Texas Hold’em

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Game Description

• The dealer button will identify one player at the table as the dealer.  This is a reference point for players to know each players position at the table. The dealer button moves clockwise as each round is played.


• Before the round begins certain designated players must place their bets before the cards come out.  These designated players must pay a “blind”, “ante” or “blind bet”, all these terms mean the same, before the cards are dealt.  The first player to the left of the dealer position is the “small blind” position.  The second player to the left of the dealer position is called the “big blind” position.  All these antes or blinds are put into the “pot”.  The “pot” is where all player funds are held and is what every player wants to win at the end of each round.  The “pot” includes the antes/blinds paid upfront along with any other bet placed by players.


• The “small blind” position requires the player to pay half the blind, ante or blind bet of the “big blind”.  Hence the “small” and “big” blind terms.  And as the dealer button moves clockwise so do these positions.  This way everyone at the table will get the opportunity to become the “dealer”, the “small” blind and the “big” blind.


• Once the blinds are paid then the hole cards will be dealt.  The “hole cards” are 2 (two) cards that are dealt face down to each player seated at the table.  These are the cards that the players use to make their poker hand. 


• Once this step is completed then the player to the left of the “big” blind begins the betting, in a clockwise motion, and continues to do so until the “big” blind position is reached.  The “big” blind will be the last to call any bet, check, fold or raise made by the other players. Each player will have the option to raise, re-raise, fold or bet during this period.  Once this step is done the “flop” will be dealt. 


• The “flop” is the first 3 (three) community cards that are dealt face up, a total of 5 (five) cards will be dealt in total for a complete round of poker.  The community cards are used by each player to make the best hand possible.  The “flop” is also called the “third street”.


• Once the flop comes out the first player to the left of the “big” blind position will have the first option to place a bet, check or fold his/her hand.  Then each player, in a clockwise motion, will have the option to do the same.  Once this is done the “turn” card is dealt.


• The “turn”, also called the “fourth street”, is a single card that is dealt face up. Now the players have 4 (four) community cards to try and make the best poker hand possible.  Betting starts again with the first player to the left of the “big” blind position and, in a clockwise motion, moves around the table.  Each player will have the option to call, raise or fold.  Once the “big” blind has made his/her final call at the table the final card, called the “river”, will be dealt.


• The “river”, also known as the fifth street, is the final card that is dealt face up.  Now the players have 5 (five) cards to choose from to make their best poker hand possible.  Betting will begin again with the first player to the left of the “big” blind and finish at the “big” position.  Players, in a clockwise motion, will all have the opportunity to make their final bets as this will be the end of the round and all players still in the hand must show their cards so a winner can be identified.


• The winning player must hold the best possible ranked poker hand to win the hand.  If 2 (two) or more players share the same ranked poker hand then the pot is split equally amongst those players.

Once the pot is distributed to the winner(s) then the dealer button moves one spot over to the left and a new round begins.

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Omaha

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Game Description

Simply called Omaha (also called Omaha HI), this game is the same as Texas Holdem but with one distinct difference.  The same rules apply as the above mentioned Texas Holdem rules with only one exception.

• In Omaha instead of being dealt 2 (two) hole cards face down, all players are dealt 4 (four) hole cards to work with to make the best ranked poker hand.  Players can only use 2 (two) of the hole cards and 3 (three) of the community cards to make the best ranked hand. All players MUST use 2 (two) of their hold cards to make a hand. 

 

Asides from the extra 2 (two) hole cards all antes, positions, etc. are applied to this type of poker game. So, remember that the only real difference is that you have now have 2 (two) extra hole cards to work with during your poker rounds instead of 2 (two).

OMAHA HI-LO (OMAHA 8)

Omaha HI-LO has the same rules as Omaha HI.  All the same rules are applied except for one new rule. 

• In Omaha 8 each player can make the best ranked poker hand possible OR the best lowest hand possible.  In this game both are winners.  In the event that a player shows a winning high hand and another player shows a winning low hand they split the pot.  This is the only time where a low hand can win or push with a high hand.  To win the full pot the player must hold the best high hand and low hand and/or there must be no low hand in play.


• Each player makes a separate five-card high hand and five-card, ace-to-five, low hand (eight-high or lower to qualify), and the pot is split between the high and low (which may be the same player, in some cases). To qualify for low hand, a player must be able to play an 8-7-6-5-4 or lower.  Each player can play any two of his four hole cards to make his high hand, and any two of his four hole cards to make his low hand. If there is no qualifying low hand, the high hand wins the whole pot.

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7 card stud

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Game Description

This game begins by each player being dealt two cards face down and one facing up. The player with the lowest-ranking card, visible to all players, pays the bring-in, and betting begins in a normal clockwise order. The bring-in is considered an open, so the next player to the left may not check. If two players have equally ranked low cards, the card suit may be used to break the tie and assign the bring-in. Suits are ranked as follows from lowest to highest: Diamonds, Clubs, Hearts and Spades (being the highest).  If there is no bring-in, then the first betting round begins with the player showing the highest-ranking card (visible to all players), who may check. In this case, suit should not be used to break ties. If two players have the same high card, the one closest to the dealer button, to the left of the dealer button, in a clockwise motion acts first.

After the first betting round, another card, dealt upwards,  is dealt to each player (after a burn card, and starting at the dealer's left as in all rounds), followed by a second betting round beginning with the player whose cards, that are visible, make the best poker hand. On this and all other betting rounds, the player whose face-up cards make the best poker hand will act first, and may check or bet up to the game's limit, depending on the table.

The second round is followed by a third card, facing up and visible again to all players, and bets begin again, then a fourth card, also visible to all, is dealt and betting begins. Then the final card is dealt but this time facing down, and the final bets are done. A showdown, if necessary, is done and a winner is determined. Seven-card stud can be summarized  as "two down, four up and one down". Upon showdown, each player makes the best five-card poker hand possible out of the seven cards.

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Razz

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Game Description

Razz is almost identical to 7 Card Stud, all the same rules apply except for one major game changing factor.  The differences here is that the lowest possible ranking hand will win the pot or round.  Therefore, making the lowest best 5 card hand will, out of the 7 (seven) cards dealt to the player, have the winning outcome. 

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SIT&GO

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Game Description

Sit&Go is a type of tournament that is quite popular.  There can be a Sit&Go for Texas Holdem or 7 Card Stud or Omaha, etc.  They are typically small tournaments with a set number of seats.  Once all the seats are taken the Sit&Go will begin.  Most Sit&Go’s are single table tournaments.  All the rules of game apply, just because you are at a Sit&Go does not mean that the type of poker you are playing changes.

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Head-up

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Game Description

This is a game played by only two players.  It is a different way of playing and is really fast paced.  Strategies here are different and are also a fun way to test yourself against someone you think may be more or less qualified to you as a player.  You can play One-on-One Texas Holdem, Omaha, 7 Card Stud, etc.  All the same rules apply but you are only 2 (two) at the table.

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Hand Ranking

 

Hand	Example
Royal Flush Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten from the same suit.
Straight Flush Five cards in consecutive order from the same suit.
Four Of A Kind Four cards from different suits of the same rank.
Full House Three of a kind and a pair.
Flush Five cards of same suit.
Straight Five cards in consecutive order, any combination of suits.
Three Of A Kind Three cards from different suits displaying the same number.
Two Pair Two groups of two cards showing the same number (or picture).
Pair One pair of identically ranked cards
Nothing/High Card When none of the above is present, the highest card of your hand is used. Ranked highest to lowest: A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. In case of a push, this can be used as “the kicker”