Holdem, also known as Texas Holdem, is a poker
game in which each player receives two cards (hole cards) dealt
face down, while five cards are dealt face up on the table.
All players play their best five cards using any combination
of their two downcards and the five common cards on the table.
The best five-card poker hand among those in contention for
the pot wins.
Betting on Texas Holdem
The betting starts after two cards are dealt to each player
in Texas Holdem. These cards are unique to each player. The
next three cards (called flop cards or, simply, the flop) are
then dealt in the center of the table. These cards are community
cards and are part of each active player's hand. A second round
of betting occurs. The fourth community card (the turn card)
is dealt in the center of the table, followed by another (third)
round of betting.
The final community card (the river card) is dealt in the center
of the table, followed by a final (fourth) round of betting.
The turn and river cards are also community cards used by all
players in Texas Holdem. When all bets have been equalized,
the showdown takes place among the remaining players—also known
as active players—and the winner is declared. If only one player
remains at the end of any round in Texas Holdem, there is no
showdown and the pot is awarded to that lone remaining player.
A player uses the best five cards among his pocket cards and
the community cards to determine his hand. That is, a player
may use both, one, or none of the two hole cards he started
with. (When none are used, the player is playing the board.)
Check-and-raise is allowed in all in Texas Holdem games (except
on the first round, when a player, on his turn, must either
bet or fold). The maximum allowable wager is always indicated
on the Bet prompt and the lowest allowable wager is the default
in the Bet window.
Texas Holdem Bet Limits
When you first go to a table, an information box appears that
tells you the name of the game ("Welcome to Holdem"), the limits
and type of game (for example, "$4-$8 Fixed Limit"), the blinds
(for example, "Blinds: $2/$4"), and the buy-in (for example,
"Minimum Buy-in $40"). In a no-limit game, a maximum buy-in
is enforced. The minimum buy-in is generally 20 times the size
of the big blind in Texas Holdem. So, for example, when you
sit down at a $0.25-$0.50 game, you will see in the information
box "Maximum Buy-in $50." If you click Sit Down and try to buy
in for less than $10, a notice pops up that reads "You need
to post a minimum buy-in of $10 to play at this table."
Fixed-Limit Games - The software enforces the bet limits, which
are determined by the stakes offered at the particular table.
For example, at a $3-$6 table, the limit on any bet is $3 on
the first two betting rounds and $6 on the final two betting
rounds. At Planet Poker, we allow a bet and three raises in
each individual round. Each bet or raise is at the limit for
that round. Thus, the first player to bet in the first round
of betting has the choice of folding or betting $3. If someone
has made a bet, the next player has the choice of folding, calling
the $3, or raising $3 (making the total bet at that point $6).
If there has been a raise, the next player has the choice of
folding, calling the $6, or raising $3 (making the total bet
at that point $9).
Pot-Limit Games - The minimum bet at the start of each round
of Texas Holdem is the amount of the big blind wager. The maximum
eligible bet is the amount of money currently in the pot. The
maximum allowable bet is calculated as the pot size after an
individual calls all existing wagers. For example, if there
is $10 in the pot and Player 1 wagers $5, then Player 2 could
call $5 or raise up to an additional $20. That is, when Player
2 puts her $5 into the pot, the pot becomes $20. She could just
call the $5, or raise any amount from $5 to $20. Thus, she could
put in a maximum of $25. During the course of a round of Texas
Holdem betting, a bet size cannot decline. (A bet or raise must
equal or exceed the preceding bet or raise.) If someone bets
or raises $5, then the next player's minimum raise would be
$5. You could not, for example, raise a $5 bet by $2. (Exception:
You can always go all in—wager all of your remaining chips—even
if that amount would cause you to make a raise smaller than
that permitted by this rule.)
No-Limit Games - The minimum bet at the start of each round
is the amount of the big blind wager. The maximum eligible bet
at all times is a player's table stake (the amount of money
a player currently has on the table). During the course of a
round of betting, a bet size cannot decline. (A bet or raise
must equal or exceed the preceding bet or raise.) If someone
bets or raises $5, then the next player's minimum raise would
be $5. Any Texas Holdem player can go all in (wager all his
chips) at any point during the play of the hand. A player is
never forced to call more than the amount of chips he has on
the table at any moment. That is, no player can be "bet out"
of a hand. If one player runs out of chips during the course
of a hand, and more than one opponent remains with more chips
than that player, then a side pot is created. An all-in player
can win from another player only as much as he is in for. This
concept also applies to pot-limit games.
Rake
Our house rake is 5%, capping at $3, and using a variable rake
structure.
Posting to Enter a Game of Texas Holdem
New players can enter a game in the big blind position to avoid
paying the new player post, which is equivalent to the Texas
Holdem big blind. A new player can choose to post the equivalent
of the big blind to enter the game at any time except when he
is between the button and the big blind position. A returning
player who has missed the big blind or small blind can choose
to post the missed blinds and reenter the game, as long as he
is not between the button and the big blind position. A seated
player who has missed the blinds or a player just sitting down
can always choose to wait for the blind, that is, sit out until
the blind gets to him.
Other Important Points
Buy-In - When you first sit down to the Texas Holdem table,
you are prompted with "enter the amount to buy in with." The
amount displayed to you is set to default to your entire Planet
Poker account balance. If you wish to take a lesser amount to
the table, simply override the amount in the box by typing in
the desired buy-in amount. The minimum buy-in at Planet Poker
is generally 10 times the small bet, although that amount is
higher for no-limit and pot-limit games. Also see "Bet Limits"
above.
For pot-limit and no-limit games, the maximum buy-in amount
is 100 times the big blind.
Texas Holdem Dealer (Our dealers never sleep, and they don't
accept tips!) - The dealer always sits at the top of the table
and deals for all players. The dealer position, or dealer button,
starts at the left of the dealer and moves clockwise one player
after each hand.
To start a hand, the cards are dealt in a clockwise direction
from the dealer button. All new players to the game must either
post the equivalent of the big blind or wait for their turn
in the big blind. (Also see "Posting to Enter a Game" above.)
This prevents players from gaining an advantage by avoiding
the blinds and jumping in and out of games. Each time the cards
are dealt, a new betting round begins. A Texas Holdem hand starts
when the first card is dealt and ends when a winner is declared.
Burn Cards - Just as in a "live" cardroom, the dealer discards
(burns) one card at the beginning of each betting round. These
are called the burn cards. You won't see the dealer actually
burn cards.
Betting Order
The Holdem cards are dealt in a specific order and betting also
takes place in a specific order. The order is as follows:
Blinds - The small blind is a forced bet made by the player
to the immediate left of the dealer button (when you are viewing
the table from behind the button). The big blind is a forced
bet made by the player to the immediate left of the small blind.
Small Blind - In our Holdem game, the small blind is a bet equal
in size to one half the game's minimum bet, rounded down to
the nearest unit. (For example, in a $4-$8 game, the small blind
is $2; in a $3-$6 game, the small blind is $1. Exception: In
a $.05-$.10 game, the small blind is $.03.)
Big Blind - In our Texas Holdem game, the big blind is a bet
equal in size to the game's minimum bet. (For example, in a
$3-$6 game, the big blind is $3.)
Missed Blinds - Players are required to post the small blind
and the big blind once per round or their equivalent upon reentry
to the game if the blinds are missed. The software will prompt
you if you have missed one or both blinds to put in the correct
amount. You can also wait for the blind to get to your position.
This is called coming in on the blind. (The term also applies
to when you first sit down.) (Also see "Posting to Enter a Game"
above.)
First Round - After the players in the blind positions put their
blinds into the pot, the dealer deals two cards (pocket or hole
cards) to each player, at which time each player can see his
own cards but not those of his opponents. On the first round
only, the betting starts with the player to the left of the
big blind, who has one of three choices, call, raise, or fold.
On the first round only, a player cannot check (make no bet)
and still retain his hand. On the first round only, the Texas
Holdem player in the small blind position acts after the button.
The player in the big blind position acts after the small blind.
Raise/Call/Check/Fold - Once a betting round has started you
must select one of these options from the popup box that appears
when it is your turn. If you choose one of the automatic options,
your bet is made automatically on your turn. (See Cardroom Features
for more about these options.) If you select Sit Out or you
close the window after a round has started, your bet will be
considered a fold. If your connection is lost, your hand will
be played as an all-in bet. (This feature is restricted to a
maximum number of times per day, to prevent individuals from
gaining an advantage by purposely allowing themselves to be
timed out.)
Option - The Texas Holdem player who has the big blind is given
the option to raise, check, call, or fold when it is his turn.
If no one has raised, the big blind has the option of checking
(that is, not increasing the bet) or raising (the prompt says
Bet).
Succeeding Rounds - In all rounds except the first, the betting
starts with the first active player to the left of the button,
who has one of three choices, check, bet, or fold. Until there
is a bet, each succeeding active player has the same choices.
Once a bet is made, each succeeding player then has in turn
one of three choices, call, raise, or fold.
Showdown - When all the betting is done, and if more than one
player is still in for the pot, then the showdown determines
who wins the game of Texas Holdem. The last player to open or
raise is required to show cards first, and anyone else can fold
(muck his cards if he decides he has lost. Players who elect
to fold do not have to show their cards. (The hole cards of
all players who stay in to the showdown are included in the
hand history, even if they do not actually expose their cards
at the showdown.) |
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