Poker is a family of similar games and poker game rules vary depending on the type of game you play. There are a basic set of poker rules but the specific rules of poker will be slightly different for different varieties of poker games. The most popular version of poker is Texas Holdem Poker and we will be focusing on texas holdem poker rules. Poker rules may seem a little complicated at the start but once you take a bit of time to go over the basics, poker game rules will become second nature for you and you will be enjoying the game and winning in no time.
So let’s get started. The first of our poker rules is that the dealer shuffles and deals cards one at a time in a clockwise rotation. Texas holdem poker rules dictate that Two cards will be dealt initially to all players in the game. If you are playing in person poker rules state that the player to the left of the dealer gets to cut the pack. That’s one of the poker rules that is for live poker, in online poker cards are dealt automatically so you don’t have to worry about poker rules about dealing and cutting.
So the cards are dealt what now? After the cards are dealt initial bets must be made. In texas holdem poker rules, these bets are called blinds. The player who makes the initial bet changes each round so the system is fair, its one of the poker rules that is designed to get the game started and moving. When playing poker online the the blinds are automatically rotated for you. Now that the initial bet has been made poker rules dictate that the next player must call. Call refers to the act of accepting and matching the previous bet. After calling a player may let the focus go to the next player in line or he may raise. Raise simply means that a player can raise the stakes by increasing the initial bet. If he raises the next player is obliged to match the increased amount if he wants to stay in the game. Community cards are then dealt face up on the table for all to see, 3 cards are dealt first this is called the flop. At this point poker rules state that each player will have the opportunity to bet again. Your bet will be determined by the cards in your hand and how they match up with the cards on the table. As before poker rules about raising also apply. Its important to remember that there will be two more cards dealt one at a time . After each phase of community cards bets are allowed according to the rules of poker, so its important to bet wisely when the first 3 cards are dealt face up. That’s because the final two cards will also impact the potential hands that you can make . Lets look closer at poker rules regarding the betting and community card phases. During these phases as mentioned earlier each player can call and raise . If however a player believes that he has no realistic chance of winning, poker game rules give him the opportunity to withdraw. That is one of the poker rules that can help you to save money or chips. Withdrawing from a round is called folding. When a player folds poker game rules are clear that he has no further interest in the game until that complete round is over and someone wins the pot.
Remember the poker rules about dealing? The clockwise order of dealing also extends to the order of play. The rules of poker state that the play rotates from player to player in the same order as the way the cards were dealt. At anytime if a player makes a bet and no other player calls, that is if all other players fold, poker game rules state that the round ends immediately. The player who made the bet wins whatever money is in the pot and a new round of play starts. Rounds continue until one player wins all of the money or chips that the other players in the game possesses. A game can also end if all current players decide to do so.
That’s all there is to it. Once you follow those basic poker rules you will be winning in no time. Check out our Poker Tips page for more help and remember to look at our Poker Strategy page for more tips.
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