Poker Types - Texas holdem

1. A small dealer button identifies one player as the dealer. The dealer button moves clockwise to the next player after every completed hand.
2. Before any cards are dealt to the players, any enforced bets must be put into the pot. These enforced bets are usually in the forms of blind bets and antes.
   1. The first player to the dealers left must post the first blind bet, called the small blind.
   2. The second player to the dealers left must post the second blind bet, called the big blind.
   3. The small blind is usually smaller then the big blind- hence the terms ‘small’ and ‘big’ as identifiers. In most games, the small blind will be half of the big blind.
3. Each player is dealt two cards face down, called hole cards. A players hole cards may be used only by him, and are visible to nobody.
4. After the deal, the player to the left of the big blind must open the betting action by either calling the big blind, raising, or folding. All players participate in the first round of betting, and continue to the next.
5. In the next round, known as the flop, or Third Street, three community cards are dealt face up. Betting begins with the player to the left of the dealer. A betting round ensues.
6. After betting ceases on the flop, a fourth community card is dealt face up for all players to use. A new round of betting begins. This round is known as the turn, or Fourth Street. On Fourth Street, the bet amount doubles to the game’s highest limit.
7. Once betting is complete on the turn, a fifth and final community card is dealt face up. A betting round follows, known as the river, or Fifth Street. This is the final round of betting in a hand of Holdem.
8. After the final round of betting, any players remaining in the round must show down their hands. The player with the highest ranked five-card poker hand wins the pot. If two players show down identical hands for a tie, they must split the pot.
9. The round of Holdem is over after the pot has been returned to the winner, and dealer button moves clockwise to prepare for a new hand.
10. Now that you know the rules of Holdem, test your skill by playing a complete hand using our interactive tutorial! You don’t have to spend a penny!

Omaha Poker

Omaha Hi poker, usually known simply as Omaha, is very similar to Texas Holdem. There are two main differences between the games:

1. In Omaha, instead of receiving only two hole cards, each player receives four.
2. In Omaha, players must use exactly two of their hole cards in combination with three community cards to make their five-card poker hand.

Structurally, Omaha is pretty much the same game as Holdem. Let’s take a look at the rules:

1. A small dealer button identifies one player as the dealer. The dealer button moves clockwise around the table, and is passed at the end of every hand.
2. All blinds, antes or other required bets must be put into the pot before any cards are dealt. In Omaha.
   1. The player directly to the left of the dealer posts the small blind.
   2. The player two spots to the left of the dealer posts the big blind.
   3. Generally, the small blind is half the size of the big blind.
3. After the required bets have been placed, four hole cards are dealt face down to each player. A betting round begins, beginning with the player to the left of the big blind. This player is said to be ‘under the gun’.
4. Once betting has completed in the first round, three community cards are dealt face up, for all players to use. A second betting round follows the deal, beginning with the player in the small blind. This betting round is known as the ‘flop’, or ‘Third Street’.
5. Once betting has completed on the flop, one community card is dealt face up, for all players to use. A third betting round follows the deal, beginning again with the player in the small blind. This betting round is known as the ‘turn’, or ‘Fourth Street’.
6. Once betting has completed on the turn, a final community card is dealt face up, for all players to use. A fourth and final betting round follows the deal, beginning once more with the player in the small blind. This betting round is known as the ‘river’, or ‘Fifth Street’.
7. Once all betting is complete on the river, any players remaining in the hand must show down their cards. All players still involved must compare their five-card poker hands. The pot is handed over to the player with the highest ranked hand.

Omaha Hi-Lo (Omaha 8):

Omaha Hi-Lo, usually known as Omaha 8, is structurally the exact same game as Omaha Hi. There is, however, one fundamental difference:

1. In Omaha 8, players can aim to make either the best high poker hand, or the best low poker hand. In the case that one player shows down a winning high hand, and the other shows down a winning low hand, the two players split the pot. In order to win the full pot at showdown, a player must have both the best high and low hand, or there must be no low hand in play.

Reading the Board in Poker

5 Card Draw Poker

The rules of 5 Card Draw are similar to the rules of Holdem. The game is played as follows:

1. A small dealer button identifies one player as the dealer. The dealer button moves one spot clockwise after every hand.
2. Before any cards are dealt, players must post any mandatory bets, known as ‘blinds’ or ‘antes’.
   1. In Draw, the player directly to the left of the dealer must post the ‘small blind’.
   2. The player two spots left of the dealer must post the ‘big blind’.
   3. The small blind is most often smaller than the big blind, usually exactly half.
3. After the mandatory blinds and/or antes are posted, each player is dealt five cards face down.
4. A betting round begins, beginning with the player to the left of the big blind. This player is said to be ‘under the gun’. As in every other form of poker, players can choose to check, fold, bet or call as appropriate throughout the round of betting.
5. After the first round of betting, players have the option of discarding up to 5 cards, and exchanging them for new ones. It is not mandatory that players discard and exchange- it is strictly optional. If a player chooses to keep all of his original cards, this is known as ‘staying’.
6. After each player has discarded and exchanged his desired amount of cards, a second and final round of betting begins. The action starts once again with the player under the gun.
7. Once the final round of betting is complete, any remaining players must show down their hands. As in all other forms of poker, the player with the best five-card poker hand wins the pot. If two players show down identical hands, they must split the pot.
8. Once the pot has been transferred to the winner, the dealer button is moved one spot clockwise, and a new hand may begin.