How to Play Online Poker
Several different games of poker can be played, but most involve a standard ranking system of hands. Each player chooses five cards from which to make a hand, and the highest ranked hand wins the pot. The goal of a poker hand is to win the pot by betting until all the other players have folded. Depending on the type of game, the stakes may vary.
The first betting phase occurs between the dealer and each player. After all the players have been dealt their cards, the next round is the Draw. In this round, each player is dealt another card face up. After the draw, the players take turns revealing their cards.
If a player raises, all but one player must fold. If a player does not raise, all betting stops. If a player calls, the stake is raised to match the last raise. The next betting phase begins with the player with the best face up card. The next round is the final round of betting. This round is known as the Showdown. When the Showdown is completed, the winner takes the pot. The remaining players are notified of the outcome and are awarded their current stake value.
After the second betting phase, each player is dealt another card face up. This time, the winning hand will be revealed. The players are given the option to discard their cards if they would like to improve their rank. They can also raise the amount of their bet.
A “straddle” is similar to a bet but is only two chips. Normally, this is equal to the second blind. The second blind is usually the same amount as the double first blind. If the second blind is not a double first blind, the player should bet the amount of the first blind. If the second blind is a double first blind, the player should raise to match the amount of the second blind.
If all of the remaining players call, the play proceeds to the next round. If there is a raise, the new betting phase begins with the player who originally made the raise. If there is no raise, the remaining players can raise. If there is a raise, the player must either call or fold. After three raises, the stake is capped. Historically, the house rules restrict the number of raises allowed. After four raises, the stake becomes too large.
The ante is the amount of the initial bet. The player to the dealer’s left begins the bet. The player to the left of the dealer will bet the amount of the second blind. In some versions of Short Deck, a straight beats a three of a kind, but not always.
The best 5-card hand out of seven cards is the winner. Several other hands can make a straight, including aces, which are still a good low and high hand. In some rarer versions of Short Deck, aces can be used to make both the low and high end of a straight.