Summary of some the most popular forms of poker and how they are played

Texas Holdem – How to play

Author: Jesse McLean

Summary: This article explains the basic rules of Texas Holdem Poker

Texas Holdem is the number one form of poker in the world right now. It’s the most common game on the Internet, in casino cardrooms, even at home games. Texas holdem is almost certainly the kind of poker you see on TV whenever one of the half dozen different poker shows are on.

So how does it work?

Every player is dealt two cards. Based on the value of these cards, they decide whether to fold, call the bet(s) before them (there are always bets in the middle because the two players to the left of the dealer are forced to put in blind bets), or raise.

Once the betting round is finished, three cards are dealt face up in the middle. This is called the flop. Each player combines his cards with the three in the middle and decides what he wants to do.

After the flop betting round is finished, one single card is dealt face up in the middle (the turn). Again, each player combines their cards with the ones in the middle and decides what they want to do. The turn betting round is when the bets double if you’re playing Limit poker.

Once the betting round is finished, one more card is dealt face up into the middle (this is the “river” or “that damn river”). There’s one last betting round, and then any players who are still in at the end compare the best hand they can make out of their two cards and the five in the middle. Whoever can make the best hand wins the pot.

Omaha High

Author: Jesse McLean

Summary: This article explains the basic rules of Omaha (High)

Omaha looks like a tricky game, but boy there’s a lot of betting going on. The good news is that Omaha is basically holdem with four hole cards. The only tricky rule to remember is that you MUST use two of your hole cards and three community cards to make your hand.

1) The player to the left of the dealer posts the small blind (half a small bet).
2) The player to the left of the small blind posts the big blind (one small bet).
3) Everyone is dealt four cards face down. These are their hole cards.
4) The player to the left of the big blind (under the gun) starts the pre flop betting round.
5) Three cards are dealt face up in the middle. This is the flop. The cards in the middle are the community cards, or board.
6) There is a round of betting, started by the first active player to the left of the dealer.
7) One card is dealt face up in the middle. This is the turn. There is a round of betting (in limit games, bets are now twice the size of the first two rounds).
9) One last card is dealt face up in the middle. This is the [damn] river, and usually ruins someone’s hand and makes someone else’s.
10) There is one final round of betting.
11) All active players show their hands down. Whoever can make the best five card poker hand with two from their hand and three from the board wins the pot. It’s always two from your hand and three from the board when you play Omaha. Always.

Omaha High only is a a lot wilder than holdem, and a bit more frustrating (unless you get a great flop, your opponents will always have a draw to something stronger, but then so will you). It’s a great game to learn though, and you can record some monster wins.

Omaha High Low

Author: Jesse McLean

Summary: This article explains the basic rules of Omaha High Low (8 or better)

Omaha looks like a tricky game, but boy there’s a lot of betting going on. The good news is that Omaha is basically holdem with four hole cards. The only tricky rule to remember is that you MUST use two of your hole cards and three community cards to make your hand.

Omaha High low is a split pot game where the best high hand and the best low hand (if there is one) split the pot. There isn’t always a low hand because you have to have five unpaired cards under 8 (aces low) to count as a valid low.

Here’s how an Omaha 8 or better game goes:

1) The player to the left of the dealer posts the small blind (half a small bet).
2) The player to the left of the small blind posts the big blind (one small bet).
3) Everyone is dealt four cards face down. These are their hole cards.
4) The player to the left of the big blind (under the gun) starts the pre flop betting round.
5) Three cards are dealt face up in the middle. This is the flop. The cards in the middle are the community cards, or board.
6) There is a round of betting, started by the first active player to the left of the dealer.
7) One card is dealt face up in the middle. This is the turn. There is a round of betting (in limit games, bets are now twice the size of the first two rounds).
9) One last card is dealt face up in the middle. This is the [damn] river, and usually ruins someone’s hand and makes someone else’s.
10) There is one final round of betting.
11) All active players show their hands down.

Whoever can make the best five card poker hand with two from their hand and three from the board wins the high half of pot. It’s always two from your hand and three from the board when you play Omaha. Always.

It’s the same for low (if there is one). Whoever can make the lowest low hand with three from the board and two from their hand wins low.

If there is no low, then the high hand takes it all.

One player can win both halves of the pot, and he can do it by using different combinations of hole cards and community cards (as long as it’s always 2 from your hand and two from the board). For example, if I have AA23 (a great starting hand) and the board is A4599, I can make a full house for high – AA A99 and a 5 high for low – 23 A45. I’d expect to scoop the whole pot here, which should be your goal when playing Omaha High/Low.

Omaha 8 or better is a crazy wild game, and can be very frustrating – unless you get a great flop, your opponents will always have a draw to something stronger, but then so will you. It’s a great game to learn though, and you can record some monster wins.