Poker Questions and Answers

Beginner's Poker Questions ...and the Poker Answers!

Thanks for sending in your poker questions. Here are the answers to a few of them.

Q: What are nut cards?

A: If you're dealt pocket aces or kings or if the flop produces a flush for you. These are fabulous hands. Nut cards means a great hand.

Q: Do people cheat at online poker? You see stories on the web.

A: It happens but it's easy for a sophisticated site to spot collusion between two players as most have the ability to review hands very easily if there is suspicious play. You're therefore generally safe with the large established sites.

When cheating is detected all winnings are withheld so there's not much incentive anymore.

Q: What's a draw hand?

A: It's the hand with the obvious potential to benefit from a lucky flop.

If you were dealt a six of spades, seven of clubs and flopped a nine of diamonds and a ten of hearts you'd be looking to draw an eight to land a straight run. That's a draw hand.

Q: What's the difference between multi-player poker and casino poker?

A: Casino poker relies heavily on video poker machines which are entertaining but lack the real time excitement and skill level that multi-player Texas hold 'em brings out in you. Video poker has more in common with dice and slot machines. Do you want to play machines or real people? Are you just playing chance or do you want the addition of strategies and experience to raise your odds of winning? It largely depends on your mood. A quick fix or a hobby to enjoy for a lifetime. Both have their place.

Classic Poker Confrontations

Larry Flynt, owner of the sleaze magazine HUSTLER, had always thought of himself as a great poker player and threw down a challenge to the legendary Amarillo Slim, famed for his love of pots he described as "higher than a dawg can jump over". Slim accepted the challenge and promptly skinned the skin-mag proprietor for a cool two million dollars in less time than it takes to say centre-fold (not yet a poker expression!). Asked afterwards if he had any sympathy for Flynt, Slim replied, "I like Larry but when it comes to poker I'd hide a rattlesnake in his pocket and ask him for a match!"

Compassion and poker are like oil and water . They don't go well together.