Drumgower1
Joined: 14 May 2007
Posts: 133
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 Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 11:17 am Post subject: How to play |
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Poker Glossary
Poker is the name given to a number of card games where players wager on the strength of the cards they hold. Poker involves a communal "pot" consisting of the players' wagers which is awarded to the player who either holds the highest ranking hand or makes a wager which goes unmatched by his or her opponents.
The PokerDream Pokers Seven Card Stud and Omaha games are played in both "high-only" and "high-low split" form. In these high-low games, the best five-card poker hand for high wins half the pot, and the best qualifying five-card hand for low wins the other half. The PokerDream Poker Texas Hold'em games are always played high-only.
All poker games begin with some forced wager over which players compete. In Seven Card Stud, there are two forced wagers, an ante and a bring-in. In Texas Hold'em and Omaha, the forced wagers are a small blind and a big blind. In any poker game, players strategically wager using a number of actions available to them. The actions are as follows:
CHECK - If there is no wager on the current betting round, a player may check. The act of checking passes the action to the next player immediately clockwise from him or her. A check does not forfeit interest in the pot, only the current right to bet. If all players check during a round of betting, the round is considered complete.
BET - If there is no wager on the current betting round, a player may bet. If a player bets, the player immediately clockwise from him or her (and any subsequent players) may fold, raise, or call.
FOLD - The act of folding forfeits all interest in the pot. A player who folds is not required or allowed to wager any further money for the current game.
CALL - If there has been a wager on the current betting round, a player may call. The act of calling requires the player to match the current bet made by his or her opponent(s).
RAISE - If there has been a wager on the current betting round, a player may raise. The act of raising requires the player to match the current bet, and make a greater one. All subsequent players are required to call the raise or raise again ("re-raise") to maintain interest in the pot.
On each betting round, betting continues until the person immediately counterclockwise the last bettor or raiser acts. When this person acts, the next round begins, or the hand is complete.
When the last bet or raise on the final betting round is called, the "showdown" occurs. This is when it is determined who wins the pot, as players show their hands one-by-one. It may be the case that there is no showdown. This occurs when a player bets or raises, and no active players choose to call the player's bet (in other words, all players fold). In this case, the player doing the betting or raising wins the full amount of the pot.
Table Stakes and All-In
Poker is typically played "table stakes", meaning only the chips in play at the beginning of each hand may be used throughout the hand. The table stakes rule has an application called the "All-In" rule, which states that a player cannot be forced to forfeit a hand because the player does not have enough chips to call a bet. A player who does not have enough chips to call a bet is declared All-In. The player is eligible for the portion of the pot to the point of his final wager. All further action involving other players takes place in a "side pot", which is ineligible to the All-In player.
Poker Rules
Players are expected to chat in a way that would be appropriate in a face-to-face meeting. Abusive, foul, or inappropriate chat will not be tolerated. Players doing this are subject to penalties, including removal of chat for a period of time or permanently. In severe cases, such players may lose their playing privileges.
Players may not use the in-game chat feature to advertise websites or other commercial services. Such spamming may result in loss of chat and/or playing privileges.
Players may not spam tables with announcements of private tournaments or sit-and-go events. Such spamming may result in loss of chat, private tournament deployment, and/or playing privileges.
In both cash games and tournaments, players who have folded during a hand may not discuss the cards that they folded. This provides unfair information to players still in the hand.
In cash games only, players still in a hand may chat about what cards they claim to hold. This is coffee-housing, which is common in poker. However, players (in the hand or not) may not coach or otherwise suggest how another player should play his hand. For example, it is okay to say yours truly, should call; I'm bluffing. It is not okay to say, you should call; he's bluffing.
In case of disputes, management decision is final.
Game Limits
PokerDream Poker offers real-money poker at limits from $0.50/$1.00 to $100/$200 (this is customizable). In addition, PokerDream Poker also offers play-money games which are absolutely free to play.
Minimum Buy-In
The minimum buy-in at any poker table is ten times the amount of the bet on the lower betting rounds. For example, the minimum buy-in for a $10/$20 game is $100.
All-In
When a player puts the last of their chips into a pot, that player is said to be all-in. An all-in player is not eligible to win any money bet above their final bet. The excess part of the bet is either returned to the bettor, or used to form a side pot with another player or players who matched the amount bet. There is no limitation on the number of side pots. However, the all-in player will be eligible for the main pot, and therefore cannot be forced from the hand.
Sometimes a player has enough chips to continue betting or calling but has been disconnected and unable to respond. In this case the player is also deemed to be "all-in" for all the amount of chips he has bet on this particular hand. If this happens repeatedly, it probably means your Internet connection is poor. PokerDream Poker recommends that you stop playing for a while, and wait until your Internet connection improves.
If a player failed to act within the allotted time (usually 30 seconds) while being connected, the hand is folded and a corresponding message sent to a player by email explaining the system action.
High Speed Tables
These tables are identified by the words "fast" in the table list. These special tables are designed for those players who want to keep the game moving at a faster pace than a standard table.
If during the course of play you want to take a break when the blinds reach you, then click on the "Sit Out" checkbox. You will continue to be dealt in until the blinds reach you, at which time you will be placed in "Sitting Out" mode
Hand Ranking
One of the most confusing things for any new poker player is the order of hand rankings. The poker hands listed below are ranked from the Royal Flush (highest) to the High Card (lowest). These hand rankings are generally consistent throughout every variation of online poker.
The hand rankings in all poker games at PokerDream Poker follow the method used in any standard poker card game. Texas Hold'em, Omaha, 7-Card Stud and 5-Card Stud games are played with the player holding the highest ranking hand winning the pot. Omaha Hi/Lo and 7-Card Stud Hi/Lo are played with the pot being split between the highest ranking hand and the lowest ranking hand when a qualifying low hand exists.
Royal Flush
Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten all in the same suit.
Tied Hand: If two or more Royal Flushes exist at showdown, the pot is split.
Straight Flush
Five cards in numerical sequence all in the same suit.
Tied Hand: If two or more exist at showdown, the highest ranked card at the top of the sequence wins the pot. If two or more identical sequences exist, the pot is split.
4-of-a-Kind
Four cards of the same rank with fifth card being the highest eligible card.
Tied Hand: If two or more exist in a hand, the highest four of a kind wins.
Games played with community cards where players have the same four of a kind, the highest fifth card by rank (kicker) wins. If the kicker is also of the same rank, the pot is split.
Full House
Three cards of matching rank with two cards of different matching rank.
Tied Hand: If two or more exist at showdown, the highest three matching cards wins. Games played with community cards where players have the same three matching cards, the highest value of the two matching cards wins. If the hands are identical in rank, the pot is split.
Flush
Five cards of matching suit.
Tied Hand: If two or more exist in a hand, the highest ranked card wins. When necessary, the second, third, fourth or fifth highest cards are used to break a tie. If two or more exactly ranked flush hands exist, the pot is split.
Straight
Five cards in ranked sequence.
Tied Hand: If two or more exist at showdown, the highest ranked card at the top of the sequence wins the pot. If two or more exactly ranked straights exist, the pot is split.
3-of-a-Kind
Three cards of matching rank with two cards of different ranks.
Tied Hand: If two or more exist at showdown, the highest ranking three of a kind wins. Games played with community cards where players have the same three matching cards, the highest ranked fourth (or fifth when necessary) card wins. If the hands are identical in rank, the pot is split.
Two Pair
Two cards of matching rank with two additional cards of a different matching rank. The fifth card is an unrelated rank.
Tied Hand: If two or more exist at showdown, the highest pair wins. If the highest pair is the same rank, the highest second pair wins. If both pairs are identical, the highest fifth card by rank (kicker) wins. If the kicker is also of the same rank, the pot is split.
One Pair
Two cards of matching rank with three additional cards of unrelated ranks.
Tied Hand: If two or more exist at showdown, the highest pair by rank wins. If pairs of the same rank exist, the highest ranked unrelated card wins. The second and third highest ranked unrelated cards are used when necessary. If the hands are identical in rank, the pot is split.
High Card
Five cards that are not of the same suit, are not ranked sequentially and uniquely ranked.
Tied Hand: If two or more exist a showdown, the highest ranked card wins. The second, third, fourth and fifth highest ranked cards are used when necessary. If the hands are identical in rank, the pot is split.
Poker Hand Ranking for Low
For low hand rankings, the individual rank of each of the five cards must be unique. Suits and ranked sequences (flushes and straights) are not considered when ranking low hands making these hands eligible for both the low and high hands. Along with Aces being the highest card for High hand ranks, Aces are used as the lowest card for low hand ranks.
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