Big Time Poker Room

How to Play

Texas Holdem:

In casinos and card rooms throughout the globe, you'll find more poker tables spreading Texas Hold'em than all other games combined! Hold'em can be played with limits, pot limit, or no limit. No limit Hold’em has been called the "Cadillac of poker games." The recognized world champion of poker is the winner of the $10,000 entry no limit event at the World Series of Poker.

The major variations of Hold'em are distinguished from each other by their betting limits:

• Limit Texas Hold'em: There is a pre-determined betting limit on each round of betting.

• No Limit Texas Hold'em: A player can bet any amount, up to all of their chips.

• Pot Limit Texas Hold'em: A player can bet any amount, up to the size of the pot.

How to Play Texas Hold'em

The Blinds

In Hold'em, a marker called ‘the button’ or ‘the dealer button’ indicates which player is the nominal dealer for the current game. Before the game begins, the player immediately clockwise from the button posts the "small blind", the first forced bet. The player immediately clockwise from the small blind posts the "big blind", which is typically twice the size of the small blind, but the blinds can vary depending on the stakes and betting structure being played.

In Limit games, the big blind is the same as the small bet, and the small blind is typically half the size of the big blind but may be larger depending on the stakes. For example, in a $2/$4 Limit game the small blind is $1 and the big blind is $2. In a $15/$30 Limit game, the small blind is $10 and the big blind is $15.In Pot Limit and No Limit games, the games are referred to by the size of their blinds (for example, a $1/$2 Hold’em game has a small blind of $1 and a big blind of $2).

Depending on the exact structure of the game, each player may also be required to post an ‘ante’ (another type of forced bet, usually smaller than either blind, posted by all players at the table) into the pot.

Now, each player receives his or her two hole cards. Betting action proceeds clockwise around the table, starting with the player ‘under the gun’ (immediately clockwise from the big blind).

Player Betting Options

In Hold'em, as with other forms of poker, the available actions are ‘fold’, ‘check’, ‘bet’, ‘call’ or ‘raise’. Exactly which options are available depends on the action taken by the previous players. Each poker player always has the option to fold, to discard their cards and give up any interest in the pot. If nobody has yet made a bet, then a player may either check (decline to bet, but keep their cards) or bet. If a player has bet, then subsequent players can fold, call or raise. To call is to match the amount the previous player has bet. To raise is to not only match the previous bet, but to also increase it.

Pre-Flop

Each player is dealt with two cards; these cards are known as hole cards. After seeing his or her hole cards, each player now has the option to play his or her hand by calling or raising the big blind. The action begins to the left of the big blind, which is considered a ‘live’ bet on this round. That player has the option to fold, call or raise. For example, if the big blind was $2, it would cost $2 to call, or at least $4 to raise. Action then proceeds clockwise around the table.

Note: The betting structure varies with different variations of the game. Explanations of the betting action in Limit Hold'em, No Limit Hold'em, and Pot Limit Hold'em can be found below. Betting continues on each betting round until all active players (who have not folded) have placed equal bets in the pot.

The Flop

Now, three cards are dealt face-up on the board. This is known as ‘the flop’. In Hold'em, the three cards on the flop are community cards, available to all players still in the hand. Betting on the flop begins with the active player immediately clockwise from the button. The betting options are similar to pre-flop, however if nobody has previously bet, players may opt to check, passing the action to the next active player clockwise.

The Turn

When the betting action is completed for the flop round, the ‘turn’ is dealt face-up on the board. The turn is the fourth community card in Hold'em (and is sometimes also called ‘Fourth Street’). Another round of betting takes place, beginning with the active player immediately clockwise from the button.

The River

When betting action is completed for the turn round, the ‘river’ or ‘Fifth Street’ is dealt face-up on the board. The river is the fifth and final community card in a Hold'em game. Betting again begins with the active player immediately clockwise from the button, and the same betting rules apply as they do for the flop and turn, as explained above.

The Showdown

If there is more than one remaining player when the final betting round is complete, the last person to bet or raise shows their cards, unless there was no bet on the final round in which case the player immediately clockwise from the button shows their cards first. The player with the best five-card poker hand wins the pot. In the event of identical hands, the pot will be equally divided between the players with the best hands. Hold'em rules state that all suits are equal. After the pot is awarded, a new hand of Hold'em is ready to be played. The button now moves clockwise to the next player, blinds and antes are once again posted, and new hands are dealt to each player.

Limit, No Limit and Pot Limit Hold'em

Hold'em rules remain the same for Limit, No Limit and Pot Limit poker games, with a few exceptions:

Omaha Poker

Omaha poker is an exciting game derived from Texas Hold'em. Each player is dealt four cards ("hole cards") which belong only to that player. Five community cards are dealt face-up on the board. All players use exactly three of the five community cards together with exactly two of their hole cards to make the best five-card poker hand. Remember, in Omaha you must use exactly two hole cards and exactly three board cards. No more, and no less.

Types of Omaha Poker Games:

• Limit Omaha Poker - There is a specific betting limit applied in each game and on each round of betting.

• Pot Limit Omaha Poker - A player can bet what is in the pot (i.e. $100 into a $100 pot).

• No Limit Omaha Poker - A player can bet any amount, up to all of their chips.

Below is a general explanation on how to play Omaha Poker. The basic rules for all Omaha variants are the same, with the exception of the different betting structures between them. More details on these different betting structures follow.

How to Play Omaha Poker

The basic rules for all Omaha variants are the same, with the exception of the different betting structures between them. In Limit games, the big blind is the same as the small bet, and the small blind is typically half of the size of the big blind but may be larger depending on the stakes. For example, in a $2/$4 Limit game the small blind is $1 and the big blind is $2. In a $15/$30 Limit game, the small blind is $10 and the big blind is $15.

In Pot Limit and No Limit games, the games are referred to by the size of their blinds (for example, a $1/$2 Omaha game has a small blind of $1 and a big blind of $2).

Betting then commences from the player to the left of the big blind. Now, each player receives their four hole cards. Betting action proceeds clockwise around the table, starting with the player ‘under the gun’ (immediately clockwise from the big blind).

Player Betting Options

In Omaha, as with other forms of poker, the available actions are: fold, check, bet, call or raise. Exactly which options are available depends on the action taken by the previous players. Each poker player always has the option to fold, to discard their cards and give up any interest in the pot. If nobody has yet made a bet, then a player may either check (decline to bet, but keep their cards), or bet. If a player has bet, then subsequent players can fold, call or raise. To call is to match the amount the previous player has bet. To raise is to not only match the previous bet, but to also increase it.

Pre-Flop

After seeing his or her hole cards, each player now has the option to play his or her hand by calling or raising the big blind. The action begins to the left of the big blind, which is considered a ‘live’ bet on this round. That player has the option to fold, call or raise. For example, if the big blind was $2, it would cost $2 to call, or at least $4 to raise. Action then proceeds clockwise around the table.

Note: The betting structure varies with different variations of the game. Explanations of the betting action in Limit Hold'em, No Limit Hold'em, and Pot Limit Hold'em can be found below. Betting continues on each betting round until all active players (who have not folded) have placed equal bets in the pot.

The Flop

After the first round of betting is complete, the "flop" is dealt face-up on the board. The flop is the first three community cards available to all active players. Play begins with the active player immediately clockwise from the button. In Limit Omaha, all bets and raises occur in increments of the small bet (for example, $2 in a $2/$4 game).

The Turn

When betting action is completed for the flop round, the "turn" is dealt face-up on the board. The turn is the fourth community card in an Omaha game. Play begins with the active player immediately clockwise from the button. In Limit Omaha, bets and raises on the turn are in increments of the big bet (for example, $4 in a $2/$4 game).

The River

When betting action is completed for the turn round, the "river" is dealt face-up on the board. The river is the fifth and final community card in Omaha poker. Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise from the button.

The Showdown

If there is more than one remaining player when the final betting round is complete, the last person to bet or raise shows their cards, unless there was no bet on the final round in which case the player immediately clockwise from the button shows their cards first. The player with the best five-card hand wins the pot. Remember: in Omaha, players must use two and only two of their four hole cards in combination with exactly three of the cards from the board. In the event of identical hands, the pot will be equally divided between the players with the best hands.

After the pot is awarded, a new Omaha poker game is ready to be played. The button now moves clockwise to the next player.

Limit, Pot Limit, No Limit Omaha

Omaha rules remain the same for Limit, No Limit and Pot Limit poker games, with a few exceptions:

• Limit Omaha - Betting in Limit Omaha is in pre-determined, structured amounts. Pre-flop and on the flop, all bets and raises are of the same amount as the big blind. On the turn and the river, the size of all bets and raises doubles. In Limit Omaha, up to four bets are allowed per player during each betting round. This includes a (1) bet, (2) raise, (3) re-raise, and (4) cap (final raise)

• Pot Limit Omaha - The minimum bet in Pot Limit Omaha is the same as the size of the big blind, but players can always bet up to the size of the pot.

  Minimum raise: The raise amount must be at least as much as the previous bet or raise in the same round. As an example, if the first player to act bets $5 then the second player must raise a minimum of $5 (total bet of $10).

  Maximum raise: The size of the pot, which is defined as the total of the active pot, plus all bets on the table, plus the amount the active player must first call before raising.

  Example: If the size of the pot is $100, and there is no previous action on a particular betting round, a player may bet a maximum of $100. After that bet, the action moves to the next player clockwise. That player can fold, call $100, or raise any amount between the minimum ($100 more) and the maximum. The maximum bet in this case is $400 - the raiser would first call $100, bringing the pot size to $300, and then raise $300 more, making a total bet of $400.

  In Pot Limit Omaha, there is no ‘cap’ on the number of raises allowed.

• No Limit Omaha - The minimum bet in No Limit Omaha is the same as the size of the big blind, but players can always bet as much more as they want, up to all of their chips.

  Minimum raise: In No Limit Omaha, the raise amount must be at least as much as the previous bet or raise in the same round. As an example, if the first player to act bets $5 then the second player must raise a minimum of $5 (total bet of $10).

  Maximum raise: The amount of chips the player has on the table.

  In No Limit Omaha, there is no ‘cap’ on the number of raises allowed.

Omaha Hi/Lo Poker

Owing to its frequently large pots, Omaha Hi/Lo (also called "Omaha High Low", “Omaha H/L”, “Omaha/8” or "Omaha 8-or-better ") has become a hugely popular game around the world. Just like regular Omaha, each player in an Omaha Hi/Lo game is dealt four hole cards that belong only to that player. Five community cards are dealt face-up on the "board". All players use exactly two cards from their four hole cards in conjunction with exactly three cards from the board to make the best five-card poker hand possible. The pot is divided between the best hand for high and the best hand for low - hence the name, Omaha Hi/Lo.

Omaha Hi/Lo is played with an "8-or-better" qualifier, which means that a hand must be at least an 8-7-6-5-4 low to be eligible to win the low portion of the pot.

Types of Omaha Hi/Lo Games

Omaha Hi/Lo can be played in the following formats:

• Limit Omaha Hi/Lo - Specific betting limit applied in each game and on each round of betting.

• Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo - Bets are limited to the amount of chips in the pot.

• No Limit Omaha Hi/Lo - A player can bet all of the chips he has available.

The game rules and limits on Omaha Hi/Lo are exactly the same as they are in Omaha.

Seven Card Stud

Possibly the most well-known poker game in the world, Seven Card Stud is a classic poker game which can take a lifetime to master. In Seven Card Stud, players are dealt seven cards throughout the course of the hand, but only the best five-card poker hand possible for each player is used to determine the winner. Unlike Texas Holdem and Omaha, Seven Card Stud poker is only played with a limit betting structure.

Rules for Seven Card Stud

Before a game of Seven Card Stud poker begins, all players ante a nominal amount (which is displayed in the table’s title bar). Each player is dealt two hidden hole cards and one exposed card. The player with the lowest exposed card is the "bring-in", and is forced to make another nominal bet or a full small bet (again, the exact size of the bring-in depends on the game). Action continues clockwise around the table until betting is complete for the round.

Note: For the purposes of determining the bring-in in Seven Card Stud, ties in card rank are broken by suit, with the order from highest to lowest being spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs. The lowest suit brings in, so if the deuce of hearts and deuce of clubs are visible at the beginning of the hand, then the deuce of clubs would have the bring-in.

Each player now receives an exposed card, called "Fourth Street". The first player to act is the individual whose exposed stud cards have the highest poker value. This player may either check or bet. If no player shows a pair amongst his or her exposed cards, the bet will be a small bet ($2 in a $2/$4 game). If any player shows a pair, the betting can be opened for a big bet ($4 in a $2/$4 game).

Each player now receives another exposed card, called "Fifth Street". Again the first player to act is the individual whose exposed cards have the highest poker value.

Note: Starting on Fifth Street and for the rest of the hand, all bets are in big bet increments ($4 in a $2/$4 game).

Each player now receives another exposed card, called "Sixth Street". Again, the first player to act is the individual whose exposed cards have the highest poker value.

Each player now receives a seventh and final card, which is dealt face-down and known only to the player to whom the card is dealt. The first player to act is the individual whose exposed cards have the highest poker value.

If there is more than one remaining stud player when the final betting round is complete, the last bettor or raiser shows his or her cards. If there was no bet on the final round, the player in the earliest seat shows his or her cards first (Seat 1, then Seat 2, and so on).

The player with the best five-card poker hand wins the pot. In the event of identical poker hands, the pot will be equally divided between the players with the best hands.

After the pot is awarded, a new online game of seven card stud poker is ready to be played.

Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo

Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo is a technically demanding poker game where the best traditional ‘high’ poker hand and the best Ace to Five lowball hand split the pot at showdown. In Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo poker, players are dealt 7 cards throughout the course of the hand, but only the best five-card hand possible for each player is used to determine the winner.

Note that Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo is played with an "eight or better" qualifier, which means that a low hand must be, at worst, an eight low to be eligible to win the low portion of the pot. (Low hands in Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo are determined in the same way they're determined in Omaha Hi/Lo).

Rules for Playing Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo

Before a game of Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo begins play, all players ante a nominal amount (the exact amount depends on the game, and is displayed in the table’s title bar). Each player is dealt two hidden hole cards and one exposed card. The player with the lowest exposed card is the "bring-in", and is forced to make another nominal bet or a full small bet (again, the exact size of the bring-in depends on the game). Action continues clockwise around the table until betting is complete for the round.

Note: For the purposes of determining the bring-in in Seven Card Stud, ties in card rank are broken by suit, with the order from highest to lowest being spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs. The lowest suit brings in, so if the deuce of hearts and deuce of clubs are visible at the beginning of the hand, then the deuce of clubs would have the bring-in.

Each poker player now receives an exposed card, called "Fourth Street". The first player to act is the individual whose exposed cards have the highest poker value. By rule, this player may either check or bet. Unlike in Seven Card Stud, there is no double-sized bet if a player makes a pair on Fourth Street – all bets are in the lower increment ($2 in a $2/$4 game).

Each player now receives another exposed card, called "Fifth Street". Again by rule, the first player to act is the individual whose exposed poker hand has the highest poker value. Rule Note: Starting on Fifth Street and for the rest of the hand, all bets are in big bet increments ($4 in a $2/$4 game).

Each poker player now receives another exposed card, called "Sixth Street". Again, the first player to act is the individual whose exposed cards have the highest poker value.

Each player now receives a seventh and final card, which is dealt face-down and known only to the player to whom the card is dealt. The first player to act is the individual whose exposed cards have the highest poker value.

If there is more than one remaining player when the final betting round is complete in Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo, the last bettor or raiser shows his or her cards. If there was no bet on the final round, the player in the earliest seat shows his or her cards first (Seat 1, then Seat 2, and so on).

Showdown - Determining the Hi and Lo Winners

The player with the best five-card hand for the high ("Hi") wins half the pot, and the player with the best hand for low ("Lo") wins the other half of the pot. In the event that no hand qualifies for low, the best hand for high wins the entire pot. Remember that in Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo, there is an "eight or better" requirement to win the low, so a player must have an unpaired five-card hand that consists of all cards less than or equal to an 8. If no player can meet this requirement, no low qualifies. After the pot is awarded to the high and low hands, a new game of Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo poker is ready to be played again.