Texas Hold'em | Omaha Hold’em | Omaha for High Low | Seven Card Stud | Seven Card Stud for High Low | Rank of Hands
In Hold'em (also known as Texas Hold'em), players get two down cards and five community cards (which are face-up in the middle of the table). Your hand is determined by using the best five of those seven cards (in any combination) and the best hand wins the pot. Click here to see the Rank of Hands. (The pot may also be won by someone betting and no one calling prior to getting seven cards.)
There are four rounds of betting in Hold'em. In Limit Hold'em, one bet and three raises are allowed for each betting round. To continue the play, players should call all actions to them on each betting round (unless they are "all-in").
The procedure for Hold'em:
Note: The Blinds are determined by the size of the game.
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As in Hold'em, in Omaha, players share five "community" cards (which are dealt face-up in the center of the table). In Omaha, players start with four "down" cards. In Omaha, you MUST use two of your four "down" cards along with three "up" cards (community cards) on the board to form your hand. (Click here to see the Rank of Hands). Upon the completion of betting, the best hand wins the pot.
Remember: In Omaha, you MUST use two of your four "down" cards along with three "up" cards (community cards) to form your hand. There are four betting rounds in Omaha. In Omaha High and Omaha 8 or Better, one bet and three raises are allowed per betting round. To continue the game, players must call all actions to them on each betting round (unless they are "all-in").
The procedure for Omaha :
Note: The Blinds are determined by the size of the game.
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Omaha for High Low is a version of Omaha. It is a "split pot" game. Over the past few years, it has been the fastest growing poker game in the world. Players love it because it is an action game.
There is no qualifying on the "High" side - the best high hand automatically wins half the pot and could win the whole pot. (Click to see the Rank of Hands.) To win the "Low" side of the pot, however, you must qualify (which is why the game is named Omaha High Low).
How to qualify for Low: it takes a five-card hand with different numerical values from Ace through eight (with the Ace being the lowest) to qualify for the "Low" half of the pot. The best "Low" hand is A, 2, 3, 4, 5 (also known as the "wheel" or "bicycle"). The winning "Low" hand goes to the player with the lowest high card. For example, a player with a 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 would have a better "Low" hand than someone with an A, 2, 4, 6, 8. If two or more players have the same high card, the player with the second lowest card (or third, fourth, or fifth if necessary) in their hand wins the pot.
Important:
Ties: In case two or more players "tie" for one side of the pot, they will split that half into equally divided portions. If there is an odd chip(s), it will go to the person(s) closest to the left of the "button". One player winning the "High" side and two players who tie for the "Low" side is not uncommon in Omaha for High Low.
Key to Remember: To determine your hand(s) in Omaha 8 or Better, you MUST play two of your four "down" cards with three of the "up" cards (community cards). You may play different cards for the "High" and "Low" sides. A player "scoops" the pot when they win the whole pot. (This is your mission.)
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In Seven Card Stud (the most common form of poker), players receive seven cards, three "down" cards and four "up" cards. Your "hand" is determined by using the best five of seven cards and the best hand wins the pot. Click here to see the Rank of Hands. (The pot may also be won by someone betting and no one calling prior to getting seven cards.)
There are five betting rounds in Seven Card Stud. One bet and three raises are allowed on each betting round. To continue the game, players should call all actions to them on each "Street" or betting round.
The procedure for Seven Card Stud:
Everyone "antes" (puts a predetermined amount in the pot before the cards are dealt).
Note: The antes, bring-ins, and betting limits are determined by the size of the game.
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Seven Card Stud for High/Low is a version of Seven Card Stud. It is a "split-pot" game. There is no qualifying on the "High" side - the best hand automatically wins half the pot and could win the whole pot. (Click here to see the Rank of Hands.) To win the "Low" side, however, you have to qualify (which is why the game is also called Seven Card Stud "8 or Better").
The game is played with exactly the same format and structure as Seven Card Stud. The difference is that if someone qualifies for "Low", the pot is split.
How to qualify for Low: it takes a five-card hand with different numerical values from Ace through eight (with the Ace being the lowest value) to qualify for the "Low" half of the pot. The best "Low" hand is A, 2, 3, 4, 5 (also known as the "wheel" or "bicycle"). The winning "Low" hand is the one with the lowest high card in it. If two or more players qualify for "Low" but have the same high card, the second lowest high card (and if necessary progressing down to the third, fourth, or fifth lowest card) would be the winning hand. For example, a 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 would be a better "Low" hand than an A, 2, 4, 7, 8.
Important:
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Royal Flush: Ten, Jack, Queen, King, Ace of the same suit.
Straight Flush: straight with all five cards in the same suit.
Four of a Kind: four cards of the same number or face value ("quads").
Full House: three cards of one number or face value and two cards of another number or face value. If more than one player has a full house, the full house with the highest ranking three of a kind ("trips") wins.
Flush: five cards of the same suit. If there is more than one flush, the hand with the highest card(s) wins.
Straight: Five cards in sequence. Cards can be in any suit. An Ace can be used in the highest straight (10, J, Q, K, A) and the lowest straight (A, 2, 3, 4, 5).
Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same number or face value ("trips").
Two Pair: If two players have two pair, the hand with the highest pair wins. If they have the same high pair, whoever has the second highest pair wins. If they have the same two pair, whoever has the highest fifth card ("kicker") wins.
One Pair: Two cards of the same number or face value. If two players have the same pair, the highest outside card(s) wins.
High Card: The hand with the highest card(s) wins.