There are two face down cards for each player and five face up community cards. The player who makes the best five card poker hand with any combination of their two face down cards and the five community cards wins the hand. There are no antes in Texas Holdem; instead, forced wagers called blinds are used. Before the cards are dealt, the person to the left of the dealer posts a wager called the small blind, which is usually equal to half of the minimum wager. The person to the left of the small blind posts the big blind, which is equal to the minimum wager. The dealer deals two clockwise rounds giving each player a single card down during each round (known as hole cards). (Notice that the big blind and the small blind do not get to look at their cards before wagering, thus the term “blind”). Wagering begins with the first player to the left of the big blind. Each player may call (equal the wager that has been placed), Raise (increase the original wager) or Fold (remove themselves from the hand). If any one raises, each person thereafter, will have the same opportunity to Fold, Call, or Raise.
After the first round of wagering is over, the Flop (the first three cards of the community) is dealt. The community cards are common to all the players participating in the hand. These cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table. Wagering will begin with the first player to the dealers left. The player now has the option to Check (no Bet). By checking, the player indicates interest in the pot without placing a Bet. If any player Bets, each player clockwise may either Fold, Call, or Raise. If anyone Raises a Bet, each person thereafter will have the same opportunity to Fold, Call, or Raise.
After wagering is complete, the fourth community card is dealt face up to the center of the table, this is known as the Turn. The third wagering round begins and proceeds as per the second round. In limit games, the minimum bet doubles in the last two rounds of wagering. After wagering is complete, the fifth community card is dealt face up to the center of the table, this is known as the River. The fourth wagering round is as per the second and third rounds. After the final round of wagering, its time for the Showdown. This refers to the action of deciding the winner. Five cards of the total of the hole and community cards are to be used for deciding the winning hand. If any time during play no one calls a Bet, the Bettor wins and does not have to show his hand.
There are three kinds of Holdem games. In Limit Holdem games, Bets and Raises are set at a fixed amount. Each round of betting is capped at a maximum number of raises. In No Limit Holdem, the maximum Bet is determined by the number of chips you have in front of you. Players can Bet and Raise by any amount, and at any time, a player can go “all-in” by pushing all their poker chips towards the center of the table. Remaining players may Fold, Call, or Raise this Bet. To Raise an "all-in" bet you must have more chips than the "all-in" and there must also be other players with more chips. Pot Limit Holdem is similar to No Limit, except that the maximum Bet is determined by the number of chips currently in the pot.
Omaha is a form of Hold 'Em that brings a few variables to the table. First you'll receive four cards face down prior to the flop and you must use two cards from your hand combined with three cards from the board to form your best five-card poker hand. Throw in the 8 or better hi/lo variable and you've got a challenge for poker players at all levels.
Omaha is a nine-card poker game that uses a dealer button and blinds as in Texas Hold 'Em. The play begins with four cards dealt face down to each player. Action starts with the first player to the left of the blinds beginning the betting. Players may bet, check, raise, or fold in turn.
Community cards are then dealt face up in the center of the table in the same manner as in Texas Hold 'Em with betting after each round.
After the final betting round, the players remaining in the hand will then show all their cards. To qualify for a winning low hand, a player must have five cards of 8 or lower with no pair using two from their hand and three from the board. Straights or flushes may be used for the low hand if all the cards are 8 or below.
If there is a qualifying low hand, it splits the pot with the winning high hand. Other wise, the high hand takes the entire pot.
Remember, you must use two cards from your hand and three from the board to make the best five-card poker hand.
Seven-Card Stud is easy for beginners to learn, yet challenging enough to hold the interest of seasoned players. In Seven-Card Stud, each player receives two cards face down and one card face up. The player with the low card opens the betting. Each player in turn must call, raise, or fold. On all subsequent rounds, the player with the best hand open the betting.
Each player is then dealt 3 cards face up with a betting round following each card.
The last card dealt to each remaining player is face down with the final betting round following.
Players remaining in the hand will then show their hands and the winning poker hand will be awarded the pot. Suits are not used in determining the winning hand, and tied hands will split the pot.
High/Low Split differs from the high-only game in that the player with the highest card must open the betting.
At the showdown, if a qualifying low hand (five cards of 8 or below with no pair) exists, it will be awarded one half the pot and the best poker hand is awarded the other half.
In the absence of a qualifying low hand, the best poker hand wins the entire pot. A straight or a flush, 8-high or lower, may be both the highest and lowest hand, in which case it wins the whole pot.
All players place a small wager known as an 'ante'. The dealer then deals each player two cards, one dealt face down, known as the 'hole' card and the other face up.
The player with the lowest ranking up-card must place the opening bet.
Each player to the left of the player making the opening bet must in turn either call the opening bet, raise it or fold.
When this round is complete each player is then dealt another card face up followed by a round of betting. This continues until all players have fice cards, one face down and four face up or until only one player remains.
From the third card onwards, the betting is started by the highest poker hand showing.
All players have five cards in their hand, one down and four up.
If there is a showdown, players show all five cards. The winning hand is the highest ranking five card poker hand.
To begin, two players at the table make a small bet, or blind wager, before receiving any cards. Each player seated in the game takes a turn at placing such a wager.
Players first receive five cards dealt face down. Players pick up the cards and look at them and then decide if they wish to stay in the game. If so, a bet must now be placed.
Once all bets are called the first round of betting is complete.
Players may now choose to exchange with the dealer any number of cards from their hand. This is known as 'the draw'.
Once the draw is complete a second round of betting takes place.
If all bets are called there is a showdown.
The winner is the player with the highest ranking hand.
If only one player remains (ie. no showdown) they will win the pot without having to expose their cards.
|
.jpg "Poker Rules")
