Draw Poker

Written by Nigel

Another popular variation of poker is dubbed draw poker.  For many people, actually, this is the first type of poker that they learn.  However, today, with the popularity of Texas Hold ‘em, the situation may be different.  In any case, every poker player should know how to play draw poker.

The basic idea behind draw poker is being dealt cards face down all the time.  Each player then has the option of changing some cards from the deck.  The number of cards to be changed would depend on the sub variation of draw poker that is being played.  The goal is to form the best hand possible by eliminating the weakest cards in the hand and hoping to draw better cards from the deck.

Draw poker is typically played this way.  The players are dealt cards face down and then they bet.  After the initial betting round, each player draws from the deck.  Another round of betting ensues.  Then another draw follows, with the last round of betting after.  Whether players bet before the first draw is decided by the house rules of the dealer.  The same goes for the number of draws allowed to the players.  More so, the dealer can dictate the number of cards that each player may exchange in a single round of drawing.  In determining this number, the dealer has to take into account the number of cards available in the deck.

As with other basic poker games, draw poker has a lot variations.  Even the slightest variation has a large impact on the game, thereby creating a new poker variant.  We will talk about some of them next time.

Basic Five Card Stud

Written by Nigel

I would imagine that based on the last few posts, you already have a pretty good idea on how to play stud poker.  Last time we talked about basic seven card stud, wherein you have 7 cards for each player.  For this variation, we have 5 cards for each player.

The game starts with the dealer dealing out 1 card – face down – to each player.  He then deals another card, this time face up, to each player at the table.  A round of betting ensues.  As with 7 card stud, the player with the highest face up card starts the betting round.  After everyone has bet, the dealer then deals another face up card to each player.  Everyone starts betting again.  This cycle goes on until each player at the table has one face down card and four face up cards.  The total number of betting rounds is four.  At the end, the player with the best hand wins.

Sometimes, there are certain stipulations for a five card stud game.  Though this is rare, it is worth mentioning.  One variation is called “roll your own.”  In this variation, each player is initially dealt 2 cards face down.  Players then decide which of the two cards they will turn up as a face up card.  After the betting round, another face down card is dealt to each one and players again decide which of the two face down cards they will show.  As with the basic game, this continues until everyone has 5 cards in all.

The Basic 7 Card Stud

Written by Nigel

We covered the basics of stud poker last time.  Now let’s take a look at one of the most common variations of stud poker – the basic 7 card stud poker.  As the name implies, 7 cards are dealt to each player at the table.  Typically, the dealer deals 2 face up cards and 1 face down card to each player.  What happens next is a round of betting which starts with the player who holds the highest card in his face up cards.

After the first round of betting, each player is dealt another face up card followed by another round of betting.  Another face up card is then dealt to each player and then another round of betting ensues.  This goes on till the 4th face up card is dealt.  After which another betting round begins followed by the last card, which is face down.  The final round of betting then occurs.  The winner is decided at the end with each player choosing the best cards to form a 5 card hand.

Stud Poker

Written by Nigel

Stud poker is another poker variant that is quite popular with many poker lovers.  Under stud poker are a lot of other sub-variants.  For this post, let’s look at the main theme governing this group of poker games.  The binding theme for stud poker games is that each player at the table has a certain number of cards face up and a certain number of cards face down.

The cards which are face down, also called cards in the hole, are seen only by each player.  The face up cards, on the other hand, are the cards seen by all the players at the table.  The number of face up/.down cards is dependent in the specific type of stud poker you are playing.

The dealer can state stipulations at the table.  He can call certain cards to be wild cards, though this is not commonly done outright for face up cards.  Usually, wild cards involve face down cards so as to ensure that no one knows who has a wild card until the end.

Some stud poker games feature High/Low set ups.  This means that the pot is divided by the player with the highest hand and the player with the lowest hand.  Though this means that you have less winnings, more players stay at the table with this kind of set up.

Another stud poker variation is called Lowball.  In this case, the player with the perfect low will win the pot.  The perfect low has to be established by the dealer before the deal or is dependent on the existing House Rules.

Texas Hold ‘Em Poker (Part 2)

Written by Nigel

Now let’s take a look at the details in a game of Texas Hold ‘em Poker. Everything begins with the deal. So you have the dealer who shuffles a deck of cards. For home games, the dealer is usually one of the players around the table. The dealer button is rotated around the table so that each player has a turn at being the dealer. At the casino, the dealer usually does not join the game.

Most games require two players to the left of the dealer to put in predetermined amounts of money. They are called the blinds. So at the beginning of each round, we have what is called “posting the blinds.” Once the blinds are posted, the dealer gives each player the hole cards – these are the two initial cards that each player is dealt.

After the hole cards are dealt, the first round of betting begins. Each player can then call, raise, or fold. We talked about these terms in another post. Once all of the players have made their move, the dealer burns a card – this means he discards the top card on the deck. This is done to prevent cheating.

He then deals the flop. The flop is basically three cards that are placed in the middle of the table for everyone to see and use. These are also called community cards. Another round of betting then takes place. Then comes the turn – which is the fourth community card. Another round of betting and the river is dealt – the last card. Final betting takes place and someone will emerge as the winner.

That was very simplified but I hope it gave you an idea how Texas Hold ‘Em is played.

Texas Hold ‘em Poker (Part 1)

Written by Nigel

In this series of poker variations, I decided to begin with what many would consider the most popular form of poker today – Texas Hold ‘em Poker.  First things first, does this poker variant really originate from Texas?  It is perhaps a silly and irrelevant question but I just had to ask it.  The answer is yes – at least to a large number of people.  Yet the truth is, there is no evidence of it real origin.  In any case, that is not important now, as Texas Hold ‘em is played all over the world.

What is your goal when playing Texas Hold ‘em Poker?  Much like other poker variants, your ultimate aim is to win the pot.  That is, the pile of money in the middle of the table, which is comprised of the bets of all the players.  How does one win the pot?  By forming the best hand out of the community cards and the cards in one’s hand.  There are 5 community cards, which we will discuss more later.

Normally, Texas Hold ‘em is played with big and small blinds.  A dealer button is also used to indicate the dealer.  This is passed around the table in a clockwise fashion after each hand is played.  The position of the blinds rotate along with the dealer.

This poker variant has its own three sub-variants – limit, no limit, and pot-limit.  The most popular of the three is limit hold ‘em, which we can usually play in casinos.  TV shows and the WSOP feature no limit hold ‘em.

(more next time)

Organizing Your Own Home Game (Part 2)

Written by Nigel

So you’ve set up the rules, created your own handbook – what now?  Make sure that you have all your equipment set up.  We talked about poker tables and chips before so I suppose you have acquired them already.  No don’t forget about the deck of cards.  If possible, get 2 decks, just in case you need an extra one.

Now for the “extras.”  What do you need to make your poker night more enjoyable?  Food, drinks, and music!  Well, the last one is not really applicable to everyone because some people would rather play without background noise.  It is up to you, really.  As for the food and drinks, it would really increase the camaraderie to have some refreshments ready.  Again, this would depend on you and your guests.  Finger foods like chips are usually your best bet.  Beer and soda will do for drinks.  You can take a survey as to what the people prefer.

Another thing, make sure that you have at least 6 people who are coming.  That is why you should send out invites to as many people as you can.  Invariably, some people will cancel before the night.  Poker is so much more fun if you have more people at the table.  Before you go and deal, though, make sure that playing home games is not illegal in your state.  You wouldn’t want to be busted, would you?  Now there’s nothing holding you back from a great night of poker.  Have fun!

Organizing Your Own Home Game (Part 1)

Written by Nigel

Poker home games have risen in popularity over the past year or so.  Thanks to the great exposure on TV and online, more and more people are becoming interested in this card game.  There is always the default option of playing in online casinos, of course.  You can play anytime you wish, with anyone around the world.  You do not even have to spend any money on their free games – you just need an Internet connection. It’s that easy, really.

However, there is just no substitute for a “real” game with “real” people around the table.  That is why many poker players prefer to play at least one home game a week though they still play online more often.  So how do you get a home game going?  Here are some simple things you can follow to have a great poker night at your place.

First, take a survey of interested players.  Get in touch with your friends and invite about 6 to 9 of those who show interest.  Make sure that you clearly state what poker variation you will be playing.  Right now, you’ll probably have more takers for Texas Hold ‘Em Poker.

Once you have a set group of people, you can come up with your own tournament handbook.  This covers the rules of the poker variation (which you don’t really make up – just get it online) as well as the house rules (which you have a certain degree of control over – you can also get tips online).  You can send the players copies beforehand and have a copy for the night as well.

(to be continued)

All About Poker Chips

Written by Nigel

Ahh, the sound of poker chips clinking against each other…that sound is perhaps one of the most pleasant sounds that a poker nut can ever hear.  Imagine not being able to hear that sound for a long period of time – it would drive me crazy!  That is why I suggest, if you are thinking of hosting games at home, that you buy a really nice set of poker chips.

There are so many kinds of poker chips that you can buy out there.  You only have to take your pick.  A chip by any other name… - NOT!  Poker chips are made of different materials.  You can have those cheap plastic ones for almost nothing or you can shell out a little more money by getting casino-grade chips.  Plastic chips are quite convenient to acquire but they are so light it feels different when you play with them.  More importantly, they DO NOT make the sound!  On the other hand, clay chips or composite chips give you a better feel of the game.  From the weight to the sound and the looks – they simply are better.

Then of course you have to decide on the set of poker chips that you are going to buy.  That is, should you get the 300-chip set or the 500-chip set?  It really depends on how many players you are planning on having.  I would say that the latter would be your best bet though.  It’s always better to have something extra.  Oh, did I mention that clay/composite chips come in these really cool cases?  You should really get a set for yourself!

Related Link: Casino online in Deutsch spielen

Poker Tables

Written by Nigel

A poker table is perhaps one of the most well-loved piece of equipment for a card game.  You might be surprised to find out just how much love and effort has gone into the making of a poker table.  Finding the right poker table for you is not really a hard thing.  What you must first consider is how many players are going to be using it?  Poker can be played by anywhere from 2 to 10 players.  If you want the full-size table then go ahead.  Just make sure that you know what you want before anything else.

After determining the size, you can now think about the shape.  Oval?  Rectangular?  Circular? Octagonal?  Poker tables can be had in any shape, really.  So take your pick and then head on out to the store.  You have two choices really, one is to buy a ready made poker table and the other is to make your own.

Now, if your size and shape requirements are not too much out of the ordinary, I am sure you will find it easier to just go out and get a ready made one.  This might cost you a little bit more than the second option, though.  As for making your own table, get your specs ready and go to the hardware store.  Table plans and instructions can actually be found on the net, it just takes a little bit of research.  If you want something customized but you don’t have the skill to build a table, then have one custom made – and be ready to pay for it too!

More Celebrity Gossip »