Know your hand.
A clear starting point for poker fundamentals, stakes and the questions to ask before you play.
First, know which game you’re playing
Player-versus-player poker pits your hand against other players. Video poker is a machine game with a paytable. Casino table poker variants can use different rules again. This guide does not confirm a live poker room, cash tables or tournaments at SilverSands.
Hand rankings, strongest first
- Royal flush — ace, king, queen, jack and ten of one suit.
- Straight flush — five consecutive cards of one suit.
- Four of a kind — four cards of one rank.
- Full house — three of a kind plus a pair.
- Flush — five cards of one suit.
- Straight — five consecutive ranks.
- Three of a kind — three cards of one rank.
- Two pair — two different pairs.
- One pair — two cards of one rank.
- High card — none of the combinations above.
These rankings apply to standard high-hand poker. Aces may be low in an A–2–3–4–5 straight. Always read the specific game’s rules.
The stakes ladder
Learn
Understand the rules and, where available, practise without money.
Budget
Keep essential expenses separate. Decide a loss limit before playing.
Stop
End at your time or money limit. Never raise stakes to recover losses.
Check before joining a game
- Is it video poker, a house-banked game or player-versus-player poker?
- What are the minimum bet, maximum bet and game rules?
- Does a bonus exclude this game or change its wagering contribution?
- What account verification and withdrawal conditions apply?
Read the promotion terms and set your limits before continuing.