more likely, but they are not impossible. A tie can also result when two players have the same pair, such as when a player has the higher pair. A tie can be resolved in several ways, but in all three cases, the player with the higher pair wins.

Royal flush

Almost every video poker player hopes to hit the royal flush. A royal flush is like winning the top prize at the slot machine or rolling the dice to a long string of luck. In poker, you only need four cards to complete a royal flush. But how do you increase your chances of hitting a royal flush? Here are some tips. And remember, royals don’t happen very often. That means you need to play your cards wisely to increase your chances of winning.

Ante bets

While blinds are more common wagers in poker games, ante bets are a staple of most poker games. Though they carry little strategic value, they can influence the game flow. Many players refer to ante bets as forced wagers, but this is not the case. The ante bet is a common way to introduce poker to tournaments. Here are a few things to know about ante bets: