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The classic card game Poker can be played in Red Dead Redemption 2, but you need to understand the rules to win money from your best hands. Unsurprisingly, in a world full of cowboys and outlaws, Poker is still a great way to earn quick cash. With few differences from the same game in real life, this mini-game can take some time to learn due to its obtuse rules.
Some Gambler Challenges require Arthur to perform well in Poker, but the game mostly acts as a way to earn some money fast and as a distraction from the main story. Similar to Survivalist Challenges in Red Dead Redemption 2, learning several tricks can help you succeed more in the mini-game. Skilled card sharks will already have an advantage since the rules of Poker mostly remain the same.
RDR2: How To Beat Every Herbalist Challenge
Red Dead Redemption 2's Herbalist Challenges are ten tasks focused on harvesting and using plants. Complete each rank to earn equipment and rewards.
Learn The Game Rules And Sample Poker Hands
Know What Hands Are Best
The Poker mechanics of Red Dead Redemption 2 are incredibly detailed, much like the other elements of the game. Poker is faithful to the real-life game of Texas Hold 'Em, where you are dealt two cards while three cards are added to the center of the table. These central community cards can be combined with the ones you have throughout a round to try and form the strongest hand at the table.
As you can see in the above video by YouTube creator GeauxBurns, another community card is added to the center of the table after one round of betting. This fourth card is followed by a fifth after another round of bets, making the pot filled with cash depending on how confident players are in their hands. One more round occurs before everyone reveals their hands, with the best ones winning all the money that has been bet.
Here are some of the hands you can form with both your cards and the community cards, from strongest to weakest:
| Name |
Description |
|---|---|
| Royal Flush |
A 10, Jack, Queen, King, & Ace; all in the same suit. |
| Straight Flush |
Five cards in number order of the same suit. (ex. 4 of hearts, 5 of hearts, 6 of hearts, 7 of hearts, & 9 of hearts) |
| Four of a Kind |
Four of any matching number or face card. (ex. four 5's) |
| Full House |
One pair and three of a kind (ex. two 4s & three Jacks) |
| Flush |
Five cards in any order of the same suit. (ex. 2 of hearts, 9 of hearts, Jack of hearts, King of hearts, & Ace of hearts) |
| Straight |
Five cards in number order of any suit. (ex. 6 of clubs, 7 of hearts, 8 of clubs, 9 of spades, & 10 of diamonds) |
| Three-of-a-Kind |
Three of any matching number or face card. (ex. three 5's) |
| Two Pair |
Two separate pairs of matching cards (ex. two 10s & two Kings) |
| One Pair |
Any single pair of matching cards. (ex. two Queens) |
| High card |
If you have no other matching hands, the highest card wins. Ace is considered the best, then King, Queen, Jack, and so on down the line. If there is a tie for the highest card, the play moves to the next highest card in the players' hands. |
Know When To Bet
Understand How To Play Between Every Round
Knowing when to bet is one of the most important aspects of Poker, much like understanding when or not to invade a Gang Hideout in Red Dead Redemption 2. It is best to keep bids low when you are playing with a bad hand, such as when you only have a High Card or One Pair with community cards. The game does tell you what your current hand contains, so use this information to make wise decisions.
Keeping track of cards can be the key to success in a game of Poker. For example, if someone else at the table is raising the pot significantly, there's a chance they are either bluffing or they have a powerful hand that is likely to win. Sometimes, the best choice is to cut your losses, bow out, and wait for the cards in the next round to bring you better luck with a somewhat better hand.
It is a better idea to fold when there is only one community card left rather than to rely on your hand getting better with the reveal of one final card on the table.
When you have a good hand, it may set up an opportunity to bet aggressively to force other players to fold during a game. Even if you are bluffing about how strong your hand is, forcing others to bow out reduces the competition you have to worry about to win the pot. Try to make large bets when you have a particularly rare hand, such as a Four of a Kind or Straight Flush that few others can beat.
Unlike the original Red Dead Redemption, you cannot cheat at Poker under any circumstances. In the previous title, you could wear the Elegant Suit to cheat at Poker, but not even the best Outfits in Red Dead Redemption 2 can accomplish this. The most illegal thing Arthur can do is get up from the table and shoot his opponents, but all this will do is get you a bounty and cause others to become hostile to you.
What RDR2's Max Bounty Is (& How To Get It)
Players will need plenty of ammo, explosives, and tonics along with sharp aim, patience, and strategy to shoot their way to a maximum bounty in RDR2.
Where And When To Play Poker
Search For The Best Tables
You can play Poker in several areas of the game, including tables in major towns like Valentine, Tumbleweed, Saint-Denis, Blackwater, and Flatneck Station. While Arthur can play in most of these spots, the events of the story prevent you from playing in Blackwater while you have a bounty there. However, you can return to Blackwater as John in the epilogue of Red Dead Redemption 2 to play some Poker.
The Van Der Linde campsite will have Poker games held from time to time, but you have to pay an initial betting fee to participate in any table. The Valentine, Tumbleweed, and Flatneck Station games cost $2.50 to , while the games in Saint-Denis and Blackwater cost $5.00.
There are also some restrictions on when the player can play poker. If the location of the game is closed, then it will be unavailable. A good rule of thumb is that during late night and early morning, poker games will not be available, like the game's businesses.
Finding a table to play some Poker at can be a relaxing break from the combat or exploration you typically engage with during your adventure. Those looking to become the ultimate cowboy will eventually find their way to a Poker table in Red Dead Redemption 2, but whether you can win comes down to how well you play your hand in the classic card game.
Source: GeauxBurns/YouTube
