Basic Poker Rules
The word 'poker' refers to a wide range of card games, all of which are usually played for money. Each poker variant has a different set of rules, but most are fairly similar. All games involve a group of people competing for a pool of money, known as the 'pot'. In some poker games, only one player wins the pot, but in others the pot is split between two or more players.
The following games award the pot to the best high hand only: Texas Hold'em, Omaha, Seven Card Stud and Five Card Draw. Omaha hi/lo and Seven Card Stud hi/lo use a split pot format, in which half of the pot is awarded to the best high hand, half to the best low hand (if there is a qualifying low hand). Razz is played for the best low hand only.
Each poker game starts with some form of forced bet. In Texas Hold'em and Omaha, these forced bets are known as 'blinds' and are placed by the two players to the left of the dealer. Seven Card Stud variations start with each player posting an 'ante'.
Common Poker Action Terms
At various points in a hand of poker, players have the option of doing different things. This is referred to as taking an 'action', the following of which are most common:
- Fold – When a player folds, they give up any chance of winning the pot by handing their cards back to the dealer. They can make no further bets or take any other action in the hand.
- Check – A player can check if there has been no action in the current round of betting, and they don't want to bet either. In games like Hold'em, the big blind may also check if there have been no raises in the first betting round.
- Call – If a player calls, they must place an amount equal to the current bet in the pot.
- Bet – When there has not been a bet in the current round, a player can place a bet, the size of which depends on the limits being played.
- Raise – If a player wants to make a bet higher than the current one, they can raise. The raise must be at least the amount of the prior bet.
