Game Rules

Texas Hold'em

Texas Hold'em (or simply, "Hold'em") is the most popular poker game in the casinos and cardrooms of North America and Europe.
Each player is dealt two cards ("hole cards") which belong only to that player. Five community cards are dealt face-up on the "board". All players may use these cards in conjunction with their own hole cards to make the best five-card poker hand possible. To view the rankings of poker hands, visit our card ranking page.

In a Texas Hold'em game, a disc or other marker is used to indicate which person is the "dealer" for the round. Before the game begins the player immediately clockwise the button posts the "small blind", typically half a small bet (for example, $1 in a $2/$4 game). The player immediately clockwise the small blind posts the "big blind", which is always a full small bet ($2 in a $2/$4 game). Notice that the big blind and small blind do not get to look at their cards before betting, thus the term "blind".

Now, each player receives his or her two hole cards. These cards are unique to each player. Betting action proceeds around the table, starting with the player immediately clockwise the big blind. In the first round of betting, each player has three options: call, raise or fold.
To call, the player must place a bet that is equal to the last bet placed. (For the first player in the round, this would be equal to the minimum bet.) A player may choose to raise their call bet by an additional amount, which the other players will then have to call. If one's hole cards are not favorable, the player may simply choose to fold and sit out the round.

Now, the "flop" is dealt face-up on the board. The flop is the first three community cards available to all active players. Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise the button. The second and all subsequent betting rounds start with the first player to the dealer's left, and players now has the option to check. By checking, the player indicates interest in the pot without placing a bet. Any player may choose to place a bet, which the other players must then call. Players can still raise, if a bet has been made, or fold, if their hand is not favorable.

When betting action is completed for the flop round, the "turn" is dealt face-up on the board. The turn is the fourth community card in a Hold'em game. Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise the button. In limit games, the minimum bet doubles in the last two rounds of betting. In a $2/$4 game, betting on the turn is done in $4 increments.

When betting action is completed for the turn round, the "river" is dealt face-up on the board. The river is the fifth and final community card in a Hold'em game. Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise the button.

If there is more than one remaining player when the final betting round is complete, the last bettor or raiser shows his or her cards. If there was no bet on the final round, the player immediately clockwise the button shows his or her cards first. The player with the best five-card hand wins the pot. A player can use any combination so even if one card from his pocket cards and four of the community cards creates the best hand, it is fine.
When all five of the cards in the community make the best hand then everyone splits the pot. This is called "the board plays". In the event of identical hands, the pot will be equally divided between the players with the best hands.

After the pot is awarded, a new game of Hold'em is ready to begin. The button now moves clockwise to the next player.

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Omaha

Omaha is similar to Hold'em in using a three-card flop on the board, a fourth board card, and then a fifth board card. Each player is dealt four hole cards (instead of two) at the start. To make a hand, a player must use precisely two hole cards with three board cards. There can be up to 10 players at the poker table. To view the rankings of poker hands, visit our card ranking page.

In Omaha, a disc also known as "the button", serves to indicate which player is the nominal dealer for the current game. Before the game begins, the player immediately clockwise the button posts the "small blind", typically half a small bet (for example, $2.5 in a $5/$10 game). The player immediately clockwise the small blind posts the "big blind", which is always a full small bet ($5 in a $5/$10 game).

Now, each player receives his or her four hole cards( the pocket cards). Then the first betting round begins. The first player to place a bet is the one to the immediate left of the big blind, then the turn moves clockwise around the table.

There are four betting rounds in each hand. Bets and raises in the first two rounds are limited to the minimum bet and in the last two rounds equal the maximum bet. The total amount of money wagered in each betting round must not exceed the initial bet in a round four times, i.e. 1 bet and 3 raises.

After the first betting round three other cards are dealt face up (the flop). These are the first three community cards available to all active players. Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise the button. All bets and raises occur in small bets.

After the second betting round the dealer turns over one more card (the turn) and places it beside the flop. Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise the button. On this round, betting doubles from the small bet to the big bet. In a $5/$10 game, betting on the turn is done in $10 increments.

Finally, the dealer turns over a fifth card (the river) and the final betting round takes place. Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise the button.

As soon as the betting is over showdown comes. If there is more than one remaining player when the final betting round is complete, the last bettor or raiser shows his or her cards. If there was no bet on the final round, the player immediately clockwise the button shows his or her cards. A player uses the best five cards among the combination of any two of his pocket cards with any three of the community cards to determine his hand. In the event of identical hands, the pot will be equally divided between the players with the best hands.

After the pot is awarded, a new game of Omaha is ready to begin. The button now moves clockwise to the next player.

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Omaha Hi-Lo

Each player in an Omaha HiLo game is dealt four cards ("hole cards") which belong only to that player. Five community cards are dealt face-up on the "board". All players use two cards from their four hole cards in conjunction with three cards from the board to make the best five-card poker hand possible. In Omaha Poker Hi/Lo 8 or better ("Omaha Hi/Lo") the pot is split between the best high hand and the best qualifying low hand. Note that Omaha HiLo is played with an "8 or better" qualifier, which means that a hand must be, at worst, an 8 for low to be eligible to win the low portion of the pot. To view the rankings of poker hands for both high and low, visit our card ranking page.

In Omaha HiLo, a disc also known as "the button", serves to indicate which player is the nominal dealer for the current game. The player at the immediate left of the button posts the "small blind" (half the minimum bet). Then the player to his left and two seats to the left of the button posts the "Big Blind". Each player is then dealt a four card hand. Betting action proceeds around the table, starting with the player on the immediately clockwise the big blind.

The dealer turns three cards up in the center of the table. This is the "Flop". The flop is the first three community cards available to all active players. As always, the player at the left of the button is first to act. There are no more forced bets and the players can all check around if they want to. All bets and raises occur in small bets.

Now comes the "Turn" card. It is the fourth community card in an Omaha HiLo game. Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise the button. On this round, betting doubles from the small bet to the big bet.

Finally the last or "River" card is turned up. The river is the fifth and final community card in an Omaha HiLo game. Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise the button. The players still in the contest reveal their hole cards and the highest hand wins the pot or splits with the lowest qualifying low hand.

If there is more than one remaining player when the final betting round is complete, the last bettor or raiser shows his or her cards. If there was no bet on the final round, the player immediately clockwise the button shows his or her cards first. The player with the best five-card hand for high wins half the pot, and the player with the best hand for low wins the other half. In Omaha, players must use two and only two of their four hole cards in combination with three cards from the board. In the event of identical hands, the high and low shares of the pot will be equally divided between the players with the best hands. In the event that no hand qualifies for low, the best hand(s) for high wins the pot.

After the pot is awarded, a new game of Omaha HiLo is ready to begin. The button now moves clockwise to the next player.

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Seven Card Stud

A maximum of 8 players can play at a 7 Card Stud table. There are five betting rounds in a complete game of Seven Card Stud, not including the ante. In Seven Card Stud, players are dealt seven cards throughout the course of the hand, but only the best five-card hand possible for each player is used to determine the winner. To view the rankings of poker hands, visit our card ranking page.

Before a game of Seven Card Stud starts, all players ante a nominal amount (see Limits page for exact ante amounts - are we going to have such?). Each player is dealt two hidden hole cards and one exposed card. 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 you have the bring-in, 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 game, the player with the lowest door card must make a forced bet of either $1 or $2. Action continues clockwise around the table until betting is complete for the round.

Each player now receives an exposed card, called "Fourth Street". After the initial round of betting which is initiated by the 'Low Card Must Bet Prompt', all future rounds start with the player with the high hand on board initiating the betting action. In cases of a tie, the player to the left of the dealer will initiate the betting action. This player may either check or bet. If no player shows a pair amongst his or her exposed cards, the bet will be a small bet ($2 in a $2/$4 game). If any player shows a pair, the betting can be opened for a big bet ($4 in a $2/$4 game).

Each player now receives another exposed card, called "Fifth Street". Again, the first player to act is the individual whose exposed cards have the highest poker value. The bet amounts are raised to the high limit in the Fifth Street and Sixth Street ($4 in a $2/$4 game).

The sixth card is dealt face up and this exposed card is called "Sixth Street". Again, the first player to act is the individual whose exposed cards have the highest poker value.

The last phase of Seven Card Stud Poker is the Seventh Street, which is dealt face-down and known only to the player to whom the card is dealt. The first player to act is the individual whose exposed cards have the highest poker value.

If there is more than one remaining player when the final betting round is complete, the last bettor or raiser shows his or her cards. If there was no bet on the final round, the player whose exposed cards have the highest poker value shows his or her cards first. The player with the best five-card hand wins the pot. In the event of identical hands, the pot will be equally divided between the players with the best hands.

After the pot is awarded, a new game of Seven Card Stud is ready to begin.

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Seven Card stud Hi-Lo

Seven Card Stud HiLo is a technically demanding game where the best poker hands for high and low split the pot at showdown. There can be a maximum of 8 players at a 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo poker game table. There are five betting rounds in a complete game of Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo, not including the ante. Players are dealt seven cards throughout the course of the hand, but only the best five-card hand possible for each player is used to determine the winner. Note that Seven Card Stud HiLo is played with an "8 or better" qualifier, which means that a hand must be, at worst, an 8 for low to be eligible to win the low portion of the pot. To view the rankings of poker hands for both high and low, visit our card ranking page.

Before a game of Seven Card Stud HiLo starts, all players ante a nominal amount (see Limits page for exact ante amounts - are we going to have such?). Each player is dealt two hidden hole cards and one exposed card. The poker player with the lowest exposed card (using suit if there is a tie) is required to initiate action by betting a minimum of one-half the lower limit. You will always have the option of betting either half the lower limit or the lower limit for the table designated. Suits are ranked in the following order from lowest to highest - Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts and Spades. Action continues clockwise around the table until betting is complete for the round.

Each player now receives an exposed card, called "Fourth Street". After the initial round of betting which is initiated by the 'Low Card Must Bet Prompt', all future rounds start with the player with the high hand on board initiating the betting action. In cases of a tie, the player to the left of the dealer will initiate the betting action. This player may either check or bet. If no player shows a pair amongst his or her exposed cards, the bet will be a small bet ($2 in a $2/$4 game). If any player shows a pair, the betting can be opened for a big bet ($4 in a $2/$4 game).

Each player now receives another exposed card, called "Fifth Street". Again, the first player to act is the individual whose exposed cards have the highest poker value. The bet amounts are raised to the high limit in the Fifth Street and Sixth Street ($4 in a $2/$4 game).

The sixth card is dealt face up and this exposed card is called "Sixth Street". Again, the first player to act is the individual whose exposed cards have the highest poker value.

The last phase of Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo Poker is the Seventh Street, which is dealt face-down and known only to the player to whom the card is dealt. The first player to act is the individual whose exposed cards have the highest poker value.

If there is more than one remaining player when the final betting round is complete, the last bettor or raiser shows his or her cards. If there was no bet on the final round, the player whose exposed cards have the highest poker value shows his or her cards first. The remaining Players create the best five-card low and five-card high hand possible. The two Players with the best high and low hands split the pot. In the event that no hand qualifies for low, the best hand(s) for high wins the pot.

After the pot is awarded, a new game of Seven Card Stud HiLo is ready to begin.