General Games Overview

Hand Ranking

Know the values of the most critical hands in poker.

Pot Odds

It seems nearly every time you watch the World Poker Tour on TV you hear the term “pot odds.” What does that refer to? Is it something you need to understand to succeed playing poker?

Playing Poker as a Pro

With the huge popularity increase in poker there are more and more people looking at playing poker as a profession. Are you one of them? Do you really understand what it takes to be a poker pro? Let’s take a look at some things you ought to ask yourself before you consider life on the felt.

Poker Money Management

Money management is a skill that many people talk about but very few people actually practice. We all talk about walking away when things are going bad, stopping when we are on a losing streak, or playing at a level that we are prepared for. The reality is that we continually chase our losses, don’t stop when things are going bad, and continually play over our head.

Texas Hold'em

Your objective in Texas Hold'em is to create the best possible five card hand using any combination of your two hole cards and the five community cards.

Omaha

In Omaha you will receive four hole cards. Your objective in Omaha is to use two of your four hole cards and three of the five community cards to create the best five card hand possible.

Omaha Hi-Lo

Omaha Hi-Lo is played with the same cards as Omaha. You must use two of your hole cards and three community cards in your final hand. The difference between the two games is that Omaha Hi-Lo is played with the possibility of two winning hands: Hi hand and Lo hand. The winning hands for Hi and Lo split the pot. If there is not a winner for Lo hand, then Hi hand wins the whole pot. Hi hand follows the standard hand rankings. Lo hand cannot contain any pairs or cards higher than 8. The Lo hand with the lowest ranking card wins.

How to Play Flop Games

All flop games follow the same play structure. The only differences are those stated above. Below you will find a progression of how flop games actually work.

Cards

You play flop games with a standard 52 card deck. Your cards will be divided into hole cards and community cards.

Hole cards (pocket cards): The cards dealt face-down to you at the beginning of the game.

Community cards: These are dealt progressively throughout the game to the center of the table, starting with the Flop (3 cards), Turn (1 card) and River (1 card). Community cards can be used by all players in creating their five card hands.

Betting Structures

Flop games can be played with any one of the three betting structures: Limit, No Limit and Pot Limit. Click here for more information on betting structures.

Limit: The limits of the table determine the amounts of all bets and raises. The first two betting rounds are subject to the lower limit of the table and the last two rounds are subject to the upper limit of the table. For example: $5/$10 table. You must bet $5 in rounds one and two, and you must bet $10 in rounds three and four.

No Limit: This structure is similar to Limit in that you must bet a minimum of the table limits in the corresponding rounds. However, the maximum you can bet is the amount of chips in your bankroll.

Pot Limit: You are required to bet a minimum of the table limit, either the lower or upper limit depending on the round. The maximum you can bet is the size of the pot.

Blinds

The small and the big blind are posted before any cards are dealt. Tournament blind structures may vary by cardroom.

Small blind: This is posted by the first person sitting clockwise from the dealer. The amount posted depends on the table limits. It is generally half the lower limit of the table. For example: $5/$10 table. The small blind would be $2.50.

Big blind: This is posted by the second person sitting clockwise from the dealer. The amount posted depends on the table limits. It is generally the whole lower limit of the table. For example: $5/$10 table. The big blind would be $5.

Betting Rounds

Flop games are played in four rounds: Opening, Flop, Turn and River. Cards will continue to be added as the game progresses.

Opening (Round One): Each active player will be dealt two cards face-down (hole cards). Action begins with the player sitting clockwise from the big blind. You have the option to call, raise or fold on your turn.

Flop (Round Two): The Flop (first three community cards) is dealt face-up on the table. Action begins in this round and in all future rounds with the player sitting clockwise from the dealer. You may check, bet, call, raise or fold on your turn.

Turn (Round Three): The Turn (fourth community card) is dealt face-up on the table. Remember, betting is subject to the higher limit of the table in this round and the next. After all action completes, the fourth and final round begins.

River (Round Four): The River (fifth community card) is dealt face-up on the table. After betting completes, remaining players will display their cards to determine the winner(s) of the pot.

Winner

The best five card hand(s) wins the game. If there is a tie hand, the next highest card in a player's hand will determine the winner. If a winner still cannot be determined, the two players will split the pot. In Omaha Hi-Lo, there will generally be two winners: Hi hand and Lo hand.

Go to www.pokerhost.com for more specific information on how to play Texas Hold'em, Omaha or Omaha Hi-Lo.