Online Poker Limit Games - Rules
Posted on February 23, 2008
Filed Under Online Poker | 9 Comments
In Limit games, both the bet and raise amounts for each round are a preset amount, which is listed under the “stakes” column for that table. For example, in a $5/$10 Limit Texas Hold’em game, both the bets and raises for the first two rounds of betting must be $5, no more, no less. The last two rounds have a bet/raise amount of $10.In Limit games, each round of betting has a maximum number (three) of allowable raises, known as the cap. So, if a bet is made, that bet can only be raised three times, after which all players must call, or fold. However, if only two players remain in the hand the cap is increased, to a maximum of 5 raises. This rule is in effect for all the betting rounds, with the idea being to speed up play.
Fixed Limit games are popular because they’re safe. While pots can still climb quickly, on average limit pots stay pretty consistent in size, and stay the smallest for the three game types. In other words, it’s a lot harder to lose all your chips right away. This makes a Fixed Limit game more attractive to beginners, who are still learning the game play.
Pot Limit Games: Pot Limit games differ from the Limit games by the betting and raising amounts allowed: The minimum raise amount is the previous bet or raise in the same hand. For example, if the first player bet $10, the second player can raise a minimum of $10. The maximum raise amount is the total betting pot + total bets of other players in the betting round + the call amount of the player. For example, if the pot is $50, the first player bets $10 and the second player calls $10, the third player can raise up to $80 ($50 in the main pot + $20 from past bets in the round + $10 of the player’s own call).
No Limit Games: No Limit games differ from the Limit games in the fact that there is no maximum to each raise (apart from the player’s table balance).
Online Poker Seven Card Stud Rules
Posted on February 23, 2008
Filed Under Online Poker | 50 Comments
Seven Card Stud is a classic poker game that’s been around at least since the American Civil War. It’s enjoying a comeback in online poker rooms, though it’s not as popular as flop games such as Holdem and Omaha. Succeeding in Seven Stud requires a whole lot of memorizing, so playing it online can be an advantage – players can use designated software or a simple spreadsheet to remember which cards were folded. This article is focused on the basic rules, and future articles will discuss online tips for Seven Card Stud.
Stud games are different from flop games such as Texas Holdem and Omaha, since there are no community cards. Instead, each player is dealt a set of individual cards. Hand rankings are the same, and the best five card combination makes up the hand.
This is how the game is played:
The ante
All players post a mandatory sum of chips, called the ante. Similar to the blinds in Texas Holdem, the ante is there to make sure that each and every hand has some chips in play. The size of the ante may vary, but it’s usually a fraction of the small bet. For example, if you’re playing a $1/$2 game, the ante will usually be 25c. Since Seven Card Stud is typically played online at tables of eight, the total will come out to $2.
First betting round
After the ante is in place, each player is dealt three cards – two face down, one face up. The exposed card is called the door card or third street. The player with the lowest up card may not fold, but is forced to make a bet instead. This is called the bring-in bet. The amount is more than the ante, but less than a small bet. For example, in a $1/$2 game the bring-in may be 50c. The player may also choose to ‘bring it in’ for a full bet. Going round the table clockwise, the following players may fold, call, raise to a full (small) bet, or re-raise the bet. Usually the limit for re-raising is three or four times each round, but there is no re-raising limit if there are only two players in the hand.
After each player has either folded or called all bets, the first betting round is over.
Second round - forth street
The dealer now deals the remaining players a fourth card, face-up. This card is called fourth street. From this round on, the player with the best showing hand acts first. Again, in case of a tie, suit rank is used to determine the best pair of cards. Bets and raises are still for the small amount ($1 increments in a $1/$2 game). There is, however, an exception: If a player is showing a pair on fourth street, he can make a double bet. In some rooms, only the player holding the pair may choose to double the bet. Some rooms allow any player to make a double bet, as long as someone is showing a pair on the table. For example, if a pair shows on fourth street in a $1/$2 game, players may continue to bet in $1 increments, or someone may choose to start betting in $2 increments. Beware - once a double bet is made, all subsequent bets must be large.
Third round – fifth street
The dealer now deals the fifth card, face up. Now each remaining player is showing three cards and hiding two. From fifth street on, all bets are large, and the first player to act is the one showing the highest hand.
Sixth street
Players are dealt their sixth card, face up. This brings the card count to four cards showing, two cards hidden. Betting arrangements for this round are the same as fifth street – large bets, highest hand acts first.
Seventh street – the river
The seventh and final card is dealt face down, so each player now has four up-cards and three down-cards. The player to act first is the same that acted first in sixth street (which is still the player with the best four-card hand showing). This is the final betting round.
The Showdown
It’s now time for all remaining players to reveal their cards. The showdown is the same as in any other game - the last player to initiate action must reveal his cards first. Other players may choose to show or muck (hide) their hands. The player with the highest five-card hand takes the pot.
Another popular variation to this game is Seven Stud/High-Lo, where the player with the lowest hand also wins a share of the pot. Read more about High-Lo games here.
Online Poker Omaha Rules
Posted on February 23, 2008
Filed Under Online Poker | 47 Comments
his variation of poker follows the same rules as Texas Hold’em poker, but with two significant exceptions:
- Players are dealt four “pocket” cards instead of two.
- Players must use two “pocket” cards and three “community” cards to make their best high hand.
The principle is the same, but the two differences in the rules demand a very different strategy and tactics for playing Omaha Poker.
Hi/Low Variety
Omaha Hi/Low follows the same rules as regular Omaha, but there is an additional way to win a share of the pot. The Hi’ winner is the player with the best poker hand, as in Omaha High Only.
However, in addition to a Hi winner, there can be aLow’ winner as well. The Low hand is a hand with 5 different cards below a 9. You must use two pocket cards and three community cards to make a low hand. For example, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 of any suit would be a Low hand. The lowest Low hand is the Low winner. In case of a Low winner, the pot is split 50/50 between the Low and High winner. In case of multiple Low hands, the Low winner is determined by comparing the highest of the low cards, then the second highest, etc. If the two or more Low hands are equal, the Low pot is split between them. Because there must be at least three different low cards (under 9) on the board at the end to enable a qualifying low hand there may not be a Low winner every hand. Also, a player may use different pocket cards for Hi and for Low, from the four cards dealt to him along with any three community cards, where again different cards may be used for the high hand to the low hand. In Hi Low Omaha the lowest possible hand is 5,4,3,2,A of any suits (flushes and straights do not count against you for the low hand). Ace counts as high and low and therefore the same ace can be used to make a high hand and a low hand.
Online Poker Texas Hold’em Rules
Posted on February 23, 2008
Filed Under Online Poker | 39 Comments
Texas Hold’em is the most popular variation of Poker today. Up to ten players play at a time. Each player gets two down cards followed by five community cards which are dealt face-up in the center of the table. This is how the game round goes:Blinds: First, the two players directly to the left of the dealer must post “blinds”, that is to place a bet before getting cards. This is to ensure that every winning hand wins some money. Since the dealer button moves on every game round, everyone has to post blinds at some point in the game. The player to the immediate left of the dealer button posts the “small blind,” equal to half of the minimum stake (e.g. $2.5 for a $5/$10 game). The player to the left of the small blind posts the “big blind,” equal to the amount of the minimum stake (e.g. $5 for a $5/$10 game).
Pocket Cards: After the blinds, first cards are dealt. Every player gets two cards face down. These are called pocket cards.
Bet Round I: Betting begins with the player immediately to the left of the big blind and continuing in a clockwise direction around the table. Every player can fold, call or raise. Raising is possible by the lower table stake ($5 in a $5/$10 game) only. Betting is explained in more detail below.
Flop Cards: Now three cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table. These cards are called the flop cards. These are “community” cards and can be used by all the players to make up their hand.
Bet Round II: Second round of betting follows. This is carried out exactly as the first betting round.
The “Turn”: After the second round of betting, a fourth “community” card is dealt face up in the middle of the table. This is called the “Turn card”. It is followed by a third round of betting.
Bet Round III: This round, again, is carried out just like the first and the second, with one exception: raising is possible only by the higher table stake ($10 in a $5/$10 game).
The “River”: Finally, a fifth and final “community” card is dealt. It is called the “River card” and is followed by a fourth and final round of betting.
Bet Round IV: This final betting round is carried out exactly as the third.
“Showdown”: After the final betting round, the best five-card hand is determined. Both the pocket cards and the community cards can be used to make up a hand. The player with the best five-card poker hand wins the pot. Players can also split the pot if they have the same hand. In the rare case of the best hand consisting of community cards only, the pot is divided between all the players left in the pot at the showdown. If you see that you are losing, and do not want to show your cards, you can Muck, that is to give up your hand and lose the pot. Otherwise you can Show to compare your hand with others.
Beginning Again: After a hand is completed and the pot taken by the winner, the dealer button is moved one player to the left, and the next hand begins.
Betting System: The player left of the big blind starts the betting round, betting order goes around the table clockwise. Everyone is betting according to what they think their hand will lead to.
Fold: If you don’t like your cards, you can fold. If you have posted a blind, made a bet or raised a bet, you will lose that money. But you will not lose any more. After folding, you are out of the game until the next game round.
Check/Call: You can stay in the game by checking or calling. If no bet has been made before you, you can check without placing any money in the pot. If a bet has been made, you can call by placing the same amount in the pot.
Bet/Raise/Re-raise: If you think you hand is good enough, you can make a bet. If another player has already made a bet, you can raise it; amounts are fixed by the table stakes. For example, in a $5/$10 table, bets are $5 in the first two rounds and $10 in the last two. There can be one bet and three raises in each round (bet, raise, re-raise, re-raise). After three raises the betting round is capped and the next card is dealt (or, if it is the final betting round, the best hand is determined).
“All-In”: When a player runs out of chips during the course of a hand, he/she does not have to fold. Instead the player can choose to be All-in. When you are all-in, you call all your chips and the pot is divided into the main pot and side pot. All subsequent chips are hereafter added to the side pot. At the showdown if the “All-in” player does not have a winning hand, both the side pot and the main pot go to the winning hand, as usual. At the showdown if the “All-in” player has a winning hand, the main pot goes to the “All-in” player, and the side pot goes to the next best hand. When several players go All-in, multiple side pots are created. The pots are divided according to hand and order in which the players went All-in. If a player not all in at the showdown has the winning hand he wins all side pots and the main pot. If an all in player has the strongest hand he/she wins the pot or pots that were collected until he/she went All-in. Any all in player with a winning hand can only win the pot or pots they are involved in.
Online Poker Introduction to Texas Hold’em Rules
Posted on February 23, 2008
Filed Under Online Poker | 55 Comments
For the past few decades, Texas Holdem has been the most popular form of poker in both online and brick-and-mortar rooms. Televised broadcasts of the game have made their way to prime-time TV. The online poker boom revolves mainly around Holdem tables and tournaments. It seems that Holdem has got everyone’s attention in a big way. Before we get down to the specific rules and strategies, we can better understand Texas Holdem by asking ourselves what all the hype is about. Simply put, what makes Texas Holdem so great? There are many answers to the above questions, but we at gamblingplanet.org will try to cover the important ones:
Easy to learn
The basic rules of Texas Holdem are very simple. It’s perhaps the easiest poker game to learn, and that appeals to newcomers.
Hard to Master
Though the rules can be explained in five minutes, the game only begins there. Truly understanding and mastering Texas Holdem can take a lifetime. In fact, many have dedicated their lives to mastering this game. Endless tactics and crazy mind-twisting schemes can be found in every poker variety, but it’s the seeming simplicity of Holdem that puts more weight on the strategy.
Fast Pace
As will be further discussed in the basic rules article, in Texas Holdem there are only two down cards and five community cards. This makes holdem the fastest moving poker game. When more players get to play more hands, everyone is happy. Plus, a fast paced game makes for better TV.
Better players can expect to win more
Better players stand a better chance. This is true of any poker variety. Holdem, however, gives better players more of an edge. Holdem offers more opportunities for expert players to get more money out of unsuspecting opponents. Weaker players can go wrong from the very beginning of a hand, and stronger players can make them risk more money.
Lady Luck’s paradox
Since any two cards can win, sometimes even late into the game, weaker players will often chase a hand longer than they should. Sometimes they will get lucky and come away with the pot. Over time, however, this strategy will loose more often than not, which is why more experienced players have an edge. Basically, the same thing that draws beginners to the game is the reason that experts hang around.
The Drama Queen of Poker
In Texas Holdem there are five community cards, and any number of them can be used by any player to make up his or her hand. This is more than any other poker variety. With so many cards out in the open, the game has a real communal feel. On a psychological level, Holdem is more of a group activity than any other poker variety. Such an “open environment” makes more room for bluffing and representing - online and offline. Also, it makes great TV.
Texas Holdem is a truly unique phenomenon. Many books and countless articles have been dedicated to all aspects of this poker variant - from strategy and tactics to brain studies, psychological theories, and even artificial intelligence experiments. Any one of these studies will have a different answer as to why Holdem is awesome. But they will all agree on one thing - if you’ve never experienced Texas Holdem, you’re missing out on something big.