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Poker 110: Basic Poker Rules |
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Lesson 1: The Setup
Lesson 2: The Play |
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Lesson 2: The Play |
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In home poker games, it is typical for players start the betting with a specified initial amount, called an ante. Casinos usually use blinds for their poker games. A blind is a forced bet placed by one or more players before the deal begins. These initial bets are intended as an incentive for people to remain in the hand. The initial amounts are placed in the center of the table; this is called the pot. At the end of a hand, the highest hand of the remaining players wins the pot. Some players may have dropped out before the end of the hand. If two or more players tie at the end of the hand, the pot is usually divided equally between the winning players. |
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Betting also depends on the specific poker rules of the poker variation you are playing. Betting usually begins with the player directly to the dealer's left and continues in a clockwise order. |
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If no one made a bet yet, you have two betting options; Open or Check. |
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To Open simply means that you are making the first bet after the initial pot has been set. If no bet has been made an you do not wish to Open, then you Check. To Check means you don't want to bet more on your hand but you aren't ready to give up on it yet. |
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After the betting has been Opened, you have three choices when it is your turn to bet: See, Raise or Fold. |
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To See, or Call, means that you wish to stay in the hand but do not wish to bet a higher amount. To stay in the hand you must bet enough to match what has been bet since your last bet. If you initially bet $5 and another player bets $15, you would have to bet an additional $10 to See the bet. |
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If you wish to stay in the hand and you want to bet more then the current betting level, then you will Raise. To Raise you must first match the current bet and then put in the additional amount that you would like to increase the bet. If you initially bet $5 and another player bets $15, if you want to Raise the bet level to $20, you match the current bet with $10 and then add another $5 to Raise the bet. In some poker rule variations there are limits to the amount a player is allowed to Raise. Fixed limit games are most common in casinos, while spread limit games are more common in home poker games. No limit and pot limit games are less common, but some poker games play particularly well with those structures. |
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The last option you have is to Fold. When you Fold you drop out of the current hand and lose the possibility of winning the pot. Why would you want to Fold? Folding allows you to step out of a bad hand without wasting any more of your money. It can be a very valuable option when used correctly. |
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Return to Poker Courses |
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Previous >> Lesson 1: The Setup |
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