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Texas Hold'em rules

Betting in Texas Holdem Poker differs from most traditional gambling games. Holdem Poker features several rounds of betting where players compete for the pot. The betting may vary based on the round or the type of game you play.

In most games, to start the betting you must 'ante' something (amount varies by game limit or game type) in order to receive your first cards. In Texas Holdem, chosen players are required to place bets before they see their cards. These are called blinds. After the Blinds are placed, players match their contribution per round of play and collective bets are placed into the pot in the middle of the table. At the end of the hand, the highest hand (that hasn't folded) wins the pot.

Here is the typical betting sequence for Texas Holdem Poker:

• • Each player is dealt two cards face-down (pocket cards) Card 1 and 2
• • First betting round (lower limit)
• • Dealer turns over three community board cards (the flop) face-up Card 3, 4 and 5
• • Second betting round (lower limit)
• • Dealer turns over 1 more community board card (the turn) Card 6
• • Third betting round (higher limit)
• • Dealer turns over 1 final community board card (the river) Card 7
• • Final betting round (higher limit) 9. Showdown

At the showdown for Texas Holdem Poker, rules require that players may use either:

• • Both pocket cards & three board cards
• • One pocket card & four board cards
• • All five board cards (playing the board)

Texas Holdem betting structure rules

In Holdem there are four possible betting rounds. Each bet and raise during the first two rounds is set at the lower limit of the stakes structure. For example, in a $2/$4 Fixed Limit game, all bets and raises are $2 for the first two rounds (after pocket cards are dealt and after the flop). Betting and raising during the last two rounds is set at the higher limit of the stakes structure. In this example, all bets and raises will be $4.

The maximum allowable number of bets during any betting round in Texas Holdem Poker is four. This includes a (1) bet, (2) raise, (3) re-raise, and (4) cap. The term cap is used to describe the third raise in a round since betting is then capped and can't be raised further. Once capped, players will have only the option of calling or folding.

There are other games where a cap on the number of raises does not apply; they are One on One, No Limit and Pot Limit games.

Button and blinds for Texas Holdem

At the table, a graphic called the Dealer Button, a small round disk with the letter 'D' marked on it, is used to signify the dealer of the hand. The hand is dealt clockwise one card at a time.

Betting Order

The Texas Holdem cards are dealt in a specific order starting clockwise from the button and betting also takes place in a specific order as outlined below.

Betting

The player seated to the left (clockwise) of the dealer is the first to receive a card and is required to post a small blind. The small blind is equal to half the lower limit bet rounded down to the nearest dollar. The player in the next clockwise position is required to post the big blind. The big blind is equal to the lower limit bet of the table. In Texas Holdem, the player with a small blind is the first to receive a card.

The blinds are considered live bets. A live bet means that the player has the option of checking, calling, raising or folding on his/her turn. During the remainder of the game, the player left of the dealer (the player with the button) is the first to act.

Missed Blinds

To prevent 'blinds' abuse, players are required to post the small blind and the big blind once per round or their equivalent upon reentry to the game if the blinds are missed. You can also wait for the big blind to get to your position or to continue 'sitting out' until you are ready to resume the game. If you choose to wait for a big blind, this is called coming in on the blind.

Both blinds in Texas Holdem games are considered live bets and therefore, according to poker rules, players have the option of checking, calling, raising or folding when the betting action returns to their position. After the flop and each subsequent betting round, the first active Holdem player left of the button is first to act.

First Round

After the players in the blind positions put their blinds in front of them, the dealer deals two cards (pocket or hole cards) to each player (one at the time), at which time each player can see his own cards but not those of his opponents. On the first round only, the betting starts with the player to the left of the big blind, who has one of three choices, call, raise, or fold. On the first round only, a player cannot check (make no bet) and still retain his hand. On the first round only, the player in the small blind position acts after the button. The player in the big blind position acts after the small blind.

Bet/Raise/Call/Check/Fold

Once a betting round has started, you must select one of these options when it is your turn.

Big Blind Option

The player who has the big blind is given the option to fold, check or raise if no one has raised before him/her. If someone has raised he/she will be given the option to fold, call or raise.

Succeeding Rounds

In all rounds except the first, the betting starts with the first active player to the left of the button, who has one of three choices, check, bet, or fold. Until there is a bet, each succeeding active player has the same choices. Once a bet is made, each succeeding player then has one of three choices, call, raise, or fold.

Showdown

When all the betting is done, and if more than one player is still in for the pot, then the showdown determines who wins. The last player to open or raise is required to show his/her cards first, and anyone else can fold (muck his cards) if he/she determines he/she has lost. Players who elect to fold do not have to show their cards.

Rake

Like all casino games, casino poker has an organized betting structure. For example, if you're playing at a $2/$4 fixed limit table, you can only bet at increments of $2 until fourth board card is dealt. There are also tables that don't use fixed limits.

Unlike other casino games, poker is a game among players, and not a game against the house. Therefore the poker room makes money by collecting a rake. The rake is a predetermined amount that is removed from the pot. The rake amount varies depending on the number of people seated, the limits of the table, and the amount of the pot.

The Game Round

Up to 10 players (plus a virtual dealer) are sitting at a table. If you have selected Side View, you will see avatars representing the players. In front of one of the players is a button with a 'D' on it. This is called the dealer button. The dealer button moves one position to the left before each game round. This button originates from when players in the group took turns to deal the cards. In our poker room,there is a virtual dealer (shown in side view) who does the actual dealing (sitting in the middle of the left side of the table, behind the big box of chips). The virtual dealer does not participate in the game in any way other than dealing cards. Examples shown are for limit poker:

Blinds

First, the two players directly to the left of the dealer button (not the virtual 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.

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.

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.

Second round of betting follows. This is carried out exactly as the first betting round.

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.

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).

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.

This final betting round is carried out exactly as the third.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

A Betting round continues until all players have folded or called the third raise, or until a bet has been called by all players (except the one who placed the bet) with no raise taking place.

Seven Card Stud rules

There are five betting rounds in Seven Card Stud, which makes it different from the popular online poker Holdem games. Seven Card Stud games are played with a maximum of eight players per play, unlike Holdem games like Texas Holdem where the max is 10. Instead of four betting rounds, there are five in Seven Card Stud, not including the ante. Each player, starting from seat 1 (the seat to the left of the dealer), is dealt two cards face down, then four cards face up, and the final (river) card is dealt face down.

Betting

The betting structure in Seven Card Stud poker differs from Texas Holdem and Omaha games with the Seven Card Stud betting sequence as follows:

• • All players ante (except in certain low limits games that have no ante)
• • Each player is dealt two cards face-down (pocket cards) and one card face-up (door card) Card 1, 2 and 3
• • First betting round (lower limit)
• • Each player is dealt one card face-up ( 4th street ) Card 4
• • Second betting round (lower limit)
• • Each player is dealt another card face-up ( 5th street ) Card 5
• • Third betting round (higher limit)
• • Each player is dealt another card face-up ( 6th street ) Card 6
• • Fourth betting round (higher limit)
• • Each player is dealt a last card face-down (river) Card 7
• • Final betting round (higher limit)
• • Showdown

In the showdown of a Seven Card Stud poker game, players use any 5 of their 7 cards to make the best possible poker hand. On rare occasions, there may not be enough cards left in the deck to give each player their own river card. In this event, the dealer will turn one board card face-up and it will be used as a community card.

As mentioned, there are five possible betting rounds in Seven Card Stud, not counting the ante. Each bet and raise during the first two rounds is set at the lower limit of the stakes structure. For example, in a $2/$4 Fixed Limit Seven Card Stud game, all bets and raises are $2 for the first two rounds (after two hole cards and door card are dealt).

Betting and raising during the last three rounds is set at the higher limit of the stakes structure. In this example all bets and raises will be $4.

The maximum allowable number of bets during any betting round in Seven Card Stud poker is four. This includes a (1) bet, (2) raise, (3) re-raise, and (4) cap. The term cap is used to describe the 3rd raise in a round since betting is then capped and can't be raised further. Once capped, players will only have the option of calling or folding. There are other games where a cap on the number of raises does not apply. These are No Limit and Pot Limit games. One on One games have a cap after 6 betting rounds.

Dealer Button

At the table, a graphic called the Dealer Button (a small round disk with the letter 'D' marked on it), is used to signify the dealer of the hand. The hand is dealt clockwise one card at a time.

Betting Rounds

When a new hand of Seven Card Stud commences, each player must put their ante in front of them before he she receives his/her first three cards. Once all participating players have placed their ante, the dealer then deals two cards face down (pocket cards) and one card face up (door card) to each player (one card at a time). The amount of the ante is based on the table limits. For example, a Seven Card Stud poker game with a $1 - $2 limit may have a $0.25 ante and a $3 - $6 game may have a $0.50 ante.

The player with the lowest exposed (door) card (using suits in reverse bridge order-clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades-if there is a tie) is required to initiate action by betting a minimum of half the lower limit. This starting bet is called the bring-in. When the bring-in falls to you, you always have the option of betting either half the lower limit or the lower limit for the table designated. For example, in a $2 - $4 Seven Card Stud poker game, the player with the lowest door card must make a forced bet of either $1 or $2.

After the initial round of betting, which is initiated by the lowest card on the table and the 'bring in' prompt, all subsequent rounds of Seven Card Stud start with the player with the high hand on the board initiating the betting action. In cases of a tie, the player to the left of the dealer initiates the betting action.

After each player has two up-cards, one player has an ace showing, no other player has an ace and no player has a pair, the player with the ace has first action (i.e. initiates the betting).

After each player has two up-cards, two players have an ace-king pair and no other player has a pair: the player with the ace-king sitting closest to the left of the dealer initiates the betting. Suits have no bearing here.

After each player has two up-cards, two players each have king-king and no player has ace-ace: the player with the pair of kings sitting closest to the left of the dealer initiates the betting.

On the subsequent (second) round, low limit applies with the following exception:

If any player has an open (exposed) pair after the first two up-cards have been dealt, all players have the option to bet either the lower limit or the higher limit. If a player bets the higher limit, then all subsequent raises must be made at the higher limit. For example, in a $2 - $4 Seven Card Stud game, after each player has received the second up-card, one player has a pair of kings on board. Since this is the second round of betting, if no pair was showing, the betting would have to be at the $2 level. Since a pair is showing, however, the player with that pair can bet $2, or, if he wishes, $4. If he bets $2, any other player can raise either $2 or $4. If he bets $4, or if anyone raises $4, any subsequent raise must be $4.

Each bet and raise during the last three rounds of betting is set at the higher limit of the stakes structure. For example, in an $2 - $4 Seven Card Stud poker game, all bets and raises are $4 for the last three rounds ( fifth street , sixth street , and the river).

Note: In the event that there are not enough cards after the fourth betting round for the showdown, instead of dealing the river card to each player, the dealer will turn one board card and that will be used as a community card.

Bet/Raise/Call/Check/Fold

Once a betting round has started, you must select one of these options when it is your turn.

Showdown

When all the betting is done, and if more than one player is still in for the pot, then the showdown determines who wins. The last player to open or raise is required to show his/her cards first, and anyone else can fold (muck his cards) if he/she determines he/she has lost. Players who elect to fold do not have to show their cards.

Rake

Unlike other casino games, Seven Card Stud poker is a game among players, and not a game against the house. Therefore the poker room makes money by collecting a rake. The rake is a predetermined amount that is removed from the pot. The rake amount varies depending on the number of people seated, the limits of the table, and the amount of the pot. The maximum house rake on the pot is $3.

Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo

This is the same game as the regular Seven Card Stud game with an exception: the pot is split 50-50 between the best High Hand and the best qualifying Low Hand. To be eligible to win the Low, the highest card must be an eight or less. The winning Low Hand is determined firstly by the player with the lowest High card. Upon a tie with the High card, the hand goes to the player with the next lowest High card. Any hand that has a high card of 9 or higher cannot qualify as a Low Hand. If there is no qualifying Low Hand then the High Hand wins 100% of the pot.