Friday, December 14, 2007

Poker Rules and Inforamtion

How to Play

First, select a table in the lobby by clicking on it, and then open the table window, either by double-clicking on the selected table, or by clicking on the "Go to this table" button in the lobby.

When a table window is open you can simply click on any available seat to sit down. You will then see a character in that seat. Enter the amount of real money/play money that you would like to bring to the table and click on the "OK" button.

Click on the SIT IN button when you want to be dealt in.

Before the very first hand is dealt at a newly started table, you will need to decide who will start as the dealer. This is decided by giving each player a random card face up. The highest card gets to be the dealer.

Features

Poker clients have lots of added features. Additional features and functions are added continously. A few of the features are:

Play at multiple tables. You can be seated and playing at more than one table at the same time.

Raise/Fold tables. The much requested raise/fold table type is available. Look for tables labelled "R/F" in the lobby.

Lobby chat. You can chat with other players in the lobby without being seated. All logged in players can use the lobby chat function.

Several different poker games. Choose from Texas Hold'em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, Seven Card Stud and Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo.


Different betting structures
. Limit, pot-limit and no-limit tables are available.


Vote out abusive players
- the players at a table can vote out people that they feel are abusive (play-money only).

All-In Probabilities - get instant information about your chances of winning a hand after going all-in in a Texas Hold'em tournament game (downloaded client only)!


Cash Games

CASH GAMES

Cash Games


Cash- or ring games are the most exhilarating form of playing poker. You play with direct stakes, meaning that the value written on each chip corresponds to the chip's value in real- or play money. Every hand is a game in itself and you can sit down and leave the table whenever you like.

There is always a game available for you at PokerRoom.com

On PokerRoom.com you can play cash games in limit, no limit and pot limit format in the following games.

Texas Hold'em Texas Hold'em
The Cadillac of poker. As seen on TV!



Omaha Omaha (& Hi/lo)
The gutsiest of all poker games. Twice the cards, twice the adrenaline!



7 card stud 7 Card Stud (& Hi/lo)
One of the true classics. Most popular stud game of all!



5 card draw 5 Card Draw
The game of the Wild West comes right to your living room!



Ranking of The Hands

1.Royal flush


The highest poker hand. It consists of AKQJT all in the same suit. As all suits are equal, all royal flushes are equal.

2.Straight flush


Five cards of the same suit in sequence, such as 76543 of hearts. The ace can play low to make 5432A, the lowest straight flush.



3.Four of a kind

Four cards of the same rank accompanied by a "kicker", like 44442. Ranked by the quads, so that 44442 beats 3333K.



4.Full house

Three cards of one rank accompanied by two of another, such as 777JJ. Ranked by the trips, so that 44422 beats 333AA.



5.Flush

Five cards of the same suit, such as AJ942 of hearts. Ranked by the top card, and then by the next card, so that AJ942 beats AJ876.



6.Straight


Five cards in sequence, such as 76543. The ace plays either high or low, making AKQJT and 5432A.




7.Three of a kind


Three cards of the same rank and two kickers of different ranks, such as KKK84. Ranked by the trips, so that KKK84 beats QQQAK, but QQQAK beats QQQA7.





8.Two pair
Two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank and a kicker of a third rank, such as KK449. Ranked by the top pair, then the bottom pair and finally the kicker, so that KK449 beats any of QQJJA, KK22Q, and KK445.



9.One pair

Two cards of one rank accompanied by three kickers of different ranks, such as AAK53. Ranked by the pair, followed by each kicker in turn, so that AAK53 beats AAK52.




10.High card


Any hand that does not qualify as one of the better hands above, such as KJ542 of mixed suits. Ranked by the top card, then the second card and so on, as for flushes.

Suits are not used to break ties, nor are cards beyond the fifth; only the best five cards in each hand are used in the comparison. In the case of a tie, the pot is split equally among the winning hands.

A Quick Guide to Texas Hold'em

Texas Hold'em Basics

Texas Hold'em is a community card game, meaning that some cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table and shared by all players. Each player is dealt two pocket or hole cards which they consider with the five community cards to make the best possible five-card hand.

The person who is dealt last is regarded as the dealer and as such is marked with a dealer button. At the end of the hand the button is passed clockwise to the next player.




Blinds Placement

Most hands of poker begin by some form of forced betting. This is to ensure that there is action with every hand. Hold'em is played with two blinds (a bet before the pocket cards are received). The two players to the left of the dealer start with placing blind bets. The small blind is posted by the first player and the big blind by the second. The big blind is always the minimum bet at the table and the small blind is half. During a betting round, each player in turn takes one of the following actions:


BetPut money in the pot
CallTo match/equal another player's bet
FoldForfeit cards and your chance of winning the pot
CheckPassing on making an action(if no bet is in play)
RaiseTo increase another player's bet
Re-RaiseTo increase another player's raise

First Round - The Pre Flop, Dealing The Cards

When the blind bets are placed, the dealer gives out two cards to each player. The dealer deals clockwise. The two cards are called "hole cards" or "pocket cards".

After this the players choose if they would like to make a bet. The person after the big blind starts. In the first round you cannot "Check", but you can do any of the following: Bet, Call, Raise or Fold. All players shall put the same amount in for the game in order to continue. So if one player raises, the other players must either call or re-raise, or fold (drop out of the round).


Second Round - The Flop

Dealer turns three cards on the table - the Flop. These three cards are community cards and can be used in combination with the two hidden cards each player has in his/her hand.

The remaining players now start the second round of bidding. The first player to the left of the dealer starts the bidding round. The following actions can now be taken: Check, Bet/Raise, Call or Fold.

All players must put the same amount into the pot, or fold before the round has ended.

The same rules apply for both the bidding and the raising in each round from now on.




Third Round - The Turn

The dealer now displays the fourth community card on the table, so all players have six cards to play with. A round of betting now takes place.

Fourth and Final Round - The River

The fifth and last community card on the table is displayed. A round of betting now takes place.

The Showdown

In all, five of the seven cards can be used. This means that each player can form the best possible five-card hand from their two hole cards and the five community cards on the table. You don't even have to use any of your own cards if you don't want to. You can "play the board" if the best hand is shown there. The remaining players now show their cards, and the winner is found. If a player shows his/her cards and you are not able to beat these cards, you choose yourself if you want to show your cards or not.

Rules for Poker Games

Rules forPoker Games

The differences between the variety of poker games that have on offer.

Loyalty Program


Green Room

The GreenRoom

Step 1 of loyalty program. This is an exclusive area for the real money player, giving access to more benefits and rewards. All you have to do is collect 1 Player Point to become a member.

Green Room Bonus VendorBonus Vendor - Get cash for your Player Points.


Green Room tournaments Freerolls - Daily $100-added Green Room tournaments.



Silver Room

The SilverRoom

Get the VIP treatment when you step into the SilverRoom, an area for the truly dedicated player. With your Silver status you get the rewards, offers and special tournaments that you have earned. Indulge yourself.

Silver Room Bonus Vendor
Bonus Vendor - Get even more cash for your Player Points.



Silver Room tournamentsTournaments - Exclusive access to SilverRoom tournaments with thousands of dollars given away each week.




Gold Room

The GoldRoom


Where dreams really do come true! Made for our most successful members, this is where the true PokerRoom.com elite takes time out to get away from it all, where all those poker hours are paid off - in full! You may have to work hard to get here but once you're in you won't want to leave. We are honoured to welcome you to the GoldRoom.

Gold Room Ticket vendor Ticket Vendor - Purchase tickets with Player Points for Gold member only tournaments.



Gold Room bonuses Bonus Vendor - Fantastic rates when receiving cash for Player Points.