Gaming Empire

7 card stud

7 Card Stud is played with a maximum of 8 players.
1st round of 7 Card Stud

At the beginning of the game, all players post an “ante” (which is a predetermined pot amount). The ante is determined by the size of the game.

As one might assume, in 7 card stud poker, each player receives 7 cards during the duration of the game: 3 of which are “down” cards and the other 4 being “up” cards (viewable by all players).

Initially, once the players have ante-d up, every player gets 3 cards (2 “down” cards and 1 “up” card). The “up” card is typically known as the “door card” or “Third Street”. The lowest “up” card must begin the game with what is called a “Bring-In” bet (note that if 2 or more participants have the similar lowest cards, the person who is designated to “brings-in” is based on suit precedence, which progresses from clubs, diamonds, hearts, and down to spades.

Each active player is permitted 1 bet and 3 raises in every betting round. To continue to play in a round, a given player must take an appropriate action from what is available to them on each “street” or betting round, unless they have no more chips (i.e., they are all-in).

2nd Round of 7 Card Stud

Subsequent to the 1st round of betting, an additional card is dealt face-up to each active player remaining (those who elected not to fold on “third street”). This is known as “Fourth Street” (or alternatively, as the 2nd round of betting). From the point of “Fourth Street” onward, the highest showing hand commences by either betting or checking. If a pair is showing for a given player on “Fourth Street”, those players can place a single or double bet. If a player places a single or double bet, the the remaining active players can do one of 4 things: 1) call, 2) raise the single bet, 3) raise the double bet or 4) fold. In regard to a double bet, only an equal amount can be raised (up to the size of the double bet).

3rd Round of 7 Card Stud

After betting completes on the “fourth street”, a subsequent card is dealt face- up to all active playerst. This card is known as “Fifth Street” (or the 3rd round of betting, which doubles – that is, the value of each bet is double that of first 2 rounds). This doubling of bets persists at this amount for all of the remaining betting rounds. Once again, the highest showing hand begins the round by either betting or checking.

4th Round of 7 Card Stud

After “fifth street” betting is complete, a subsequent card is dealt face- up. This is known as “Sixth Street” (i.e., the 4th betting round). Doubling of bets remains, as indicated in the 3rd round of betting (or “fifth street”).

5th Round of 7 Card Stud

Here, a final card is dealt down. The last card is prominently known as the “River Card”. This round is known as the “Seventh Street” (or as the final round of betting). Again, doubling of bets remains, as indicated in the prior 2 rounds of betting.

Some basic rules

As alluded to above, there are a maximum of 4 bets (which consists of 1 bet, and 3 raises) which are permitted for each player, for each betting round. To stay in the game, a given player must take an “action” based on what they see on each “street” (or betting round), unless they are out of chips (i.e., all-in). A term that is used is “cap”, which designates the final raise in a given round. It is named as such since betting is deemed to be capped at that juncture, and no one else can invoke a raise. Once a cap is invoked, each active player can fold or call only. Similar to other poker games, folding can be accomplished done at any point in the game. Once you fold, you are out of the game.

Poker is typically played utilizing “table stakes”, which means that only chips that are available at the beginning of each hand may be used during that hand. This implies that game participants cannot get procure additional funds in the middle of the game. The “table stakes” rule also states that when a player is “All-In”, that player cannot lose that hand just because he does not have adequate funds to call a bet.

Betting Exceptions in each round

When an active player does not have enough chips to call a bet, he is then known to be “All-In”. This player is eligible for a prorated piece of the pot, up to the point of his final wager. Any further betting activity regarding other active players goes into what is known as a “side pot”, which is strictly unavailable to any players who are already “All-In”. When a given player is “All-in”, the pot at the center of the poker table, which has bets from him as well, is deemed to be the main pot, over which the “All-in” player has rights. After a player is “all-in”, any subsequent bets are added to the side pot (as opposed to the main pot), over which only the side pot contributors have rights. Thus, any “All-in” player has no rights over the side pot. The side pot is then awarded to the next winning hand, outside of the group who is “all-in”.

When the final round of betting has completed, the best hand, of those remaining in the game, wins the pot. Similar to other poker games, a pot can also be garnered by a player who bets without being called at any time during the hand. A “hand” is generated by using the best 5 of the 7 cards. At the final round of betting, the active player who bets first (or checks first if no one else bets) must show their cards first during the showdown. If a player has the best hand, the remaining players may or may not elect to show their cards, however they desire. The aggressors’ hand is revealed first if he was the last to act upon the river.

If 2 (or more) hands have the same ranking, the winning hand is given to the player that has the higher cards. For example, a Flush with an Queen high defeats a Flush with a 10 high. If the poker hands remain tied, then the highest card not being held in common (also known as the “kicker”) determines the winner.

Suit order of cards is never taken into consideration when determining winning card hands. In the event that winning poker hands are absolutely identical in ranking, the pot distribution is evenly divided between the winning players. If there is an odd chip, the winning player to the left of the dealer receives it.

For all the 5 rounds of betting, the house (or the computer based poker service, if playing on-line) collects a commission, which is known as the rake.



Omaha Hi Poker

Omaha Hi is played with a dealer button to mark who the dealer is during any given game. This button rotates clockwise around the table after every hand. Since the dealer is the last to act, it is important to be the dealer, who as the greatest advantage for that hand.

Forced Bets

On occassion, Omaha Hi has an ante in which every player places a pre-determined amount of money into the pot at the beginning of each hand. Ante can be, but is not limited to, 1/10th of the low limit bet size. This ante does not have anything to do with or contribute toward any subsequent bets.

Omaha Hi rules stipulate that there must be 2 forced bets every hand, which are called blinds. There is a “small blind”, which equates to 1/2 of the low limit bet size, and there is a “big blind”, which equates to the low limit bet size. Before a given hand commences, the participant to the immediate left of the dealer button is must place the small blind, and the poker player to the left of that person must place the big blind. It is important to note that these 2 “blind” bets contribute towards that player’s 1st round bet, and are considered to be live bets, which means the player may elect to raise, even if no other player has.

Betting Rounds

Similar to Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hi has 4 rounds of betting. In a fixed limit Omaha Hi game, all bets must be equate to the size of the low limit bet, in the 1st 2 rounds of betting. In the last 2 rounds of betting, bets must equate to the high limit bet. For example, your $ 5 / $ 10 Omaha Hi, all bets in the 1st 2 rounds are in increments of $ 5, and all the bets in the latter 2 rounds are in increments of $ 10. Additionally, a maximum of 3 raises per betting round are permitted.

* Pre-flop Betting Round – The participant to the immediate left of the dealer button posts the small blind. The participant to the left of him, places the big blind. 4 cards are dealt to every player face down, starting with the small blind. The game commences with the poker player to the immediate left of the big blind, who decides to either fold, call (by placing the low limit bet), or raise (by placing in double the low limit bet). The game continues clockwise around the table. The small blind participant may call (assuming no player has raised to that point) by adding the other 1/2 of the low limit bet that he placed initially. The big blind participant can simply check (assuming no player has raised to that point), since hes already wagered the full size of the 1st round bet, with the big blind.

* Flop Betting Round – Next, 3 community cards are dealt face-up. In this round and the subsequent 2 rounds, the participant to the immediate left of the dealer is the first to perform an action. Game play continues in a clockwise fashion around the table. In this round, all bets and raises must be equate to the low limit bet size.

* Turn Betting Round – Next, a 4th community card is dealt face-up. Game play continues similarly to the previous round, with the exception that all bets and raises must equate to the high limit bet size.

* River Betting Round – Next, a 5th communitycard is dealt face-up. Game play proceeds similarly to the previous round. Again, similar to the prior round, all bets and raises must equate to the high limit bet size.

* Showdown Round – Any active player has the option of showing or mucking their hand. The person who bet last is the first to show their hand, and this revealing of the cards proceeds clockwise from that point, with each active player choosing to show their hand, or muck it. Why muck a hand, you might ask ? Many times a player will muck a hand if they believe that they are not going to win the pot, and they do not want the other players opponents to see what they played (this might reveal a bluffing strategy, for example). In any event, the highest revealed hand made from a player’s best 2 hole cards and best 3 community cards, wins the pot.

Omaha Hi/Lo

In Omaha Hi/Lo games, the pot is split between BOTH the Hi hand and the Lo hand; i.e., there are 2 winners to each game. The same cards are used in declaring either a Hi or Lo best hand. Additionally, 1 hand can conceivably win both the Hi and the Lo portions of the pot. An example hand that can do this is known as “the Wheel”, which consists of an Ace, 2, 3, 4, and 5. If there is no obvious qualifying Lo hand winner, the best Hi hand wins the entire pot. In the division of the pot, the Hi hand receives any odd chip.

Some interesting scenarios of the Omaha Hi/Lo rules are that flushes and straights do not go against you when you are qualifying for the Lo game. Additionally, you can utilize different cards in your hand for the Hi side and different cards for the Lo side of your hand considerations, or you can even use the same cards for both the Hi and Lo sides. Further, as stated earlier, in a split pot, any odd chip that is left over, is earned by the person who wins the high side of the pot.

Omaha Hi/Lo is also known as “Omaha High Low”, “Omaha hi/lo”, “Omaha Hi-Lo”, “Omaha high-low”, and “Omaha high/low”.

Omaha 8

In Omaha 8 games, the pot is split between BOTH the Lo and Hi hands; i.e., there are 2 players that claim victory in each game. Hi or Lo best hands are derived from the same cards.
Additionally, 1 single hand can win both the Hi and the Lo portions of the pot. As an example of this, a hand known as “the Wheel”, which consists of an Ace, 2, 3, 4, and 5, can conceivably win both the Hi and Lo hands. In a given hand, if there is no obvious qualifying Lo hand winner, the best Hi hand will win the entire pot. In the division of the pot, the Hi hand receives any odd chip, over the Lo hand. Other than that, all the regular rules of an Omaha Hi/Lo game are in effect except that a qualifier of 8-or-lower for the Lo hand applies. Essentially, what this means is that the winning low hand can only consist of cards under the value of 9. Hence, the Flop would need to consist of 3 cards under the value of 9. In order to qualify for the low half of the pot, the low hand must be 8 or lower. That is why this game is named “8 or better”, or for short, “Omaha 8″.

Some interesting scenarios of the Omaha 8 (and Omaha Hi/Lo) rules are that straights and flushes do not count against you when you are competing to win the Lo game. Additionally, you can use different cards in your hand for the Lo portion and different cards for the Hi portion of your hand considerations, or better yet, you can even use the same cards for both the Lo and Hi hands.

Texas Holdem Rules

Regarding Texas Holdem Rules, after each hand is completed, the dealer position alternates clockwise to the next player. This player is called “the dealer” for that given hand. As a result, each player has an equal opportunity to be in the early, middle and late position of a game.

1st round of Texas Holdem

The 2 players to the left of the dealer place blind bets to start the pot (similar to an ante). The player to the left of the dealer must post what is called the “small blind”, which is usually equal to half the lower stake.

The player to the left of the small blind must post the “big blind”, which is equal to the lower stake limit. The blinds in Hold’em are treated as live bets and the players who posted them have the option of checking, calling, raising or folding when the betting returns to them. Note that the dealer (and thus the small and big blinds) move around the table clockwise at the end of each hand, so each participant will post these blind bets over time.

Once the blinds have been placed, 2 closed cards are dealt to each player (these are known as the “hole” cards). Next, the 1st round of betting begins. The player to the left of the player who posted the big blind starts betting for this current round.

Each player has the option to place bets in the 1st round, which is set at the lower limit of the stakes structure. For example, in a $ 5/$ 10 Hold’em game, the value of each bet is $ 5 for the first round. Therefore, when a player calls the bet, this is equal $ 5, and the “raise” bet is $ 10. A raise is inclusive of a call on the prior bet made and 1 additional bet.

Bets can be made by either Calling or Raising. These betting options are available depending on the what course of action was taken by the previous player. Additionally, each player always has the option to fold. The 1st player to act has the option to bet, which means he can call or raise. Subsequently, players have the option of calling or raising the bet. To call a bet means to bet the same amount of money as the previous player has. To raise a bet means that the player matches the previous bet and then increase the bet, over and above the call amount.

Every player participating (i.e., a player who has not yet folded) in the hand should have equal amounts of money bet as the previous players. When a point in time is reached and the players have put equal amounts in the pot, the betting resumes. There is a maximum limit on the dollar amount and the # of bets that a player can make during a given betting round (4 bets for limit games).

After the 1st round of betting is over, the Flop, which are the 1st 3 community cards are dealt. The community cards are common to all the players still playing in the hand.

2nd Round of Texas Holdem

After the Flop, and in each following betting round, the 1st remaining player to the left of the dealer is 1st to act. The 2nd betting round, similar to the 1st betting round, also limits the value of bets and raises to the lower limit of the stake structure. Thus, in a $ 5/$ 10 game, the value of each bet is $ 5 for this 2nd round.

Bets can be placed by either Calling or Raising. These plays are available to each player based on the action taken by the previous player. The 1st player to play in this round is the player to the left of the dealer, and he gets the option to bet or to check (checking is the ability to make not bet, but is only available to that player if no bet has yet been made in that betting round). Once a player has bet (i.e., not checked), subsequent players will have the ability to either Call or Raise only.

After this round of betting completes, the 4th community card is dealt. This 4th community card is known as the “Turn”.

3rd Round of Texas Holdem

The 3rd betting round begins again with the player to the left of the dealer. Bets and raises are now limited to the upper limit of the stake structure (i.e., in a $ 5/ $ 10 game, $ 10 is the upper stake. Therefore, a single bet in this instance is $ 10, and a raise is $ 20, which includes a call on the previous bet and 1 additional bet. Bets can be made by playing any of the following options – Bet, Call and Raise. Combinations of these options are available to the player based on the action of the previous player.

After this round of betting consummates, the 5th and final Community card is dealt. This 5th community card is known as the “River”.

4th Round of Texas Holdem

The 4th (and yes, final) betting round once again begins with the player to the left of the dealer. Bets and raises are limited to the upper limit of the stake structure which in a $ 5/$ 10 game, would be $ 10. Bets are made by doing any of the following – Bet, Call or Raise. Combinations of these options are available to the player based on the action taken by the previous player.

Once all the bets have been made, there are 2 possible scenarios: 1) all the players except for 1 have folded and that person wins the pot, or 2) out of the remaining players left, the best hand wins, upon the revealing of hands.

The game play is identical for both No-Limit and Pot-Limit Texas Hold’em games, with several exceptions to the rules stated above:

In Limit Texas Hold’em, a maximum of 4 bets is allowed per player during any betting round. This includes a (1) bet, (2) raise, (3) re-raise, and (4) cap. 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. The only limit is that you can never raise yourself. If all the other players in the hand only call or fold, the player would not get an option to raise, because the last raise was done by that player.

Betting Structure for No-Limit Texas Holdem Poker

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 1st player to act bets $ 50 then the 2nd player must raise a minimum of $ 50 (for a total bet of $ 100).

Maximum eligible raise: The size of your stack (i.e., your chips on the table).

The Betting Rules for Pot-Limit Texas Holdem Poker

Minimum eligible 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 1st player to act bets $ 50, then the 2nd player must raise a minimum of $ 50 (total bet of $ 100).

Maximum eligible raise: The size of the pot, which is defined as the total of the active pot (which can be either the main pot or the side pot depending on whether anyone has gone “all-in”) plus all bets on the table plus the amount the active player must 1st call before raising.

As an example, if the active pot is $ 100 and the 1st player to act in the round bets $ 75 and the next player calls $ 75, the 3rd player has a maximum eligible total bet of $ 400. The $ 400 total is made up of the $ 75 call and $ 325 raise. The $ 325 max raise portion is equal to the pot of $ 100 + first player’s $ 75 + 2nd player’s $ 75 + his own call of $ 75.