By clicking on the left hand side menu bars, you can access a detailed description of all games provided by Poker Share. We recommend that you print out a copy of these rules for your reference.
POKER SHARE The basics of the game are explained below: The player to the immediate left of the dealer button must pay (post) a small blind, normally half of the small bet (i.e. in a $2/$4 limit game, the small blind is $1).The player to the left of the small blind posts the big blind, which is normally equivalent to the small bet (i.e. $2 in this example). These blinds or forced bets exist so that there is always something in the pot to compete for. A first round of betting then starts based purely on the strength of these cards. The player to the left of the big blind is the first player to bet, with betting continuing clockwise around the table. The betting options are: Betting continues until players have either called the maximum bet placed or folded. If the pot hasnt been won already then we move onto the flop.
Also referred to as "Hold 'em", this is one of the most popular games in North America and Europe. It is this style of poker that can be commonly seen on television and is the main event at the World Series of Poker.
Dealer and Blinds
One player is designated the "dealer" by a marker called the "dealer button" or "button". The dealer button moves clockwise around the table at the end of every hand (as if each player was taking their turn to deal)
Pre-Flop
Each player is then dealt two hole cards, also referred to as pocket cards, which are only visible to the player.
Check – Opt to stay in the game without betting. Pre-flop, it is only players who have posted a big blind who can make this move. If the pot has been raised, options are limited to call / raise or fold.
Call - match the amount bet in the big blind, or match any raise thats been made
Raise - increase the current bet
Fold - surrender his cards and play no further part in the hand (current
The Flop
Three community cards, placed in the middle of the table face up and visible to all players, are dealt (called the flop). Another round of betting takes place, starting with the player to the left of the dealer. Again betting moves around the table clockwise. (Players can check if pot hasnt been raised).
The Turn
A fourth community card is dealt (called the turn). Another betting round takes place.
The River
The fifth and final community card is dealt face up on the table (called the river). A final betting round occurs.
The Showdown
After all betting rounds, if there is still more than 1 player left in the game, the winner is decided by a showdown. A showdown is when players must reveal their cards and the player with the highest hand wins (Hand Rankings). If players share an identical hand, the pot is split.
Omaha Hi/Lo is an exciting variant of Omaha and is favoured by many players because of its frequently large pots. The game is played in the exact same manner as Omaha with one exception. In addition to being able to win a pot for the highest ranking hand, a pot is also offered for a low ranking hand. The pot is split in half between the winning high and low hand. If players have the same winning or low hand, the pot can be split further. For a hand to qualify as a low hand, its highest card cannot be more than 8. If there are two or more qualifying low hands, the hand comprised of the lowest high card will win the low hand pot. For example, a hand comprised of A, 3, 4, 5, 6 will beat a hand comprised of A, 2, 4, 5, 7. A valid low hand can not include a pair. Straights and flushes do not count against a low hand. It's important to remember that a player can win both the high and low hand. This can be done by using different hole cards and community cards if necessary. If no one makes a qualifying low hand, the entire pot will be awarded to the high hand winner. Betting is divided into 5 rounds, each player can see a maximum of 7 cards and there are no community cards. Deal Opening the Betting - the "Bring-in" Third Street - 1st Betting Round Fourth Street Fifth Street Sixth Street Seventh Street or "River" Showdown For a hand to qualify as a low hand, its highest card cannot be more than 8. If there are two or more qualifying low hands, the hand comprised of the lowest high card will win the low hand pot. For example, a hand comprised of A, 3, 4, 5, 6 will beat a hand comprised of A, 2, 4, 5, 7. A valid low hand can not include a pair. Straights and flushes do not count against a low hand. A player can win both the high hand and low hand pot. For example with a hand of: POKER SHARE This is the original form of stud poker. It works in much the same way as 7 card stud. Ante Deal Opening betting round - "Bring in" Third Street Fourth Street Fifth Street - the "River"
POKER SHARE
Omaha is a game derived from Texas Hold 'em. There are only two differences:
POKER SHARE
POKER SHARE
7 Card Stud is a very popular variety of poker. It has a very different structure to Texas Hold 'em.
Ante
Before a game starts, each player must post an "ante", a very small bet that ensures there is some money in the pot.
All players are then dealt three cards, where two are face down ("hole" cards) and the third is face up ("door" card).
The player with the lowest card displayed (the "door" card) is required to make the bring-in bet, which can be half the small bet or a full small bet (i.e. if stakes are $5/$10, the bring-in can be $2.50 or $5). If two or more players have the same lowest card, the bring-in will be the lowest suit. Suits are ranked from low to high in alphabetical order: clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades.
Once the bring-in bet has been made, each player (starting with the player to the left of the bring-in) can fold, call, or raise to the betting limit.
Everyone is dealt another card face up. The player with the highest exposed cards or pair starts the betting. The lower bet still applies ($5). On this round of betting only, if any player has an open pair, then a player can open with a double bet ($10).
Everyone is dealt another exposed card. The player with the highest exposed hand starts the betting round. Only high bets apply ($10 in example)
Everyone is dealt another exposed card. Again, the player with the highest combination of up cards starts the betting. Only high bets apply ($10 in example)
The final seventh card dealt face down. The player who started the sixth round starts this final betting round. If 1 one or more players remain it goes to a showdown.
The player with the best five card hand wins
POKER SHARE
Same as 7 Card stud except that, like Omaha Hi/Lo, the pot is split between the highest hand and any qualifying low hand.
Ad, 7d, 3c, 4d, 5d, 6c, Jd - The winning low hand could be A, 3, 4, 5, 6 and the winning high hand could be an Ace high flush.
To begin a round, each player pays the ante which will be a fraction of the smaller bet (e.g. at stakes of $10/$20, the ante could be $1).
All players are dealt one card face down, and one card face up.
The player with the lowest card facing up begins betting by making a bring-in bet. Like 7 card stud, this bet can be half the smaller bet or a full small bet (in our example $5 or $10). If two players have the same exposed lowest card, the rank will be ordered by suit going from clubs as the lowest through diamonds, hearts and spades as the highest. Betting proceeds clockwise from the "bring in".
Players are then dealt another card face up. The player with the highest combination of cards facing up begins the betting. Bets will normally be a smaller bet ($10), but can be a high bet ($20) if one or more players have a pair in their two exposed cards.
Another card is dealt face up to each player still remaining. The highest exposed cards start the betting again. Only high bets apply in this round (e.g. $20).
One last card is dealt face up so that all remaining players now have one card face down and the remaining four face up; the final betting round begins. If 1 or more players remain after this betting round, the winner is decided by a showdown, where the strongest five card poker hand wins.
