Back to the basics - Getting Started

Written by Nigel

We’ve been through quite a lot in these past few months and I thought it would be nice to go back to the basics. There are so many new poker players out there, thanks to the publicity it gets from the different celebrity tours. These people need a solid foundation on poker. For the oldies, it is always a good thing to be reminded of the bare essentials. So how do we get started in a poker game?

The first thing that has to be determined is how much everyone around the table is willing to pay. This is what we call the stakes. Three things to be considered when setting the stakes are:

What is the standard ante going to be?
What is the minimum bet?
What is the maximum bet?

How low or how high the stakes is depends on the minimum and maximum bet, respectively. They are the outer limits and any player can bet any amount within those limits.

Once these figures have been determined by the players around the table, they are ready to move on to the next step which is determining who will get the first hand. This is really variable depending on the players. One way we do it is to have someone deal cards one at a time and the first one to get an Ace gets the first hand. Others wait for the Jack instead of the Ace – it does not really matter how you do it as long as you determine who gets first hand.

An Observation About Poker

Written by Nigel

I was at my friend’s place last night again and I decided to bring my poker chip set just in case some guys wanted to play.  It turned out to be a slow night at the beginning since everyone just wanted to sit around and chat and drink.  After an hour or so, I decided to give it a try and suggested that we play poker.  The moment everyone saw my shiny metal case and the colorful chips, I got their attention real good. (Remember these people were the same ones I taught poker some time ago).

So anyway, there we were.  We began setting up and talking about the rules.  Now I really wanted to play for money, even if for just a very small amount.  Unfortunately, these guys did not have money on them or they just did not want to play for money.  The end result was that we played but there was no money involved.

The one thing that I observed with home games is that I really prefer cash games, no matter how small the buy in and the antes are.  Why?  Because people tend to take the game more seriously.  Even beginners will not try to bluff their way out of every single situation (even if they have the worst hand in poker).  More so, anyone can join in at any point with real cash games just by buying in.

We were able to deal with the little things of course.  Even the crazy bluffing made it funnier at times.  It was a good night.  I still wish it was a cash game though.

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.

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)