How To Play Cards At A Diwali Taash Party

No Diwali party is complete without playing Poker with cards. Don’t stress, if you don’t know how to play Poker yet, we are here to help. Here are some basic rules that you need to follow if you want to ace the game and play it like a pro. After all, no one wants to get embarrassed at a Diwali party, right?

Before you start, here are some simple and basic rules that you need to keep in mind to master this game.

Royal Flush (All the same suit, sequence A-K-Q-J-T)

Straight Flush (Any sequence all the same suit, for instance 9-8-7-6-5)

Four of a Kind (Four cards that are the same value, for instance A-A-A-A)

Full House (Three of a kind AND a pair) Flush (All the same suit)

Straight (A basic sequence such as 6-5-4-3-2)

Three of a kind (Three cards that are the same value such as 5-5-5)

Two-pair (Two pairs, such as 9-9 AND 5-5)

Pair (Any pair whether it’s A-A or 2-2)

High Card (Whatever your highest card is)

Remember the sequence mentioned above because they’ll come in handy. These are hand card rankings that you must memorize before you start playing. Okay? Now, follow these steps mentioned below to play a round of poker.

Start by placing your bets.

Bets are placed in the beginning of the game. Typically, the player next to the dealer starts by placing a small bet that’s usually half of the decided minimum bet, then the player to that person’s left places a big blind that’s at least the minimum bet.

Look at the card the dealer gives you.

After placing your bets, the dealer will ‘burn’ the first card (place it out of play) and then pass two cards out to each player. Take a look at your card but don’t let anyone else see it. The dealer must ‘burn’ a card during every round of dealing and he/she must pass out the cards in clockwise direction.

You have to bet, call or raise after each round is dealt, if you wish to.

Every time the dealer gives you new cards, you’ll have to make a bet, with the first bet solely based on the two cards you have in your hands already. All the players will do the same in clockwise direction. Once your turn comes again, you can say ‘check’ to avoid betting, ‘call’ to match the bet someone else has made, or say ‘raise’ to add more money in the betting pool. If you ‘raise’ other players will be given a chance to either ‘call’ your bet or fold it. When you fold, you must give back the cards to the dealer face-down.

Check the ‘flop’ to see if you can get lucky.

The dealer will put 3 cards face up on the table which is known as the ‘flop.’ These cards are essentially community cards that each player needs to use with the cards they already have, to make a sequence. Compare the cards in your hand and in the table, then place a bet, call a bet or fold it. The dealer will reveal 5 cards so you should have a total of 7 cards to use and to create your best hand of 5. Analyze the cards in your hand and on the table and then make your choice. You may draw replacement cards for the cards in your hand if you want to.

Check the “turn” card after the second round of betting.

During the second round, when the dealer ‘burns’ the top card he/she will have to place it face up next to the flop. Analyse all the cards on the table and in your hand to see if you want to bet, call or raise.

Look at the “river” card and decide on the hand you’ll play.

After ‘burning’ the top card, the dealer will have to put the last card face up next to the ‘turn’ card. This is the final card which is called the ‘river.’ Again, check your hand and community cards to decide on your best 5-card hand, then bet, call or fold.

Each player will reveal their cards in clockwise direction for the final showdown.

The remaining players will participate in the final ‘showdown.’ Starting from the left of the dealer, every one has to reveal their cards face up. Then, look at all the cards on the table and the one’s that have been turned over to determine who has the highest value hand to win the entire pot. Create any 5-card combination using the 7 cards.