How to Play Poker

Basics - Arrangements - Draw -Omaha - Stud -Texas Hold'em

Arrangements

What you'll need to organise your own game
Banker
Poker game is not a banking game. Bets are made as contributions to a pool. The "banker" simply supervises the supply of betting chips. He records how many have been issued to each player, including himself and keeps the payments and the unissued stock to one side. Players must not make exchanges or transactions among themselves. A player in a Poker game needing more chips must purchase them from the bankers stock ; a player with surplus chips may sell them back into stock. The banker is either the host ; or any player chosen by lot (e.g. high cut) or agreement.
Kitty
In a poker game the kitty is a fund for buying ew cards ore refreshments, set up by agreement before play commences. Usually one betting unit is contributed to it from any pot in which there has been more than one raise or, alternatively, where the winner holds a specified hand or better. The banker arranges all this. Any chips in the kitty poker game at the end of the game are divided equally among those still playing ( player who leaves before the end loses the right to any part of the kitty).
Betting chips
These are almost always used rather than cash in a poker game. Usually different colours represent different values, for example: white one unit; red, five units ; blue, 10 units; yellow 25 units. A poker game with seven or more players needs about 200 chips. The best value distributions depend on the maximum betting limit. At the start of play, each player buys chips to the same total value, for example 50 units. A players stock of chips must always be kept in full view of other players, and not taken from the table except for cashing.
Card decks
Two decks of cards with contrasting backs are usually used in club play. At the end of one play, one deck is collected and shuffled by the player who dealt last, while the other is dealt into play by the new dealer.
New decks
May be called for by any player at any time.
Seating
At the start of the session seating is random, unless a player has been chosen but before play begins.
Reseating
On reseating, the first dealer has the first choice of seat. He then shuffles then deck, has it cut by the player to his right, and deals one card face up to each player in rotation, beginning with the player to his left.The player with the lowest ranking card sits to the dealer's left, the player with the next lowest card sits to that player's left, and so on. Of two cards with the same denomination, that dealt first ranks higher. The dealer then gathers the cards and has them shuffled and cut for play. After play starts, or after a reseating, no one may demand a reseating for at least an hour, provided no one joins or leaves the game. If a player joins the game after it starts and someone questions the seat he takes, the dealer between plays deals a card to each existing player, and the new player takes his seat to the left of the player with the lowest card. This is done separately for each player joining. If a player replaces another player, he must take the seat vacated provided no one objects. Two players may exchange seats just before any play provided no one objects.
Time limits
The time at which the game will end should be agreed before play starts, and be strictly observed. Any players who wish to continue can do so, but should set a new time limit.
Agreed rules
Rules to be agreed before the start of a game ( and preferable written down) are: the form of game to be played2. wild cards and their use any special hands and rulings the value of chips betting limits and checking limits on raises and/or payment for freezing a raise bonus payments and payments to the kitty
Club and casino poker
The management supplies table, chips, cards, dealer and/or inspector. It takes a cut- usually a direct charge on the winner of each pool, but sometimes an hourly charge for tables and officials.
Irregularities
Because poker can be played for very high stakes, innumerable rules govern irregularities of play, both accidental and deliberate. It is impossible to treat all these here. The reader who wishes to play poker for high stakes should consult an advances book on the subject.
Pattern of play
Rotation of play is clockwise. No player acts until the active player neares to his right has acted. Choice of first dealer is by deal: the first jack to appear. The deal is clockwise to active players only, beginning with the active player nearest the dealers left. varies from one form of poker to another. Showdown: after the final betting interval, players still active expose their hands ( in draw poker) or hole card(s) (in stud poker), beginning with the player being called, and in a clockwise direction. Each player announces the rank of hand he is claiming. In any discrepancy, the cards "speak for themselves" - this includes giving the hand a higher rating than claimed, except if there are wild cards (where the player's announcement can not be improved on). The hand of highest rank wins. Tied hands divide the pool equally. Change of dealer. After each play, the deal passes one player to the left of theprevious dealer.
Forms of poker
Closed and open poker are the two main forms: Closed poker, usually played in the form of draw poker. Players receive their cards face down. After a betting interval, they discard the cards they do not want, and receive cards from the deck. A second betting interval is followed by a showdown if more than one player is still active. Open poker, known as stud poker. This is a faster game than draw poker and allows for more skill. As there is no exchange of cards, the average rank of winning cards is lower than in draw poker. Players receive some cards face down and some face up. Betting intervals interrupt the deal. After the deal, players cannot receiver replacements but (in versions where more than five cards per player are dealt) each chooses only five cards to form his final hand. A final betting interval is followed by a showdown if more than one player is active.
Choice of form
The form to be played may be decided by the host or by club rules ; but if a decision has to be made, two factors should be taken into account: Number of players. The best games for a particular number of players are as follows: four or less: stud poker; five to eight: any form of poker ; nine or ten: five card stud; more then 10, any variant with fewer than five cards per player - or split into two tables. Relative experience . If some players are considerable more experienced than others, it is best to choose one of the less common variants in which the element of skill is lower.
Dealers choice
If it is agreed to play "dealers choice" the dealer chooses the game to be played: a standard form, a known variant, or any new and easily explained variant he can devise. He designates any wild cards. He may not, however, alter the betting limits, add cards to or remove them from the deck, or later basic poker rules. His game holds by agreement either: For this deal only; or for a complete round of dealing. The next dealer in turn then chooses for the next complete round. Sometimes, a play or round of dealer's choice is played whenever a very good hand appears (e.g. full house or better)