The Rules of Online Poker
Each of the many variations of poker has its own unique set of rules for play. However, there are some standard rules that apply across the board in regard to certain circumstances. Learning and understanding these rules will make poker much easier and more enjoyable.
1) How to win Poker:
Typically, the winner holds the highest ranked hand when all cards are shown at the end of the hand known as the ‘showdown’ or the player that makes the last uncalled bet.
The ranking of hands from high to low in standard poker is as follows.
Royal Flush:
Royal flush: cards consisting of the ace, king, queen, jack and ten of a suit.
Card combinations which has the best possible straight flush is known as a royal flush, which consist of the ace, king, queen, jack and ten of a suit. A royal flush is an unbeatable hand.
Straight Flush:
Straight Flush: Five cards in numerical order, all of similar suits.
In case of tie highest rank at the top of the sequence wins.
Four of a kind:
Four of a Kind: A hand containing four cards of one rank, and an unmatched card of another rank.
In case of tie highest four of a kind wins. In community card games where players have the same four of a kind, the card with highest rank wins which is also called as kicker.
Full House:
Full House: A hand which contains three of a kind and a pair of different cards with same rank.
In case of tie when multiple players have full house then the three of a kind with highest card value is the winner.
Flush:
Flush: Five cards of the same suit i.e. diamonds, hearts, spades, or clubs.
In case of tie the player having the highest ranked card wins. If necessary, the second-highest, third, fourth and fifth can also be used to break the tie. If all five cards are of the same ranks, then the pot is split. The suit by itself is never used to break a tie in poker.
Straight:
Straight: A hand which consist of cards with consecutive values.
In case of tie the highest rank at the top of the sequence wins.
Three of a kind:
Three of a kind: A hand containing three cards of the same rank, and two unrelated side cards.
In case of tie three of a kind having highest ranking wins. In community card games where players have the same three of a kind, the highest side card, and if necessary the second-highest is also considered.
Two pairs:
Two pair: A hand consisting of a pair of cards with same rank, another pair with different rank and a kicker.
In case of tie the one who has the highest rank of all the pairs, wins .If both the players have same highest pairs the second highest pair wins. If necessary the kicker is compared when both players have two identical pairs.
One Pair:
One pair: A hand consisting two cards of a matching rank, and rest of the three side cards of different ranks.
In case of tie the highest pair wins. If players have the same pair, the highest side card wins, and if necessary, the second-highest, third and fourth side card can also be used to break the tie.
High Card:
High card: A hand whose ranking is decided completely on the basis of the highest card value held when it does not have a pair, two pair, three of a kind, a straight, a flush, a full house, four of a kind, or a straight flush.
In case of tie highest card wins, and if necessary, the second-highest, third, fourth and smallest card can be used to break the tie.
For more detailed information on hand rankings click here
2) Dealing cards and betting rounds:
Even with a really good starting hand, players should always be observant. Players at the table should watch closely what actions their opponents are making as their actions could be telling a story of how strong their hand is.
When the actions come around you, then you will have different options of what to do next as follows:
Check :
If nobody has raised before your turn, then you have the option to 'check'. This means you don’t have to put money into the pot.
Bet:
If nobody has raised before your turn, then you may 'bet'. It means you can put some money into the pot and thus other players must at least match your bet if they wish to continue the hand.
Fold:
If a player has bet before your turn, when you have an extremely weak holding then you have the option to 'fold' and toss your cards into the muck. It means you no longer take any part in the hand.
Call:
If a player has bet before your turn and you believe that your hand is strong enough to continue, then you have the option to 'call’. It means you match the value of the bet made by the player who acted before you.
Raise:
If a player bets before you and you hold a really strong starting hand, it's advisable to 'raise' the bet as this puts pressure on your opponents.
3) Betting Limits:
Betting limits refer to the minimum amount, which is required to bet in order to open the action. Typically, poker games are of the following types;
- no limit
- Pot limit or fixed limit.
No Limit:
in poker games with a no limit betting structure, each player can bet or raise by the amount up to their full stack (the total number of chips they possess at any given time) in any betting round, whenever it is their turn to act.
Pot Limit:
In poker games with a pot limit betting structure, each player can bet or raise by the amount up to the total pot at that particular time.
Fixed Limit:
In poker games with a fixed limit betting structure, each player can choose to call, bet or raise, but only by a fixed amount. The fixed amount for any given betting round is set in advance.
Call:
If a player has bet before your turn and you believe that your hand is strong enough to continue, then you have the option to 'call’. It means you match the value of the bet made by the player who acted before you.
Raise:
If a player bets before you and you hold a really strong starting hand, it's advisable to 'raise' the bet as this puts pressure on your opponents.
4) Showdown:
Once the last bet or raise has been called during the final round of betting, a showdown occurs; the remaining active players must show or ‘declare’ their hands, and the player’s with the best ranking hand’s win the pot.
Players often show their hands in order, rather than all at the same time. Multiple players can share a single pot, with the pot divided in different ways, depending on the game rules and how each player’s hand ranks against their opponents.
5) Ties:
In stud games, suit can be used to break ties between cards of the same rank. From low to high, the suit ranks are clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades. Card deals can also be used to make decisions, however these methods cannot be used to decide the split of a pot.
In the case of a tie, the pot is split and any odd chips found are reduced to the smallest amount being used at the table. Any odd chip left over after having been broken down will go to a single player, decided by one of the following methods and depending on the game being played:
- In a high-low, the odd chip will go to the high hand.
- At a stud table, all cards will be taken into consideration at the tie breaker and the odd chip will go to the tied player.
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