The buy-in
When you enter a game, you must make a full buy-in for that game. In limit
poker, that is 10 times the size of the maximum bet for that game. There
is no maximum buy-in for limit games. In no-limit or pot-limit poker the
minimum buy-in is 10 times the big blind.
Button Movement and Blinds
In blind games, a round disk called the button is used to indicate which
player has the dealer position. The player with the button is the last to
receive cards in the initial deal and has the right of last action after
the first betting round. The button moves clockwise after a deal ends to
rotate the advantage of last action. One or more blind bets are usually
used to stimulate action and initiate play. Blinds are posted before the
players look at their cards. Blinds are part of the player's bet, unless a
particular situation cause part or all of a blind to be "dead." Dead
blinds are not part of the player's bet. With two blinds, the player
immediately to the left of the button posts the small blind and the player
two to the left of the button posts the big blind. The player immediately
to the left of the player who posted the big blind initiates action on the
first round. On all subsequent betting rounds, the player immediately to
the left of the button initiates action.
Rules for posting blinds
In blind games, players must post a big and small blind.
A new player entering the game can choose to either sit out until it is
their turn to post the big blind in turn or they can post an amount equal
to big blind immediately and get dealt a hand right away. When a player
chooses the latter option the posted money is live.
Blinds posted in turn are live. A player who posts the blind in turn has
the option of raising the pot at the first turn to act.
If a player sits out in a game and misses the big and small blind, the
player must post both blinds before being dealt another hand. If the
player is not in the big blind position, he will be prompted to post the
big and small blind and the big blind will be live and the small blind
will be dead (meaning it doesn't count toward the player's bets on that
round).
If a new player chooses to sit out and misses posting their big blind in
turn, they will have to post a big blind and a small blind behind the
button in order to get dealt in. They could also choose to wait again
until it is their turn to post the big blind.
If a new player sits down in between the big blind and the small blind the
player cannot receive a hand.
If a player sits out on a round and misses the small blind only and wishes
to return before it is their turn to post the big blind, that player must
post a live small blind before they are dealt in again.
If a player goes all-in and loses they are obligated to make up the blinds
if the blinds are missed before a rebuy is made.
Betting and Raising
Check and Raise is permitted in all games.
In no-limit or pot-limit games unlimited raising is allowed.
In limit games there is a limit of a bet and three raises on any betting
round.
In limit play an all-in wager of less than half the bet for that round
does not reopen the action for any subsequent player who has already acted
on their hand that round. A player facing less than half a bet can fold,
call or complete the wager. They may not raise. An all-in wager of half a
bet or more is treated as a full bet. A subsequent player can fold, call
or make a full raise.
In no-limit or pot-limit poker, a bet that is less than the bet or raise
of the previous player does not reopen the action for subsequent players
who have already acted on their hands.
Any wager must be at least the size of the previous bet or raise in that
round unless a player is going all-in.
The smallest chip that can be wagered is equal to the smallest chip used
in the antes, blinds, or rake.
Determining the Winning Hand
All hands that have called on the final betting round are involved in a
showdown. The hands are shown in order where the first hand shown is that
of the person who initiated the last action on the final betting round and
then the players' hands are shown in clockwise order if and only if their
hand can beat the previous hand shown. If a subsequent player's hand does
not beat any previously shown hand, the player’s hand is mucked face down
for the observers at the table, and is shown in the hand history to those
sitting at the table.
If everyone checks on the final round of betting, showing order is
determined by the person who acted first on that round of betting. In
button games, this would be the person closest to the left of the button.
In Stud games this would be the person who has the highest board.
Players have the option to show winning cards in an uncalled pot.
Ties
Suits are never used to break a tie for winning a pot.
Odd chips in split pots are broken down to the smallest unit used in the
game.
No player may receive more than one odd chip.
In a straight high, blind game, if two or more hands tie any odd chips
will be awarded clockwise in order from the button.
In a straight high stud game if two or more hands tie any odds chips will
be awarded in order of high card on the players' boards where suits count
in determining high card.
In a split game, the high hand receives the odd chip in a split between
the high and the low hands. The odd chip in a tie between two high or two
low hands is awarded in the same manner as in the straight high version of
that form of poker.
All side pots and main pots will be split as separate pots, not mixed
together.
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