Our Games ~ Texas Hold'em Poker
HOW TO PLAY
Each variation of Poker has different rules and strategies but the object is always the same - to end up with the best possible five-card hand and to beat the other players to win the combined wagers or ‘pot’ This is achieved by either obtaining the highest-ranking hand or by making the other players ‘think’ (bluffing) you have the highest-ranking hand and thereby forcing them to withdraw (fold).
When you play poker with Royal Casino Events our role is simply one of host. We will provide a dealer and the necessary equipment.
OBJECT: To get the best possible five card poker hand, using any combination of two hole cards and five community cards.
PLAY: Each player is dealt two cards face down (called “hole” cards). Five cards are then dealt face up in the center of the table as “community cards,” or “board cards.” The community cards may be used by all players. After betting, players may use any combination of their two hole cards and the five community cards on the table to make the best five card poker hand. Players can even use all of the board cards and no hole cards.
Hold’em Betting Basics
Before any cards are dealt, the first player to the left of the dealer button must post the small “blind” (usually 1/2 the full minimum bet).
The second player from the left posts the big ”blind” (The full minimum bet.) These are forced bets which guarantee action for the hand.
After the first two hole cards are dealt, the player may call the blind bet, raise or fold.
Players required to bet “in the blind” have the option to raise the blind on the first round of betting.
After the first three community cards are turned up (called the “flop”), each player, starting with the first player to the left of the dealer button, may check, bet, call, raise or fold.
Each round of betting may have one bet and three raises.
Betting limits normally double after the 4th card (referred to as the “turn” or 4th street) and 5th card (referred to as the “river” or 5th street).
Betting action is done in turn, in sequential order, going in a clockwise direction around the table.
Click Here for Poker Hand Rankings & A Poker Hand Demonstration
Glossary of Poker terms
Bet means placing the required wager and includes a call and/or raise if permitted, to remain in the round of play or going all-in if remaining chips are less than the size of the required wager.
Betting Round a period of play during which each active player, in order, has the option to check, bet or fold until all wagers have been matched or reached the maximum number of raises;
Blind a pre-determined contribution to the pot placed by a selected player or players before the first card is dealt. The blind is a live wager, which can win the pot if no further contributions to the pot are made;
Call a wager made in an amount equal to the immediately preceding wager;
Check to abstain from wagering but continue to stay in contention for the pot by retaining the right to re-enter the betting after all other players have either bet or folded;
Community Card(s) a card or cards dealt to the centre of the table, which may be used by all players to complete their best possible hand;
Fold a decision by a player to no longer continue with their hand for that particular round of play;
Hole Cards a player’s concealed cards;
Pot the sum of the antes, blinds and bets wagered;
Raise to make a bet greater than the amount of a previous wager made during a betting round;
Round a period of play where the dealer button moves around the table and it has reached a particular player a second time;
Round of Play the period of play at a table commencing with the dealing of the first card by the dealer and concluding when the dealer announces a result and passes the pot to the winning player;
Poker Etiquette
All Poker players should endeavour to play to the following standards:
Play at a reasonable speed. Once in a while, a decision may take significant thought, however consistently taking time to make decisions frustrates other players. It is also reasonable to expect players to follow the game, know when it is their turn and what the action is.
Players must protect their own hand.
When handling your cards, every attempt must be made to conceal them. If you show your cards to another player, you have a duty to show your cards to the rest of the table. The dealer may enforce this.
Hiding or removing chips from the table.
Provided you have the minimum buy-in on the table, you are permitted to remove any excess chips in between a round of play. However, Poker players consider the removal of chips bad etiquette as is deliberately hiding chips on the table from other player’s view.
If you’re not in the hand keep quiet. Unruly and continual chatter can cause those players in the hand to lose concentration. Never make comments about the hand in progress. While the hand is in progress, avoid body language or gestures that may signal your intentions.
Player integrity. Any player who sees an error made or about to be made has an obligation to point out the error to the dealer. Colluding with other players or cheating will not be tolerated. English only must be spoken whilst a game is in play. Obscene or profane language will not be tolerated.
Announce your intentions. If ‘raising’ you should announce, “raise.” If going ‘all-in’ you should announce, “all-in.” All bets and raises, unless verbally declared, should be placed in one hand motion. Placing bets and raises in a delayed motion is known as "string betting" or "string raising" and is deemed to be unacceptable conduct.
