Getting Started
Poker Fundamentals
Poker rewards strategy, patience, and reading people. Before you sit down at your first table, here are the core concepts you need to know.
The Objective
Win chips by either holding the best five-card hand at showdown, or by convincing all other players to fold before showdown. You do not need the best hand to win — bluffing is a legitimate and essential part of the game.
The Deck
Poker is played with a standard 52-card deck. Cards are ranked from highest to lowest: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. Aces can also play low (as a 1) in certain straights.
The Dealer Button
A round disc called the 'button' marks the dealer position. It rotates clockwise after every hand. The two players to the left post the small blind and big blind — forced bets that create action before any cards are dealt.
The Pot
All bets and blinds go into a central pot. At the end of the hand, the pot is awarded to the player with the best hand at showdown, or to the last player remaining if everyone else folds.
!Blinds & Antes Explained
In most poker variants, the two players immediately to the left of the dealer button post forced bets before any cards are dealt. The player directly left posts the small blind, and the next player posts the big blind — typically double the small blind. Some games also use an ante — a small forced bet paid by all players before each hand.
₦5K/₦10K Game
SB: ₦5,000
BB: ₦10,000
₦10K/₦25K Game
SB: ₦10,000
BB: ₦25,000
Tournament Ante
SB: All players
BB: Small forced bet
This guide was developed in partnership with
World Poker Federation
The WPF is the global governing body for poker as a mind sport, uniting national federations and players worldwide. Lucky Barrel is a proud member of the WPF ecosystem in Nigeria.
Ready to Play?
Cash games run nightly at Lucky Barrel. Come in, take a seat, and put your new knowledge to the test.