Rules of Engagement: How to Play Poker's Hottest Most Historic Games

Change one rule and you change the game. Nothing could be truer of poker, whose derivative forms are as different as apples and eggplants. Below is a brief overview of a few poker mainstays to get you started.

Hands down, Texas Hold 'Em is today's most popular poker game. To begin, the players left of the dealer button post "blinds", with the player immediately left of the button posting the small blind (half the minimum stake) and the player second to his left posting the big blind (minimum stake). The dealer issues two hole cards per player. Betting commences with the player left of the big blind and continues clockwise. Players may call, raise or fold but raises may not exceed the lower table stake. The "flop", three community cards displayed face up, is next. Every player may use any one, two or three of these cards in his hand. The player left of the button bets first. Players may check but the minimum bet is the lower stake. Next, the "turn" card is dealt face-up. Betting proceeds as before but the minimum bet is now the high stake. The last card dealt--the "river"--is another community card. The final high stake round of betting takes place, after which players reveal their hole cards and the highest hand wins the pot.

Omaha Hi Poker is nearly identical to Texas Hold 'Em, with one exception: The first round of cards includes four, not two, hole cards and two of them MUST be played. The flop, river and turn cards are dealt in the same quantity and betting rounds proceed as in Texas Hold 'Em.

Another Hold 'Em variation is Omaha Hi/Lo, which begins with double blinds and four hole cards, of which two MUST be played. Subsequent cards and betting rounds proceed as outlined in Texas Hold 'Em, above. The twist is winning hands may be high, low (those with five cards, excluding pairs, below 9) or both, often resulting in a pot split equally between two players.

In Stud Poker, there are no community cards and betting is non-positional. Five Card Stud begins with each player "ante-ing up"-posting a fraction of the low bet limit- before any cards are dealt. First cards include one hole and one face-up "street" card per player. The holder of the lowest upcard begins the betting round. He/she may place a complete bet (full minimum stake) or a bring-in (half minimum), after which betting continues clockwise. Another "street" card is dealt. From here on, the holder of the highest upcard is the first to check or bet. This is a low minimum round of betting. The fourth and fifth "street" cards are separated by rounds of high stake betting. The pot goes to the player with the highest hand.

The difference between Five and Seven Card Stud is, simply, more cards. Starting cards are dealt as above, followed by fourth through sixth "street" cards plus a final face-down card. Betting rounds proceed as above-first round to low card holder then clockwise, second round and thereafter to high card holder then clockwise. After the seventh "street" card and final betting round, the pot is awarded to the player with the highest hand.

To play, visit TitanPoker.com or 888.com, two of the most respected poker online destinations. Both offer in-depth explanation of the above game rules, tactical and strategic advice, tournament play and exceptional poker rooms where you can ante-up with experts and beginners alike. And, both offer no-money practice hands before you go "all in".