Poker
Poker, the king of card games, is an exciting blend of strategy, mind games and the random fall of the cards. It can be played simply for fun or with a great deal of complexity.
Unlike other casino games, you play against all the other players not the dealer. There are many varieties of poker and we offer two of the favourites; Omaha and Texas Hold'em.
What is the objective of the game?
The object of the game is to win the pot by forming the highest ranked five-card Poker hand or have all the other players surrender the pot to you by folding to your bet (bluff).
How do I play Texas Hold'em?
The fundamental difference between Poker and other Casino games is that players play poker against each other and not the house. For a fee, Adelaide Casino provides the dealers, the equipment and of course the perfect venue for a Poker game.
The objective of the game is to form the best five card poker hand or have the other players believe you have the best hand and fold to your bet (bluffing).
The Blinds
In Texas Hold’em (and Omaha), a disc called ‘the button’ indicates which player the dealer is dealing for in that particular hand.
Before a game begins, two players need to place a ‘blind bet’.
This is called a blind bet because the players have bet without seeing any cards. The player immediately clockwise of the button posts the ‘small blind’ or ‘first blind’ - usually smaller, sometimes half the ‘big blind’ or ‘second blind’.
The player immediately clockwise from the small blind posts the ‘big blind’ then all players receive their two ‘hole cards’. The hole cards are the player’s private cards to be used only by the player holding them.
After looking at his or her hole cards, each player then has the option to play his or her hand by calling or raising the big blind. As mentioned before, the big blind is equal in size to the small bet. Therefore, in a $4/$8 Hold'em game, it would cost $4 to call in this initial round of betting (known as the ‘pre-flop’ betting round).
The available actions are fold, bet, call or raise. These options depend on the action taken by the previous player. The first player to act has the option to fold, bet, call or raise. Subsequent players have the option of calling or raising. To call is to bet the same amount as the previous player has bet. To raise, is to match the previous bet and increase the bet.
After the first round of betting has concluded, the flop is dealt. The flop is the first three of five community cards dealt face up. The five community cards are called the ‘board’. All players share the board cards. Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise the button. All bets and raises occur in small bets (increments of $4 in a $4/$8 game). The same rules apply from above to complete this round of poker betting.
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.
The Flop
Now three cards are dealt face-up on the board - this is known as the flop. In Texas Hold'em, the three cards on the flop are community cards available to all players still in the hand. Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise of the button. All bets and raises occur in small bets (increments of $4 in a $4/$8 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 a Texas Hold'em poker game. Play begins with the active player immediately clockwise of the button. In this round, the same rules apply as above except that poker betting doubles from the small bet to the big bet. In a $4/$8 game, betting on the turn is made in increments of $8.
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 a Texas Hold’em game. Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise of the button and the same rules apply per the fourth card, explained above.
The Showdown
If there is more than one remaining poker player when the final betting round is complete playing Texas Hold'em, the last bettor or raiser shows his or her cards. If there was no bet on the final round, the player immediately clockwise the button shows his or her cards first. The player with the best five-card hand wins the Texas Hold'em pot. In the event of identical hands, the pot will be equally divided between the players with the best hands.
At the end of the final betting round, if there is more than one remaining poker player, the last bettor or raiser shows his or her cards first. If there was no bet on the final round, the player immediately clockwise of the button shows his or her cards first. The player with the best five-card hand wins the pot. In the event of identical hands, the pot will be equally divided between the players with the best hands. Suits are equal.
After the pot is awarded, a new game of Texas Hold'em is ready to be played. The button now moves clockwise to the next player and new hands are dealt to each player.
Betting
Limit Texas Hold'em
In Limit Texas Hold'em a maximum of four bets is allowed per player during any betting round. This includes a (1) bet, (2) raise, (3) re-raise, and (4) cap (final raise), but in No Limit Texas Hold'em and Pot Limit Texas Hold'em there is no limit to the number of raises that a player can make.
No Limit Texas Hold'em
Minimum raise: In No-Limit Texas Hold'em, 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).
Players may bet up to their entire table stake in No-Limit games.
Pot Limit Texas Hold'em
Minimum raise: The raise amount must be at least as much as the previous bet or raise in the same round.
For 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 poker pot. The pot includes the total amount wagered at that point of the hand and includes all antes, blinds and wagers made in previous betting rounds and the current betting round.
Please note, though uncommon, a game may have any combination of the above betting types. Equally uncommon, a game may have more than one blind bet.
How to Play Guide:
For an indepth guide on how to play 'Poker', please click here.
for more information on how to play 'Three Card Poker', please click here.
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