Poker
TEXAS HOLD 'EM
Texas Hold 'Em is the most popular poker game today. You play with seven cards and
the rules are simple even for poker beginner. In spite of the simplicity, I consider
it to be a fast game for the real man.
Texas Hold 'Em has somethink called a dealer button to indicate where the cards
are supposed to be dealt. Prior to the deal, the two players on the left side of
the button place their bets. This bets are called large blinds and small blinds.
The name blind is because it's made prior to seeing your cards. The name live is
because it counts as part of the bets within the first betting round.
The poker game always begins with two cards dealt facedown to every poker player.
Action beggins with a betting round starting with the player to the left of the
blind bets and continuing clockwise around the table. Poker players have four options:
1. bet, 2. check, 3. raise, or 4. fold in turn. The large blind has the privilege
of last action and may check or raise the bet.
The remaining 3 community cards are then dealt face up in the center of the table
and another betting round takes place beginning with the player to the left of the
dealer button. Another card is dealt face up followed by a round of betting. The
fifth and last card is dealt face up and a final round of betting takes place.Players
remaining in the hand will then show their cards and the winning poker hand will
be awarded the pot. Any combination of hole cards and community cards may be used
to make the best five-card poker hand.
OMAHA
Omaha is quite similar to Hold 'Em. At the beginning you'll get 4 cards face down
prior to the flop. You have to use two cards from your hand combined with three
cards from the board to form your best five-card poker hand. Throw in the 8 or better
hi/lo variable and you've got a challenge for poker players at all levels.
Omaha is a nine-card poker game that uses a dealer button and blinds as in Texas
Hold 'Em. The play begins with four cards dealt face down to each player. Action
starts with the first player to the left of the blinds beginning the betting. Players
may bet, check, raise, or fold in turn.
Community cards are then dealt face up in the center of the table in the same manner
as in Texas Hold 'Em with betting after each round. After the final betting round,
the players remaining in the hand will then show all their cards. To qualify for
a winning low hand, a player must have five cards of 8 or lower with no pair using
two from their hand and three from the board. Straights or flushes may be used for
the low hand if all the cards are 8 or below. If there is a qualifying low hand,
it splits the pot with the winning high hand. Other wise, the high hand takes the
entire pot. Remember, you must use two cards from your hand and three from the board
to make the best five-card poker hand.
DRAW POKER
To begin, two players at the table make a small bet, or blind wager, before receiving
any cards. Each player seated in the game takes a turn at placing such a wager.
Players first receive five cards dealt face down. Players pick up the cards and
look at them and then decide if they wish to stay in the game. If so, a bet must
now be placed. Once all bets are called the first round of betting is complete.
Players may now choose to exchange with the dealer any number of cards from their
hand. This is known as 'the draw'.
Once the draw is complete a second round of betting takes place. If all bets are
called there is a showdown. The winner is the player with the highest ranking hand.
If only one player remains (ie. no showdown) they will win the pot without having
to expose their cards.