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Betting
and bluffing is a vital skill in Holdem. You can't be dealt good cards
all night and will have to win some pots with nothing. Get it wrong and
you will commit poker suicide. First a quick betting review.
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Buy
a poker chip stack
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In
tourney poker, at the start of a game each player puts the same amount
of money into a 'pot' to buy chips. Everybody starts with the same number
of chips. The winner is the person with all the chips at the end.
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Betting
in poker
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Putting
in the Blinds
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To
ensure there is always something to play for, the person left of the dealer
puts in a small bet before seeing any cards (the small blind). The person
left of the 'small blind' bets double this amount (the big blind).
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Betting
in No Limit Texas Holdem
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Round
1: Pre-flop betting
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Two
cards are dealt face down to each player. Betting starts with the person
left of the 'big blind'. Players take it in turns to bet clockwise around
the table. Each player can choose to raise, call or fold their hand.
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Calling
in poker
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big blind is a compulsory raise to start the betting. The player left of
this 'large ante' must at least match the bet to stay in the game (call).
Calling is betting enough chips to match a raise. |
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Raising
bets
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raiser 'calls' by matching the big blind and bets more chips. Each player
must then match the raise to call. NB. The total chips to call must equal
the highest number of chips bet by any individual in a round. |
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Re-Raise
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other players could of course choose to re-raise and add even more chips.
More than one raise can take place before the decision comes round to you
again. If you are not confident in your hand you can always 'fold'. |
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Folding
your hand
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you choose not to call, you lose all the chips you have bet so far and take
no further part in the hand. Even if you would have had the best hand at
the end, it is too late, you 'folded' your cards. He who dares wins! |
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Ending
a round of betting
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a player raises and everyone to their left calls or folds in, the round
is over. This raiser cannot decide to bet again until the next round of
betting. Each player staying in the game must have bet the same amount. |
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Round
2: Betting on the 'turn'
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shared cards are turned face up. The player left of the dealer bets first.
There are no ante bets at this stage as everyone has bet the same amount.
A player can choose to check (no bet) at this stage. |
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Checking
(knocking)
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check is a zero bet. If a person checks, the decision is passed to the player
on the left. If everyone 'checks' the betting round is over. No bets were
made. If a player does raise, the choices are 'call, re-raise or fold'. |
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Round
3: Fourth Street
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fourth shared card is dealt face up. Betting starts again with the player
to the left of the dealer. The choices for this player are check or raise.
If a player does raise, the choices are again 'call, re-raise or fold'. |
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Final
Round : Betting on the river
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fifth and final shared card is dealt face up. This card is called the river
card. Betting starts with the player to the left of the dealer. If a player
does raise, the choices are again 'call, re-raise or fold'. |
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We
have a winner!
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the final hand of betting is complete, players still in the hand (those
who have not folded) show their two cards, starting left of the dealer and
moving clockwise. Player with the best five card hand wins all the chips.
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Tied
hands
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hands are drawn the chips are split between the winning players. If the
best five card hand is the five 'shared' cards, it is a draw and the pot
is split evenly (NB. anyone who folded still loses their chips). |
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Going
ALL IN
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In
NO LIMIT poker there is no maximum raise. Players can bet everything and
go 'all in'. This player must stand for the remainder of the hand in readiness
to leave the table. If the player loses, their game is over.
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Next
hand...
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cards are shuffled by the next person to deal. A cut is offered to the player
on the right. Blind bets are placed. The cards are dealt and another hand
of poker starts. The four rounds of betting are repeated. |
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Raising
the antes (compulsory 'blind' bets)
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size of the blind bets double at set times during the game e.g. every 40
minutes. Raising the antes in this way ensures the game will come to an
end and keeps the betting going. Being 'anted away' is running out of chips. |
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Side
pots
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It
is impossible for a player to reraise someone who is all in. The person
has no chips to match the bet. Instead, any players who wish to remain
in the hand match the 'all in' bet and start betting against each other
for a 'side pot'. At the showdown, two pots are up for grabs. If the 'ALL
IN' player wins, they take the original pot. The remaining players then
showdown for the 'side pot'. The 'ALL IN' players cards do not count in
this second showdown.
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