Betting Basics
The number of betting rounds will vary from game to game, to start a game the players post
the ‘ante’. This is a compulsory bet, usually small, which is placed in the centre of the
table known as the ‘pot’.
The game will commence with the dealing of the cards. Betting then proceeds in a clockwise
direction from the dealer. Each player has three options at this point to ‘call’, ‘raise’ or ‘fold’.
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• Call
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This means the player must place a bet equal to the preceding highest bet.
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• Raise
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This means the player must first place an equal highest bet, then add an additional sum to the ‘pot’. The limit of which is determined by the set limit of the game.
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• Fold
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This means the player has decided to drop out of the hand being played, thereby giving up the chance to win the ‘pot’.
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Other poker games start the betting with ‘blinds’. These are also compulsory bets, and consist of a ‘small blind’ and a ‘big blind’. The player to the left of the dealer, or ‘dealer button’, posts the ‘small blind’ which is usually half the minimum bet. Then the player to the left of the ‘small blind’ posts the ‘big blind’, usually the minimum bet.
The maximum bets and raises allowed per game are determined by the structure of the game.
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• Limit
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With limit poker the bets are limited to a specific size, you will not be able to make smaller or larger bets in this type of game.
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• Pot Limit
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With pot limit games the maximum amount players can bet or raise is equal to the size of the pot.
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• No Limit
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With no limit poker there is no structure to the amount the players can bet or raise in each round. However, the players are limited to betting only with the amount they brought to the table.
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Poker Odds
Players use odds and probabilities to help determine their next action. A degree of
mathematical skill is an advantage as the ability to calculate poker odds makes for a far
better player. Particularly with online games with very few tells, statistical knowledge will
prove invaluable when choosing whether to call or fold.
Below is a probability table which helps to explain the chances of getting a five card
poker hand, when dealt from a deck of 52 cards.
Probability Table
Hand
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Combinations
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Odds to 1
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Royal Flush
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4
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649,739
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Straight Flush
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36
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72,192
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Four of a Kind
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624
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4,164
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Full House
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3,744
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693
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Flush
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5,108
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508
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Straight
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10,200
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254
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Three of a Kind
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54,912
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46
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Two Pair
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123,552
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20
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One Pair
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1,098,240
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4
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No Pair
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1,302,540
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2
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Probabilities of Five Card Poker Hands