Game Rules

Texas Hold’em

This is the most popular and simplest version of poker. Players are dealt two cards each, and five community cards are revealed on the table. Players can form a five-card combination using one or both of their own cards together with the community cards. The game consists of four betting rounds, starting from the position after the Button, which moves one step clockwise after each hand.

Blinds

Before the game starts, and before players are dealt cards, two players after the Button place forced bets called Blinds. Blinds are necessary to ensure a starting amount in the pot. The first player after the Button posts the Small Blind, and the second posts the Big Blind. The Big Blind is usually twice the size of the Small Blind.

Pre-Flop

Players are dealt two hole cards. After the cards are dealt, the next player after the Big Blind starts the betting round. This player can call (match the previous bet), raise (increase the bet), or fold (discard their cards and leave the hand). When the action reaches the Big Blind, they can check (continue without adding more chips) if no raise was made. If there was a raise, the Big Blind can fold, call, or re-raise. Once all bets are matched, the dealer collects the bets and the next round begins.

Flop

Three community cards are dealt face up on the table. Players can use these cards to form their combinations. After this betting round, the game continues.

Turn

The fourth community card is dealt face up, followed by the next betting round.

River

The fifth and final community card is dealt face up, followed by the last betting round.

Showdown

After the final betting round, players reveal their cards to determine the winner. To claim the pot, a player must show both hole cards. If two or more players have identical combinations, the pot is split equally.

Omaha

This game is very similar to Texas Hold’em, but unlike Texas Hold’em, players are dealt four hole cards, and five community cards are dealt on the table. Players must use exactly two of their hole cards and three of the community cards to form their five-card combination. The game has four betting rounds, starting from the position after the Button, which moves clockwise after each hand.

Blinds

Before the game starts and cards are dealt, two players after the Button place blinds to ensure a pot. The first player after the Button posts the Small Blind, the second posts the Big Blind, which is usually twice the Small Blind.

Pre-Flop

Players are dealt four hole cards. The player after the Big Blind starts the betting round, with the options to call, raise, or fold. The Big Blind can check if no raise was made or fold, call, or raise if there was a raise. After all bets are equalized, the dealer collects the bets and the next round begins.

Flop

Three community cards are dealt face up. Players use these cards with their hole cards to form combinations.

Turn

The fourth community card is dealt face up, followed by a betting round.

River

The fifth community card is dealt face up, followed by the final betting round.

Showdown

After betting ends, players reveal their cards. A player claiming the pot must show all their hole cards. If players have identical hands, the pot is split.

7 Card Stud

Until recently, 7 Card Stud was the most popular poker version until Texas Hold’em overshadowed it. This variant differs from Texas Hold’em and Omaha and requires patience, but is very engaging.

Before the game starts, players place mandatory Ante bets. There are no community cards in Stud poker. Instead, the dealer deals three cards to each player clockwise. The first two cards are dealt face down and the third face up.

There are five betting rounds that proceed clockwise.

Betting start

The player with the lowest (in Split Limit) or highest (in Pot Limit) visible card starts and places the initial bet. If two or more players have the same rank, suit order is used: clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades.

3rd Street

After the initial bet, each player can fold, call, or raise up to the limit, starting left of the bettor.

4th Street

A fourth card is dealt face up. The player with the best visible hand starts the betting round and can double the bet if they get an up pair.

5th Street

The fifth face-up card is dealt. The player with the best visible hand starts betting.

6th Street

The sixth face-up card is dealt. The player with the best visible hand starts betting.

7th Street or River

The last, seventh card is dealt face down. The player who started the previous round begins betting.

Showdown

The player with the best five-card hand wins.

5 Card Stud (Soko)

Each player is dealt two cards: the first face down (hole card) and the second face up. The hole card is hidden from other players.

There are four betting rounds. After dealing the first two cards, the first betting round begins. Then the third, fourth, and fifth cards are dealt face up, each followed by a betting round.

Players place an obligatory Ante before dealing.

Bring-in

The player with the lowest (Split Limit) or highest (Pot Limit) card starts and places the initial bet. If tied, suits decide in alphabetical order: clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades.

Betting order

Soko has four betting rounds. After the first two cards, the first betting round starts. Then each new card is dealt with a betting round after.

Showdown

When betting ends, players reveal cards and the best five-card combination wins. In case of ties, the pot is split equally. Any leftover chip goes to the player left of the dealer.

The player who last bet or raised reveals the first card. If no bet was made, the active player left of the dealer reveals first.

Soko hand rankings (strongest to weakest):

  1. Royal Flush

  2. Straight Flush

  3. Four Of a Kind

  4. Full House

  5. Flush

  6. Straight

  7. Three of a Kind

  8. Two Pairs

  9. 4 cards Flush

  10. 4 cards Straight

  11. One Pair

  12. High Cards

Crazy Pineapple

This game is very similar to Texas Hold’em, but players are dealt three hole cards instead of two, and five community cards are dealt. Players can use one or two of their hole cards to form a five-card combination with the community cards.

There are four betting rounds, starting from the player after the Button, which moves clockwise each hand.

Blinds

Before dealing, two players after the Button post blinds: Small Blind and Big Blind, usually twice the Small Blind.

Pre-Flop

Players are dealt three hole cards. The player after the Big Blind starts betting with options to call, raise, or fold. The Big Blind can check if no raise, or fold, call, or raise if there was a raise. Once bets are equalized, the dealer collects bets and next round begins.

Flop

Three community cards are dealt face up. Players use them to form combinations. After the second betting round, players must discard one of their hole cards.

Turn

The fourth community card is dealt face up, followed by a betting round.

River

The fifth community card is dealt face up, followed by the final betting round.

Showdown

After the last betting round, players reveal their cards to determine the winner. Players must show both remaining hole cards to claim the pot. If tied, the pot is split.

5 Card Omaha

5 Card Omaha is an exciting Omaha variant. It is played like Omaha but players are dealt five hole cards. In 5 Card Omaha, players must use exactly three community cards from the flop and exactly two hole cards to form the best five-card poker hand.