Poker Variations

Stud Poker

A form of poker in which one or more cards are dealt to each player face down, followed by one up card (with a betting round) more up cards (and a betting round after each) and then, in seven-card stud, a final down card (and a final betting round). The forms are five-card stud and seven-card stud, and sometimes six-card stud.

The additional cards received can drastically change the rank of player's hands - and this volatility makes the game a favourite with big-time players. Once the new cards are received, the player has another chance to bet.

Seven Card Stud

There are three variations: high, low and high-low. In seven-card high, the highest ranking hand takes the pot, in seven-card low, the lowest hand wins and in seven-card high-low the players vie for both extremes with the highest hand and the lowest hand each claiming half the pot.

In each variation, players receive seven cards. After the first three cards are dealt (two face down, one up) there is a betting round. The next three are dealt open with a betting round after each. The last card comes "down and dirty". The remaining players, who haven't folded, therefore have four open and three closed cards from which they choose their best hand.

Texas Hold'em

The player to deal the first hand can be decided by any method. The ‘Dealer Button' is placed in front of the dealer. After each completed hand, the ‘Dealer Button' is moved clockwise to the next player who becomes the dealer. The dealer will give two cards face down to each player. These are called ‘pocket cards'. Do not let any other player see your cards.

A round of betting will take place. (See explanation of betting below)

The dealer will turn over three (3) community cards, face up, on the centre of the table. These are called the ‘flop'. Thus each player with his own pocket card and the flop, already has the equivalent of a five card poker hand.

A second round of betting will take place.

The dealer will turn over a fourth community card on the table. This card is called the ‘Turn'; also referred to as ‘Fourth Street'.

A third round of betting will take place.

The dealer will turn over a fifth community card on the table. This card is called the ‘River'. It is the River of dreams.

A fourth and final round of betting will take place.

The Showdown – Each player may use the best five of the community and pocket cards to make a hand. The players, who have not previously folded their cards, show their hands. The best hand wins all of the chips that have been bet. If the community cards are the best hand the remaining players split the pot.

How to Bet: Betting is always done in clockwise order. The first person to act is the one sitting on the left-hand side of the player who deals the cards. This person has three choices: he can be, fold (turn his cards and drop out of the hand) or check (pass the opportunity to bet to the next player). All bets are put into the middle of the table and make up what is called the ‘pot'.

After the initial bet, if there s one, the rest of the players in turn have three choices. They can fold, call (match the bet of the previous player) or raise a bet (call and make an incremental bet). A round of betting is finished when all remaining players have acted at least once and have contributed the same amount to the pot. The cumulative number of raises for each round of betting shall not exceed three.

Unless otherwise stated before the game, you are permitted to check or call a bet the first time through and raise the next time the action comes to you.

The amount of the bets and raises is predetermined prior to the start of the game. During the first two rounds each bet and raise must be in the amount of the minimum bet. During the last two rounds each bet and raise must be in the amount of the maximum bet. The minimum bet should be one half the amount of the maximum bet; for example two chips and four chips.

To insure there is always money in the pot, each hand starts with ‘blinds'. Prior to seeing their cards, the first player to the left of the dealer will be bet 50% of the minimum bet and the second player will be bet an amount equal to the minimum bet. The betting will then continue from the third player. This is only done once, prior to the first round of betting.

As an option you may play a No-Limit game. There are designated blinds and or antes as well as a designated opening bet. After that, any player may bet any amount of money he has on the table. In fact, a player may call for a bet in the amount of all chips in front of him. This is called ‘all in'. A player is never obliged to drop out of contention because he does not have a sufficient number of chips to match a bet. The excess amount of the bet is either returned to the player or used in a side pot with other players who matched the entire amount of the bet.

Omaha

Four cards down to each player, plus five cards down to the table. Otherwise, identical to Texas Hold 'em, and the final hands must include exactly two of the player's four cards and three community cards.