The game of poker is played in hundreds of variations, but the following overview of game play applies to most of them.
Depending on the game rules, one or more players may be required to place an initial amount of money into the pot before the cards are dealt. These are called forced bets and come in three forms: antes, blinds, and bring-ins.
Like most card games, the dealer shuffles the deck of cards. The deck is then cut, and the appropriate number of cards are dealt face-down to the players. In a casino a “house” dealer handles the cards for each hand, but a button (any small item used as a marker, also called a buck) is rotated among the players to determine the order of dealing and betting in certain games. In a home game, the right to deal the cards typically rotates among the players clockwise, but a button may still be used.
After the initial deal, the first of what may be several betting rounds begins. Between rounds, the players’ hands develop in some way, often by being dealt additional cards or replacing cards previously dealt. During a round of betting, there will always be a current bet amount, which is the total amount of money bet in this round by the player who bet last in this round. To keep better track of this, it is conventional for players to not place their bets directly into the pot (called splashing the pot), but rather place them in front of themselves toward the pot, until the betting round is over. When the round is over, the bets are then gathered into the pot.
After the first betting round is completed (every participating player having called an equal amount), there may be more rounds in which more cards are dealt in various ways, followed by further rounds of betting (into the same central pot). At any time during the first or subsequent betting rounds, if one player makes a bet and all other players fold, the deal ends immediately, the single remaining player is awarded the pot, no cards are shown, no more rounds are dealt, and the next deal begins. This is what makes it possible to bluff.
At the end of the last betting round, if more than one player remains, there is a showdown in which the players reveal their previously hidden cards and evaluate their hands. The player with the best hand according to the poker variant being played wins the pot.
POKER: LEARN HOW TO HANDLE THE BLINDS Published: 2005-12-31
By Fred Done
AS the blinds are a forced bet you need to learn how to play when you have posted, otherwise you will find a proportion of your bankroll is wasted.
I follow some simple rules and they have always stood me in good stead.
The most common way to lose when you have posted the big blind is to call an opponent's raise with a bad set of cards, because you have already contributed to the pot and you don't want to lose those chips.
In most cases however you will end up losing a lot more than just the big blind.
You should remember that having called, you are now in the worst position for the rest of the hand.
It means you will always be the first to act so if you are in any doubt as to whether you should call the bet or not you should fold your cards and wait for a better opportunity.
Being in the early position is a big disadvantage in Texas Hold'em.
Calling after a raise when you have posted the big blind can also mean that you are obtaining great value for your call.
If some of your opponents have already called it will only cost you a relatively small amount to stay in the hand and it is likely you will be getting better odds for your money.
The extra money you put in is smaller than what everyone else has had to do to call.
Don't forget that once you have contributed to a pot those chips are not yours anymore so you should only be concerned with the chips you have left in your stack.
Try not to fall into the trap of always staying in the hand if you have posted the blind.
You will only be getting better odds if the raise was small,most often twice the blind.
If it is more and you don't have a premium hand then you should be folding.
Also, if you do stay in and you don't make your hand on the flop, you should not be putting in anymore chips.
Finally, be sure not to get trapped once the flop is dealt.
If you catch something half decent,such as a high pair,it is likely that someone will be able to beat you with a similar hand and a higher kicker.
And if your hand wasn't good enough to raise in the first place then unless you are getting at least three of a kind be very wary if anyone bets at you again after the flop.
On New Year's Day don't forget to logon to Betfredpoker.com for your chance to win a break for two to a Health Spa in the UK.
Winning this will be the best hangover cure there is.
Also look out during next week for chances to qualify for the 'Pay Off Your Credit Card' tournament where the winner will have some (if not all) of their Christmas overspending wiped clean.
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