Rules

Poker Variations 

The games listed below (Holdem, Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, 7 Card Stud and 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo) are the most commonly played poker games today. These games are usually played with a limit structure, meaning the betting and raising levels are predetermined and those bets can never be exceeded. 

Holdem

Holdem is a game in which each player receives two “hole” cards as their initial hand. Each player uses their two hole cards along with the five community cards to form the best five-card poker hand.

Step by Step

1. Two cards are dealt face down, and the first round of betting takes place
2. The first three community cards are opened simultaneously followed by the second round of betting. The fourth and fifth community cards are then dealt one at a time followed by the fourth and final betting rounds
3. Players make their five card poker hand using any combination of their two hole cards and the five community cards
4. At the showdown, the winning hand is the highest ranking five-card poker hand.

 

Blind and Betting Structure

In order to start the betting action, Holdem uses what are called blind bets (blinds) to stimulate action and initiate play. Blinds are posted before the dealer deals the first cards by players who sit in consecutive clockwise order from the dealer button with the first player posting a predetermined amount call the “small blind”. The next person in order posts what is known as the “big blind”. Action is initiated on the first betting round by the player on the immediate left of the big blind. The blinds act last on the first betting round and are “live”, which means the player is allowed to raise his own blind bet. The board cards are dealt in three sequences known as the “Flop”, the “Turn” and the “River”. In Holdem there are four total rounds of betting, two at the smaller limit and two at the larger limit. The first round of betting takes place after each player has been dealt their initial two-card hand. The second betting round takes place after the Flop has been dealt. The third round of betting takes place after the Turn card has been dealt and the fourth and final round of betting will take place after the River card has been dealt. A new player entering any Holdem game has several options to satisfy the initial blind requirements:

• Wait for their big blind.
• Wait until the button passes and then post their big blind.
• Post the big blind immediately, regardless of seat position
• If you choose the second or third option, the blind acts as your opening bet. If a player leaves the table for any reason and any blind passes their position, they may resume play by posting the total amount of the blinds for the game or wait for the big blind.

 

Omaha

Omaha is a game in which each player receives four cards as their in initial hand. Each player must use a specific combination of five cards; any two out of their hand and any three from the board (community cards) to form the best five-card poker hand

Step by Step

1. To begin, players receive four cards dealt face down and the first round of betting takes place.
2. The first three community cards are opened simultaneously followed by the second round of betting. The fourth and fifth community cards are then dealt one at a time followed by the fourth and final betting rounds.
3. Players make a five card poker hand using any two of their hole cards with any three of the five community cards in the centre of the table.
4. At the showdown, the winning hand is the highest ranking five-card poker hand.

 

Blind and Betting Structure

The general blind and betting structure for Omaha follows the rules of Holdem.