Poker Variations

This is the most popular version of poker and the one seen on many TV shows like the World Poker Tour and the World Series of Poker.

The Blinds

When a table opens for the first time a marker called the “dealer button” is positioned in front of a player. The player to the left of the dealer button posts a Small Blind (SB) and the player to the left of the SB posts a Big Blind (BB). The BB is exactly twice the size of the SB.

The Deal

The first card is dealt to the SB and then cards are distributed clockwise around the table, until each player has received two cards. These are known as “hole cards” and are dealt face-down, so the holder is not obliged to reveal them before the showdown.

Pre-Flop

After seeing their cards, players have a decision to make. Do they consider their hand good enough to play or bad enough to fold? The player to the left of the BB has to decide first. He/she can call, raise or fold. Betting continues clockwise and each player has to match the last bet to continue, re-raise or fold. All players that fold at this stage have no further financial interest in the hand.

The Flop

Three community cards are now dealt across the center of the table known as the flop, which are available to all players still in the hand. Betting begins with the first active player still in the hand to the left of the button. His/her options are the same as pre-flop, plus a check option. If there has been no bet placed by the player to his/her right, he/she can choose to check and remain in the hand without the need to risk any more chips.

The Turn

A forth community card is dealt face-up next to the flop. This betting round is the same as the flop.

The River

A fifth community card is dealt and the fourth and final betting round begins, which is the same as the flop and turn. All players that remain in the hand will have the chance to win the pot at the showdown.

The Showdown

If there is more than one player remaining in the hand, the hole cards will be revealed to determine the winner of the hand.

Omaha Hi/Lo, also known as Omaha 8 or better, is a game where the player with the highest hand (High) wins a half of the final pot at showdown and the player with the lowest hand (Low) wins the other half

A low hand is when a player has five different cards ranked 8 or lower. Straights and flushes do not count when determining the low hand. The best low hand in Omaha Hi/Lo is A,2,3,4,5. If no player has a low hand at showdown, then the high hand wins the whole pot. High hands are determined by the same ranking system as used in Hold’em.

The betting rounds are identical as Omaha as described above.

Remember:

1. You must use two hole cards to make a high hand, and two hole cards to make a Low hand.
2. If there are not at least three cards eight or lower on the board in Omaha Hi/Lo, a low hand is not possible.
3. You can use the same or different hole cards for the high and the low.

If a player’s Low hand is A-2-3-4-9 he will not qualify as the fifth card is above 8.

If player has A-2-3-7-8, and another has 2-4-5-6-7: The second player wins, because the rank is determined by the highest card in the low hand.

Unlike Omaha or Holdem, in 7 card stud there are no community cards. Each player is dealt 7 cards, three face down (only visible to the player) and four face up. All players can see your four face up cards however, they are only available to you to make your best poker hand. Likewise you can not use other players face up cards to improve your own hand.

Tip: remember the face up cards that have been folded!

In 7card all players that wish to be dealt into a hand must post a small bet called the ante.

Third Street

Dealing begins left of the button and continues clockwise until each player is dealt two cards face down and one face up. The person with the lowest value face up card is first. They must make a bet, a forced bet. The only option available to this player is what amount the bet should be, either ½ or the full max bet allowed. Betting continues clockwise where each player must call the total bet made by the player to their right, fold their hand or raise. There can only be a maximum of three raises per betting round in limit 7 card.

Fourth Street

Each active player remaining in the hand is then dealt a second card face up. This card is also known as “Fourth Street”. From now on until the final betting round, every action starts with the player with the highest poker hand showing. The betting continues as at Third Street however if the player is showing a pair then he can make a bet that is twice the maximum or check.

Fifth Street

Each remaining player receives a fifth card face up. Betting continues as before however from now on the betting increments are the higher of the two limits.

Sixth Street

Each remaining player receives a sixth card face up. Betting continues as before.

Seventh Street and Showdown

The last card is dealt to each player, however this time it is dealt face down to each player. A round of betting follows and if there is more than one player remaining at the end of the hand players will expose their hand to determine the winner.

Badugi is different to most poker games; the lowest hand wins. Unike other low hand games, in Badugi pairs and flushes count against your hand. A badugi is a hand where no two cards are of the same value or from the same suit.

The two players to the left of the button post blinds, a small blind and a big blind. Each player is then dealt four cards face down.

Betting Rounds

There are four betting rounds. The first round follows the initial dealing of four cards to each player. The second, third and the fourth or final rounds follow the first, second and third card drawing rounds respectively.

The betting rounds start with the player to the left of the big blind. The players may call, raise, fold or check depending on the last action of the player to their right. The bets increase with each betting round.

Drawing Cards

After each betting round players can discard any number of their cards and have them replaced with new cards from the remaining deck in order to improve their hand.

Showdown

If more than one player remains after the last betting round, the cards are placed on the table face up and the winning hand is declared based on the Badugi hand rank.