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Poker Poker Article - "Rules of the Games"

Discussion in 'Poker Forum' started by TEACH (AlSpath), Jan 3, 2015.

  1. TEACH (AlSpath)

    TEACH (AlSpath) Active Member Founding Member

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    Occupation:
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    Hold'em and the three forms of it:

    Hold'em rules remain the same for Limit, No Limit and Pot Limit poker games, with a few exceptions:

    Limit Texas Hold'em

    Betting in Limit Hold'em is in pre-determined, structured amounts. Pre-flop and on the flop, all bets and raises are of the same amount as the big blind. On the turn and the river, the size of all bets and raises doubles. In Limit Hold'em, up to four bets are allowed per player during each betting round. This includes a (1) bet, (2) raise, (3) re-raise, and (4) cap (final raise).

    No Limit Texas Hold'em

    The minimum bet in No Limit Hold'em is the same as the size of the big blind, but players can always bet as much more as they want, up to all of their chips.

    Minimum raise: In No Limit Hold'em, the raise amount must be at least as much as the previous bet or raise in the same round. As an example, if the first player to act bets $5 then the second player must raise a minimum of $5 (total bet of $10).

    Maximum raise: The size of your stack (your chips on the table).

    In No Limit Hold'em, there is no ‘cap’ on the number of raises allowed.

    Pot Limit Texas Hold'em

    The minimum bet in Pot Limit Hold'em is the same as the size of the big blind, but players can always bet up to the size of the pot.

    Minimum raise: The raise amount must be at least as much as the previous bet or raise in the same round. As an example, if the first player to act bets $5 then the second player must raise a minimum of $5 (total bet of $10).

    Maximum raise: The size of the pot, which is defined as the total of the active pot plus all bets on the table plus the amount the active player must first call before raising.

    Example: If the size of the pot is $100, and there is no previous action on a particular betting round, a player may bet a maximum of $100. After that bet, the action moves to the next player clockwise. That player can either fold, call $100, or raise any amount between the minimum ($100 more) and the maximum. The maximum bet in this case is $400 - the raiser would first call $100, bringing the pot size to $300, and then raise $300 more, making a total bet of $400.

    In Pot Limit Hold'em, there is no ‘cap’ on the number of raises allowed.

    (Omaha is next)

    poker player.jpg
     
  2. TEACH (AlSpath)

    TEACH (AlSpath) Active Member Founding Member

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    How to Play and the Rules concerning Omaha:

    The Rules of the Game

    Basic Rules
    • In Omaha, you get 4 cards dealt down to you.
    • As the play of the hand progresses, 5 cards are put face up in the middle of the table for all the players to share.
    • The idea is to use 2 and only 2 of the your hole cards and any 3 of the 5 up cards to make the best 5-card poker hand that you can make.
    • The player who has the best hand using their two hole cards and 3 up cards wins the pot. For example: KKK88, with two kings used from their 4 hole cards and one king and two 8’s from the cards face up on the board.
    • In Omaha, a dealer button moves around the table from player to player as if that player was dealing.
    • In Omaha, you do not have an ANTE. Instead of an ANTE, there are 2 blind bets that are put up by the 2 players on the immediate left of the dealer button.
    • Blind bets are bets that are put into the pot by the players before they see any cards.
    • The first player to bet before the flop is the player to the left of the blind bets.
    • The first player to bet after the flop is the first player (still in the hand), to the left of the dealer button.

    The Play
    • In Omaha, you start by getting 4 cards face down on the first deal.
    • Followed by a round of betting based on how well you like your first 4 cards.
    • After the betting round has been completed, the dealer will put 3 cards face up in the middle of the table for all players to share. (This is called the flop).
    • The idea is to look over the flop and your 4 hole cards and see if you think you have a good poker hand, or a chance to make a good poker hand. (There are 2 more cards to come.)
    • After the flop, there is another round of betting.
    • When that betting round has been completed, the dealer will put another card face up in the middle of the table to go along with the first 3 up cards.
    • Followed by another round of betting.
    • Once the betting round is completed, the dealer will put another card face up in the middle of the table to go along with the other 4 up cards. This will be the final card and the last chance to make or improve your hand.
    • A final round of betting occurs.
    • When the final round of betting is completed, all players that stayed in the pot will turn over their cards to see who has the best high hand and the best low hand.
    • The player with the best high hand will then be declared the winner and the dealer will push the pot to the players.

    (More below)
     
  3. TEACH (AlSpath)

    TEACH (AlSpath) Active Member Founding Member

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    Website Poker Strategy offers the following: Omaha Hold'em, 8 or better high-low split was in definite need of shortening, so poker players commonly refer to it as Omaha/8 or Omaha hi/lo. As with any other game of poker, the rules are mostly simple, but mastering the game requires a talented, relentless student. Omaha is also thought to be the game of the future, with its popularity growing very quickly, and already outgrowing many 7 card stud populations. In fact, the most populated omaha 8b games are found online these days. Full Tilt Poker had the best Omaha hi/lo 8b games, with a combination of good player population and lots of big name pros to watch at $1000/$2000 limits and higher. Absolute Poker had fewer players, but their Omaha hi/lo 8b pot limit games are very loose at the lower levels.

    Qualifying Low hands

    In Omaha hi/lo, the pot can be a split pot if there is a qualifying low hand. To qualify as a low hand, the player must have five unpaired cards that are 8 or lower. An ace counts as the lowest card in a qualifying low hand, and flushes and straights do not effect the low value. The best "low" hand would be an ace through five straight (A2345). This hand is commonly called the "Bicycle." It is entirely possible for a player to have the best low and best high hand. Take for example a player has A2456, all of spades. He has a spade flush as a high and and an Ace through 6 low hand. Players can even use different cards in their hand to make a separate low and high hand. If a player has both the best high and best low hand, he wins the entire pot, also called "scooping" the pot.

    The Blinds and Dealer Button

    Omaha is a fixed position game, like Texas Hold'em. Position is determined by who currently is sitting behind the dealer chip or button. The dealer chip moves clockwise around the table after each hand. The dealer has the advantage of acting last on every round except for the first, and wise poker players know the advantage this brings. Also like Texas Hold'em, we use blind bets to get the pot started. The first player to the left of the dealer puts in the small blind, which is usually half of the big blind. The player to the left of the small blind is required to put in the big blind, and this is generally equal to the small bet at the particular limit being played. For example, in a $10/$20 game of Omaha, the small blind would be $5 and the big blind $10.

    The initial deal is where we see the major difference between Omaha and Texas Hold'em. In Omaha, each player is dealt four cards face down instead of two. However, only two of these cards are allowed to be used in creating the players hand. This must be kept in mind as the hand progresses! The four down cards is the greatest stimulant for action for the Omaha variation of poker, as it is not hard to find a nice hand when you are dealt 4 cards.

    After everyone is dealt 4 cards face down, the player to the left of the big blind must either call the big blind, fold or raise. Each player acts in turn, folding, calling, raising or re-raising. The blinds are considered "live," meaning that when the action gets to them in the first round of betting they can also fold, bet or raise.

    The Flop

    When betting action is completed on the first round, chips are raked into the pot and the dealer places 3 cards face up in the middle of the table. These are community cards, used by all players to create their best hand. Again, do not forget that you must use exactly 2 cards from your hand and three cards from the community board to create your best five card hand! A round of betting begins, starting with the player to the left of the dealer button.

    The Turn

    After betting action has concluded on the flop, another card is placed face up in the center of the table, called the Turn. This card is also a community card. Bets double on the Turn. In our game of $10/$20, while $10 bets were made before, we now have to be or raise $20 at a time.

    The River

    The final community card is placed face up in the center of the table, and the final round of betting takes place. We again use double bets on this round.

    Showdown

    When all bets are equalized on the River, a showdown occurs and the last player to make a bet or raise must turn over his down cards, revealing his best five card hand. If there was no betting on the final round, the first player still active to the immediate left of the dealer must show his hand. Each player in turn can either turn over his cards to reveal a better (or worse) hand, or muck his cards face down if he is the loser. Each player has to use exactly two of his hole cards and three cards from the community cards on the board. If there is no qualifying low hand, then the player with the highest ranking hand wins. If there is one or more qualifying low hands, then the player with the lowest qualifying low hand and the player with the highest ranking hand split the pot.

    (Even More Below)
     
  4. TEACH (AlSpath)

    TEACH (AlSpath) Active Member Founding Member

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    Notes and Frequently asked Questions

    The best low hand is determined first by looking at the highest qualifying low card in each players qualifying hand. Someone with A2358 would say he had an "eight low." His opponent meanwhile has A2357. He has a "seven low" and wins the low side of the pot, since his seven is lower than the first player's 8. If the players have qualifying low cards of the same rank, we simply move down the chain of cards until one player's card is lower than the other. Example: A2368 beats A2378. Player one would note that he has an eight-six low, while the loser holds an eight-seven. It's not often to have two players who hold identical low hands, but it happens, and this results in a split of the low side of the pot.

    Never forget: You form your hand using exactly 2 cards from your hole cards and 3 from the board.

    You can use two of your cards to form a high and and two others to form a low hand. Keep all of your options and possible hands in mind!

    An interesting event happens every now and then in Omaha hi/lo, and it is called "getting quartered." This occurs when two players tie for the high side of the pot and a third player is the only one with a qualifying low hand. The low hand gets half the pot, and the two high hands split the high side, hence they only receive a fourth, or a "quarter" of the entire pot. The same thing occurs when two players have identical lows, and another player has the high hand. The high hand takes the high half of the pot and the two low hands split the low side of the pot. Getting quartered is almost always a bad thing, as you will tend to put more money into the pot than you will get out of it, unless there were a lot of players in the hand donating towards the pot from the beginning.

    And as a bonus, here's some strategy:

    General Strategy:

    In Omaha High-Low the high hand winner must split the pot with the player with the best qualifying low hand. There is always a high hand winner but not always a low. For your hand to qualify for low, it must have five denominations no higher than an eight. Any two of your four down cards are played for high and any two are played for low. Players must play exactly two out of their hands for each direction. Aces are played both high and low. Straights and flushes do not disqualify a hand for low, so a player ending with 5 4 3 2 A would have an unbeatable low hand and a 5 high straight to play for high. A player with this hand would have a good chance of winning both ways. He or she could also have another high hand better than the straight.

    The most important thing to keep in mind in split pot games is the big profit difference between winning half the pot and "scooping" it all. - It is a lot more than just twice as much. Scooping the pot usually builds a healthy addition to your stack of chips. Getting half often puts you barely ahead of where you were before you started playing the hand. Expert Omaha Hi Lo players only play starting hands, like those recommended, that have a good chance of winning both ways. Omaha is a game of "nuts". With so many players with so many cards, finding so many reasons to play, a final hand with a fairly good high and a fairly good low can easily get clobbered by better hands both ways. So after the flop or maybe the turn, if it looks like you don't have an almost certain winner for one end and a decent shot at the other, or the best high hand with no qualifying low probable, you should usually fold up and wait for the next hand.
    [​IMG](Last on Omaha Below)
     
  5. TEACH (AlSpath)

    TEACH (AlSpath) Active Member Founding Member

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    Definitions: Four Basic Card Groups

    ACES - A
    LOW CARDS - 5, 4, 3, 2
    MIDDLE CARDS - 10, 9, 8, 7, 6
    HIGH CARDS - K, Q, J

    Other Definitions:

    WHEEL - (5 4 3 2 A). Can be played as the lowest possible hand, a straight for high or both.
    SUITED PLAYER HAND (S) - Two of the players four cards of the same suit.
    DOUBLE SUITED PLAYER HAND (DS) - Two of the players cards of one suit and two of another suit.
    SET - Three of a kind with two of the three in your hand. (One in your hand and two on the board is "trips".)
    NUT HAND - An unbeatable high or low hand. Sometimes called a "lock".
    FLOP, TURN. RIVER - The community cards in the order of distribution. See top illustration.
    SCOOP - Win both high and low ends of the pot or win it all with a high hand when there is no low.
    FAST PLAY - Bet, raise and re-raise to get as many other players out as possible.
    SLOW PLAY - Just check or call along to keep other players in the game and increase the pot odds.
    CHECK-FOLD - Check when you can and fold if you are bet into. Gladly accept all free cards offered.

    Throw-Away Starting Hands:

    These hands should be automatically folded without any further consideration:
    Quads - (including) A A A A
    Trip Threes thru Trip Kings - 3 3 3 X - K K K X
    Three or more unpaired Middle Cards - X 6 7 9

    Playable Starting Hands:

    Note: The best possible starting hand is AA23(DS)

    SOME TRIP ACES and TRIP DUECES - These only: 2AAA, 3AAA, 4AAA(S), 5AAA(S), 222A(S)
    PAIR of ACES with LOW CARDS - AA23, AA44, AA35 etc.
    PAIR of ACES SUITED with ANYTHING - Ah A Xh X
    A2 with ANYTHING - A2XX
    A3 with LOW CARDS - Paired or unpaired. A344,A345, A355
    A3/ ACE SUITED with ANYTHING - Ad A Xd X
    ACE SUITED with THREE UNPAIRED HIGH CARDS - Ac Jc Q K etc.
    FOUR UNPAIRED LOW CARDS - 2345
    TWO HIGH PAIR DOUBLESUITED - Kh Kd Qh Qd etc.

    Strategy Tips:

    Remember that you only play to scoop the pot, so after the flop, if your high hand is not a certain winner and will probably have to split with the low, or if you are playing for low and don't have a decent shot at the high hand, usually check/fold and get out early.
    Slow play most Omaha hands. It is very difficult to run players off in this game and early raises are risky unless you know you can't lose.
    Usually avoid playing middle suited connectors. Hands like 8h 9h that are often very playable in Holdem and Omaha high, are bad news in high-low split. To make the high end of a straight, you have to catch the cards that will also qualify low hands. To play these you also need a suited ace or an A2.

    Don't over bet A2, A3 and 2 3 nut lows. These are often shared with another player and you can end up getting "quartered". In other words, if there are two playing the same nut low and one going high, you are in a situation where every bet you make contributes 1/3 to the pot that will only pay you 1/4 back. You do better if you can check around. Fast play in this situation only makes you money if there are three or more other players with either high or losing low hands.

    Watch out for uniform flops, like 8 7 6, they can easily turn into straights that can overtake your high pair trips, or other good hand.

    Beware of Suited Flops that can make a completed flush. In this case, you should usually hold the nut in that suit, or have trips or two pair that can fill up.

    Check the raisers chips. Players that are close to all-in often rush the betting just to get all their chips in a sink-or-swim last hand.

    Study your opponents, especially when you are not playing hands and can pay careful attention. Do they find more hands to play than they fold? Do they bluff? Can they be bluffed? Do they have any "tells" (give away mannerisms) that disclose information about their hands etc.

    Get caught bluffing once in a while. It is a way to vary your play and not be too predictable. You win pots that you don't deserve when your bluff works. You lose a few chips when it doesn't work but it will get you calls from weaker hands down the line when you are really strong and need the action.

    Pay very close attention to your cards. Omaha High Low hands can get confusing and it is sometimes easy to think you have a nut hand winner when you don't, or have the best possible hand and not realize it. Be careful to avoid these costly mistakes.
    [​IMG]
     
  6. TEACH (AlSpath)

    TEACH (AlSpath) Active Member Founding Member

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    7-Card Stud (Hi) and 7-Card Stud (H/L) - below the 7-Stud

    "The Rules of the Game"

    Basic Rules

    • In 7-Card Stud, you are dealt 2 down cards (hole cards) and 1 up card to start with.
    • If you stay in all the way, you will end up with 3 down cards and 4 up cards (your last card will be dealt down, as were your first two cards).
    • The idea is to use your 3 hole cards and your 4 up cards to make the best poker hand that you can make.
    • You may use any 5 of the 7 cards that you have in order to make your poker hand.
    • Most stud games you will play are structured, with betting limits.
    • This is how it works at a $2/$4 limit table: The first 2 rounds of betting would be at the lower amount and the last 3 betting rounds would be at the higher amount. In other words, in the first 2 rounds of betting and raising, all bets would be in the $2 amounts and in the last 3 rounds of betting and raising, all bets would be in $4 amounts.
    The Play - (and we will look at a standard $2 and $4 Limit Stud Hi game).
    • All players will put up an ANTE (usually $.50) before the cards are dealt.
    • Those that choose not to ANTE, will be dealt out.
    • All players will then be dealt 2 down cards and 1 up card.
    • The low card (face up) will be required to start the betting (usually $.50). The lowest card is the 2 of clubs, and if more than one player has the same low card, the lowest is determined by alphabetically (2c, 2d, 2h, 2s).
    • Players may fold, call the $.50 bet or raise the bet to $2.
    • At this point, all bets and raises will be at the $2 amount.
    • You must decide, based on how well you like your first 3 cards, whether to stay in the pot or get out.
    • You will have 3 choices at this point – (1) call the opening bet, (2) raise the bet, (3) fold your hand.
    • If you decide to stay in, you will get another up card, the high card will then start the action and there will be another round of betting at the $2 limit.
    • If you are still in at this point, you will get another up card and all bets and raises will be made at the $4 limit. (Note: from this point on, all bets and raises will be made at the $4 limit).
    • The last and final card will then be dealt down, followed by a 1 last round of betting.
    • After all the betting has been made, the players will turn over their cards and the best hand will be awarded the pot.
    • If you run out of money during the play of any hand, you still get to stay in the pot for the remainder of the hand and get action on the money that you did bet.
    Special Note: On 4th street (two cards down, two cards face up), anyone with a pair on the board can DOUBLE BET the pot. If the person with the pair chooses not to do this, anyone else in the hand can raise the pot (double). With online games, there is usually a special button that illuminates for you to use when making this bet (only on 4th street).

    7 Stud H/L

    Basic Rules

    • All the rules of 7-stud apply to 7 stud h/l split, except as noted below.
    • A player is entitled to use any five cards to make the best possible high hand and any five cards (does not matter is the same as the high hand or not), to make the best low hand.
    • An ace is the highest card for high, and can be the lowest card for low.
    • During the first round, the low card (by suit), begins the action (the ace is high for these purposes). Each subsequent round, the high hand will initiate the action. Ties for high hand are broken by going clockwise from the dealer button, the first (tied) high hand acts first.
    • Be aware that flushes and straights do not affect the value of a low hand. (This is very important to remember)
    • In fixed limit games, the first two rounds (3rd and 4th street) are the lower limit betting rounds and the next (upper rounds) 3 rounds (5th, 6th and 7th) are the upper limit betting rounds. Unlike stud hi, an open pair on 4th street does not affect the limit.
    • Odd chips in a split pot go to the high hand winner. With other ties, for high and low, use the player with the highest card by suit to give the odd chip.
    To qualify for a low hand, you must have five distinct cards (no pairs), with no card higher than an 8. Straights and flushes do not count against you. The best 5-card low hand is A-2-3-4-5 of any suit. The hand is "ranked" by starting with the highest low card. 7-4-3-2-1 would be considered a 7-low, and would lose to 6-4-3-2-1, a 6-low. If two players each have low hands with the same highest card, the next highest card determines the winner. 7-5-4-3-2 loses to 7-4-3-2-1. If there is no qualifying low hand, the high hand wins the entire pot.

    (Okay, so I couldn't find a picture, so the wife said to put Zander... aka STUD!)
    [​IMG]
     
  7. TEACH (AlSpath)

    TEACH (AlSpath) Active Member Founding Member

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    HORSE is actually an acronym describing a combination of poker games:

    Hold'em
    Omaha high-low
    Razz (Seven card stud low)...
    Stud (Seven card stud high)
    Eight-or-better (Seven card stud high-low)

    HORSE is one of many popular mixed game variants.

    Playing HORSE For Profit:

    HORSE is played as one "round" of each of the component games (Hold’em, Omaha H/L, Razz, Stud (Hi), and Eight or better (7 stud h;/).

    It rotates disciplines and begins with limit hold'em, then limit Omaha high-low, razz (seven card stud low), seven card stud, and finally seven card stud high-low. When the seven-card stud high-low round is complete, the game goes back to limit hold'em, and so on.
    You can tell which game is being dealt by usually looking at the top border of the table window.

    When switching from Omaha high-low to Razz, the button is frozen. That way, when the game switches back to hold'em (after seven card stud high-low), nobody skips blinds or pays extra blinds.

    All the games in HORSE are played fixed limit - there are no pot-limit or no-limit games. The limits (such as $5-10) are kept throughout the game rotation, and you play $5-10 fixed limit hold'em, $5-10 fixed limit Omaha high-low, etc.
    [​IMG]
     

  8. TEACH (AlSpath)

    TEACH (AlSpath) Active Member Founding Member

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    RAZZ (Seven-Card Stud Low) General Rules

    The lowest hand wins the pot. The format is similar to seven-card stud high, except the high card (aces are low) is required to make the forced bet on the first round, and the low hand acts first on all subsequent rounds.

    Straights and flushes have no ranking, so the best possible hand is 5-4-3-2-A (a wheel). An open pair does not affect the betting limit.

    RULES OF RAZZ

    1. All seven-card stud rules apply in razz except as otherwise noted.
    2. The lowest hand wins the pot. Aces are low, and straights and flushes have no effect on the low value of a hand. The best possible hand is 5-4-3-2-A.
    3. The highest card by suit starts the action with a forced bet. The low hand acts first on all subsequent rounds. If the low hand is tied, the first player clockwise from the dealer starts the action.
    4. Fixed-limit games use the lower limit on third and fourth streets and the upper limit on subsequent streets. An open pair does not affect the limit.
    5. The dealer announces all pairs the first time they occur, except pairs of facecards, which are never announced.

    Rules provided by Bob Ciaffone via ROBERT’S RULES OF POKER.
    [​IMG]
     
  9. TEACH (AlSpath)

    TEACH (AlSpath) Active Member Founding Member

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    How to play Badugi:

    Basic Rules

    Badugi is a triple draw four-card low-hand wins game! The best low hand is comprised of four cards, with none of the same suit, and none of the same rank: i.e. ace, two, three, four all of different suits are the best possible hand!! When you find yourself holding 4 cards of different rank and suit then you are holding a … BADUGI! Badugi can be played as either a Limit game, a Pot Limit game or even a Half Pot Limit game. No matter what level of acti...on mixed with skill you like best there is a game to suit you!

    * How the Dealing Works

    Each player is dealt 4 cards in a clockwise direction starting from the player on the Small Blind. Cards are dealt to each player one card at a time.
    Once everyone has their 4 cards the action begins with the player to the left of the Big Blind and continues around the table in a clockwise direction.

    * How the Betting Works

    Badugi can be played as either a Limit game, a Pot Limit game or even a Half Pot Limit game. No matter what level of action mixed with skill you like best there is a game to suit you!

    • Limit Badugi

    All bets are made in incremental units. On Rounds 1 and 2 a player can bet the lower level bet (e.g. in a $2/$4 game the bet for Rounds 1 and 2 would be $2). On Rounds 3 and 4 players can bet the higher level bet (e.g. in a $2/$4 game the bet for rounds 3 and 4 would be $4).
    Betting is capped at 4 bets per round as is standard in all limit games.

    * Pot Limit Badugi

    In Pot Limit Badugi players can raise any amount at any stage, ranging from the minimum bet (i.e. the big blind amount) up to how much is already in the pot. E.g. if the pot is comprised of the small blind($2), the big blind ($4), and one caller ($4), then the next active player can bet any amount from $4 up to the total value of the current pot (on top of his initial call), in this case the maximum bet would be $18. ($2 + $4 + $4 + $4).

    All bettors can raise the pot by the total value of the current pot as it stands when it is their turn to act. So in Pot Limit Badugi there is no limit to the amount of betting allowed on any particular round, as opposed to it being capped in the Limit version.

    * Half Pot Limit Badugi

    The same rules apply to Half Pot Limit Badugi as they do to Pot Limit Badugi. The only exception is that the maximum a player can raise is the value of half the current pot. E.g. if the pot is comprised of the small blind ($2), the big blind ($4), one caller ($4), the next player to act can bet any amount from $4 up to a maximum of $11. ($2 + $4 + $4 + $4 /2) = 7. So it would be a call of $4 and a raise of $7, making a total bet of $11. So in this case the player can bet any amount from $4 to $11.

    (See More on Badugi Below)
     
  10. TEACH (AlSpath)

    TEACH (AlSpath) Active Member Founding Member

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    Maryland USA
    How to Play Badugi:

    Each player is dealt 4 cards, after which the first betting round ensues, based on the strength of each player’s initial 4 cards. The betting amounts will depend which variation of Badugi you are playing, Limit, Pot Limit or Half Pot Limit.

    First bet round: In this round the first player to act is the first participating player clockwise from the big blind. The player may fold, call, or raise. Each player in clockwise order is asked to bet, (call, raise, fold or check). Once everyone has had their turn and all bets are matched you move on to the First Draw.

    First draw round: Players are offered the opportunity to draw zero to four cards, clockwise from the first participating seat to the left of the dealer button. Players select which cards to keep and which to replace through a draw. Drawing zero cards is known as "Standing Pat."

    Second bet round: Once players have completed their first draws, the second betting round is held. Again, the bet increment uses the low stakes.

    Second draw round: Same as first draw round.

    Third bet round: Same as second bet round, only exception is that on this round the high stake is used for the betting increment.
    Third draw round: Same as second draw round, applying reshuffle of discards as is necessary.

    Final bet The final betting round follows the same rules, using the high stake and leads to a showdown if more than one player remains standing.

    Showdown

    It’s time to show your hand and see who won. The winning player scoops the pot!
    The showdown rules follow those of Hold’em. In brief, the player whose last bet is called, if there is one, shows cards first. If there is no last aggressor, showdown begins from the first participant holding cards, clockwise from the dealer button. As hands are shown, players with losing hands may muck or show, similar to Hold’em options.

    Winner
    Once the showdown is complete the winner is announced and awarded the pot. Fingers crossed that player will be you!

    Other Points to Note:

    1) Side pots are accumulated and awarded just as they are in all other games.

    2) Make sure you never forget that in this game the lowest hand wins.

    Badugi Hand Rankings

    All Badugi hands are considered to be RAINBOW hands. Rank of Hand Badugi:
    1. 432A
    2. 532A
    3. 542A
    4. 543A
    5. 5432

    "Top 50 Hand Rankings"
    1. 432A
    2. 532A
    3. 542A
    4. 543A
    5. 5432
    6. 632A
    7. 642A
    8. 643A
    9. 6432
    10. 652A
    11. 653A
    12. 6532
    13. 654A
    14. 6542
    15. 6543
    16. 732A
    17. 742A
    18. 743A
    19. 7432
    20. 752A
    21. 753A
    22. 7532
    23. 754A
    24. 7542
    25. 7543
    26. 762A
    27. 763A
    28. 7632
    29. 764A
    30. 7642
    33. 7643
    32. 765A
    33. 7652
    34. 7653
    35. 7654
    36. 832A
    37. 842A
    38. 843A
    39. 8432
    40. 852A
    41. 853A
    42. 8532
    43. 854A
    44. 8542
    45. 8543
    46. 862A
    47. 863A
    48. 8632
    49. 864A
    50. 8642
    [​IMG]
     

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