Texas Hold'em Rules
Each player gets dealt two personal cards also known as down or hole cards. Then follows a round of betting.
Three board cards are then turned face up on the table together - called the flop, another round of betting follows.
The fourth board card is turned up - know as the the turn, again with another round of betting.
Finally the fifth board card is turned - known as the river, with the final round of betting.
A player may use any combination of the five board cards also known as community cards with any of his two hole cards to make the best five card poker hand from the seven cards available. A player may also use all the community cards and none of his own to form a hand, this is called playing the board.
A dealer button (small disc) is used to show where the dealer is - this moves round in a clockwise direction one place after each hand is played.
The two players to the left of the dealer each have to make a compulsory bet, known as the blinds before any hole cards are dealt - the first is the small blind (half the minimum bet) and second player the big blind (the same size as the minimum bet). This is what gets the action going.
As the dealer button moves round so to do the blinds.
During the first round of betting - known as preflop, the person next on from the big blind is first to act - they may either call (make a bet equal to the big blind), raise (make a bet double the previous bet or more) or fold (giving up their cards and any claim on the pot - the money in the middle).
When the betting comes round to the blinds they must also match or call the size of any bets made to stay in the hand. They also have the option to raise in which case the betting continues until everyone has either folded or matched the bets to stay in the hand.
After the flop the next betting round starts with the player immediately to the left of the dealer (who was the small blind). As well as betting they may check - this is known a offering a free card, if all the other players also check in turn then the next card is turned for free with no-one putting additional money into the pot in that round. However if a player further around the table opts to bet everyone must call (match) or raise that bet until everyone staying in has put the same into the pot. This is the same for all the betting rounds after the flop.
Poker has three main betting structures:
Limit - fixed betting structure where the each bet is set, players can raise and re-raise but only in fixed multiples - usually maximum of 3 raises.
Pot Limit - Players can bet up to the amount in the pot - beware you can end up putting in alot more than you might think playing
No Limit - Exactly what it says on the tin - anytime a player bet all his money on the table.
Omaha / Stud / Draw Rules
Omaha
Omaha is very similar to Teas Hold'em it uses the same three card flop, 4th turn card and 5th river card as community cards. But instead of two hole cards in Omaha you get four.
In addition a player must use two of their hole cards with three of the board or community cards. At the showdown all four hole cards must be shown to win the pot.
Unlike hold'em it is not possible to just play the board as your hand must contain two of your hole cards.
The betting is the same as in Hold'em.
Variations like Omaha High / Low split, 8 or better. The players must use any combination of two holecards and three from the board to make the best high hand and another or possibly the same combination to make the best low hand. For a qualifying low hand, a player must have 5 cards 8 or lower with no pair. Flushes and straights can be used for the low hand so long as all cards are under 8 or below. If there is a qualifying low hand it splits the pot with the winning high hand, if not the high hand takes the pot.
Seven-card Stud
Seven-card Stud is played is played with two hole cards and one upcard dealt to each player. the player with the lowest up-card opens the betting. Each player must then call, raise or fold. On all the subsequent rounds of betting it is the player with the best hand who opens.
The 3 more cards are dealt face up to each player with a round of betting between each card.
5 Card Draw Poker
5 Card Draw consists of two rounds of betting, one before and one after the draw (or change). Like hold'em it is played with a button but instead of blinds all players must make a small blind bet before getting dealt there cards called an ante. Once everyone has ante'd up the players look at their cards and may check, open with the minimum bet or a raise. After this round of betting the players may draw new cards for the ones they discard - they can discard all, some or none of their cards. The round of betting after the draw starts with the opener or the next player with cards. The betting limit is also doubled after the draw.
4kingpoker Newsletter
Subscribe to our Online Poker Newsletter for tournament updates, tips, offers & latest poker news.
PLUS get our FREE poker guide ...
"27 Secrets to Poker Success"
How to Lose Less & Win More
Popular Poker Rooms
PKR Poker Review 100% to $800 PKR Bonus
Simply stunning 3D poker site
Bodog Review 110% up to $1100 Bodog Bonus
Monthly Reload 100% up to $500
Carbon Review 200% up to $500 Carbon Bonus
Easy to Win Merge Network
FullTilt Review 100% to $600 Full Tilt Bonus
Poker Pro's - Slick & popular
PokerStars Review 100% to $600 PokerStars Bonus
Biggest tournaments online
4kingpoker.com is not a poker room operator. Online Poker is not legal in all juristictions around the world, so please ensure that it is legal in the country / area you reside in. 4kingpoker accepts no liability whatsoever for the information contained on this site. All information is for entertainment purposes only.
