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Poker Rules

Poker Overview

Blinds

To start a new hand two “Blind” bets are put up or “Posted.” The player immediately to the left of the dealer puts up or “posts” the small blind which is equal to half the minimum bet. The player to the left of the small blind posts the big blind, which is equal to the minimum bet. The rest of the players do not put up any money to start the hand. Because the deal rotates around the table, each player will eventually act as the big blind, small blind and dealer.

The Opening Bet

Each player is dealt two cards face down, with the player on the small blind receiving the first card and the player with the dealer button getting the last card. The first betting round begins with the player to the left of the big blind. The betting goes around the table in order until it reaches the player who posted the small blind. The last person to act is the big blind. If no one has raised, the dealer will ask if they would like the option. This means the big blind has the option to raise or just “check.” By checking, the player does not put in any more money.

The Flop

After the first betting round is completed, three cards are dealt and turned face up in the middle of the table. This is known as the “Flop.” These are community cards used by all the players. Another betting round begins with the first active player to the left of the dealer button. (Note: Some games, such as Five-Card Draw, have no community cards, or “flop.” Players bet only on the cards in their hands. Players complete their hands and go straight to the “showdown.”)

The Turn

When the betting round after the flop is completed, the dealer turns a fourth card face up in the middle of the table. This is referred to as the “Turn.” Betting begins again with the first active player to the left of the dealer.

The River

Following the betting round for the turn, the dealer will turn a fifth and final card face up. This is called the “river.” The final round of betting begins.

The Showdown

To determine the winner, the players may use any combination of their two hole cards and the five cards on the “Board” (table) to form the highest five-card hand. In some rare cases the best hand will be the five cards on the board. In that case, the active players will split the pot.

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Rules of different games

World Championship Poker features the most popular games played by the pros. Some you have certainly heard of, others may be new to you. Whether you play against a virtual opponent or your friends, your skills will be pushed to the limit—and if you survive—honed to a fine edge.

Texas Hold’em

This is a simple game to learn but a hard game to master. Each player is dealt two personal cards and then five community cards are turned up on the board. You make the best five-card hand using any combination of the seven cards.

• Post Small and Big Blinds.
• Deal two hole cards face down.
• Begin betting.
• Deal three cards on the Flop.
• Deal one card on the Turn.
• Deal one card on the River.
• Use any combination of hole cards and community cards to make the best hand.

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Omaha

In Omaha Hold’em you are dealt four hole cards (instead of two). In order to make a hand a player must use precisely two hole cards with three board cards. The betting is the same as in Texas Hold’em. At the showdown, the entire five-card hand should be shown to receive the pot.

• Post Small and Big Blinds.
• Deal four hole cards face down.
• Begin betting.
• Deal three cards on the Flop.
• Deal one card on the Turn.
• Deal one card on the River.
• Must use two hole cards and three community cards to make the best hand.

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Lowball

Basically, it's five card draw and the low hand wins. The point of the game is to have the lowest hand possible. But unlike razz, straights and flushes count as high hands. So the best possible hand a player could have is 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7.

• Each player receives five cards face down.
• After a round of betting a player is allowed to draw up to five new cards.
• Once a player receives their new cards, a final round of betting follows.
• Players then reveal their cards and since the lowest hand is the best-2,3,4,5 and 7 off suit is as good as it gets.

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Pineapple, Crazy Pineapple and Tahoe

These are three different styles of Texas Hold’em. You are initially dealt three cards instead of two.

Pineapple

In Pineapple, you immediately discard one of the three cards you are dealt, and the poker game proceeds exactly as in Texas Hold’em.

• Post Small and Big Blinds.
• Deal three hole cards face down.
• Begin betting.
• Discard one hole card.
• Deal three cards on the Flop.
• Deal one card on the Turn.
• Deal one card on the River.
• Use any combination of hole cards and community cards to make the best hand.

Crazy Pineapple

In Crazy Pineapple, you discard the third card after the second betting round, before the fourth community card is dealt.

• Post Small and Big Blinds.
• Deal three Hole Cards face down.
• Begin betting.
• Deal three cards on the Flop.
• After second round of betting, discard one Hole Card.
• Deal one card on the Turn.
• Deal one card on the River.
• Use any combination of hole cards and community cards to make the best hand.

Tahoe

In Tahoe, you keep all three cards through showdown, but may not use all three of them to make a poker hand—you may use none, one, or two cards from your hand, combined with those on the board, to make your final five-card hand.

• Post Small and Big Blinds.
• Deal three hole cards face down.
• Begin betting.
• Deal three cards on the Flop.
• Deal one card on the Turn.
• Deal one card on the River.
• Use up to two (zero, one or two) hole cards in combination with the community cards in order to make the best hand.

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Double Flop Hold’em

Just as the name implies, two flops are dealt, which means you will have more cards to choose from in order to make your hand.

• Post Small and Big Blinds.
• Deal two hole cards face down.
• Begin betting.
• Deal two Flops, each with three cards.
• Deal a one-card Turn on each Flop.
• Deal a one-card River on each Flop.
• For each Flop, use any combination of hole cards and community cards to make the best hand. The pot is split between the winners of each Flop.

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Super Hold’em

Super Hold’em is played just like regular Texas Hold’em, but you receive one extra hole card. That makes a total of three hole cards.

• Post Small and Big Blinds.
• Deal three hole cards face down.
• Begin betting.
• Deal three cards on the Flop.
• Deal one card on the Turn.
• Deal one card on the River.
• Use any combination of hole cards and community cards to make the best hand.

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Five-Card Draw

This is the classic poker from the Wild West. Many call this game “beginners’ poker.” There are no community cards. Played with five dealt cards with the option to discard up to three cards. You may also discard four cards if your remaining one card is an ace. The winner is chosen by the highest hand.

• Ante up.
• Deal five cards face down.
• Begin betting.
• Discard up to three cards. (four cards if you have an ace).
• Dealer “draws” to replace any discarded cards.
• Begin the second and final round of betting.
• The best hand takes the pot.

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Seven-Card Stud

Seven-card stud is considered the poker player’s poker game. In this game you are given two cards down and one up, which everyone can see. Then you are dealt additional cards called “streets” until you have seven cards in your hand. Then you try to make the best five card hand possible.

• Ante up.
• Deal two hole cards face down and one card face up.
• Lowest card face up brings in the bet.
• Deal one card, “4th Street,” face up to each player.
• Resume betting with highest card “hand” showing.
• Deal one card, “5th Street,” face up to each player.
• Resume betting with a higher minimum bet.
• Deal one card, “6th Street,” face up to each player.
• Deal one card face down to each player, known as “7th Street” or “The River.”
• Use any combination of cards to make the best five-card hand.

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RAZZ

This game is a lot like seven card stud…except of course the low hand wins.

• To begin, three cards are dealt to each player.
• The first two are down cards, the third is up for everyone to see.
• A round of betting follows, as it does after each of the next three up cards are dealt.
• The seventh and last card is dealt face down.
• One more round of betting before players still in will reveal what they have.
• Now remember the low hand is the winner and flushes and straights don't count as high hands so ace to five is a good as it gets.

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Triple Draw

This is actually five-card draw with some crazy twists. In the case of our variation 2-7 draw, the lowest hand wins, but straights and flushes count and aces are considered high. Thus, A2345 is a very bad hand and the best possible hand is 23457 (and it can’t be a flush).

• Post Small and Big Blinds.
• Deal five cards face down.
• Begin betting.
• Discard up to all five cards. Discard no cards to “stand pat.”
• Dealer “draws” to replace any discarded cards.
• Second round of betting.
• Discard up to all five cards.
• Dealer “draws” to replace any discarded cards.
• Third round of betting.

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Billabong Poker

You are dealt three down cards and one up card, for a total of four hole cards. Next, three community cards are dealt (the flop), followed by a second betting round. Then a fourth community card is dealt (the turn), followed by a third betting round. Finally a fifth community card is dealt (the river), followed by a final betting round and showdown. You play the best five-card poker hand you can make using three or four of the cards in your hand plus one or two of the five community cards.

• Post Small and Big Blinds.
• Deal three hole cards face down and one card face up.
• Begin betting.
• Deal three cards on the Flop.
• Deal one card on the Turn.
• Deal one card on the River.
• Use three or four hole cards in combination with one or two community cards in order to make the best five-card hand.

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Shanghai

Shanghai poker is similar to Tahoe poker, with the exception that the flop and the turn consist of two cards each. To play, you are first dealt three hole cards, which is followed by the first betting round. Next, two community cards are dealt (the flop), followed by the second betting round. Then two additional community cards are dealt (the turn), followed by the third betting round. Finally a fifth and final community card is dealt (the river), followed by the final betting round and the showdown. You play the best five-card poker hand you can make using up to two (zero, one or two) of the three cards in your hand plus the five community cards in any combination. Shanghai offers exciting play by revealing fewer cards in the flop, leaving a bigger surprise for later rounds.

• Post Small and Big Blinds.
• Deal three hole cards face down.
• Begin betting.
• Deal two cards on the Flop.
• Deal two cards on the Turn.
• Deal one card on the River.
• Use up to two (zero, one or two) hole cards in combination with the community cards in order to make the best five-card hand.