Poker Basics

Poker Basics

Poker is the name given to a number of card games where players wager on the strength of the cards they hold. Poker players make bets based on the strength of their cards to win a communal "pot" consisting of the players' wagers. This pot is awarded to the player who either holds the highest ranking hand or makes a wager which goes unmatched by his or her opponents.

All poker games begin with two forced wagers, called Blinds, after which players can make addition bets. In any poker game, players make their wagers using a number of actions available to them. The actions are as follows:

1. CHECK - If there is no wager on the current betting round, a player may check. The act of checking passes the action to the next player immediately clockwise from him or her. A check does not forfeit interest in the pot, only the current right to bet. If all players check during a round of betting, the round is considered complete.

2. BET - If there is no wager on the current betting round, a player may bet. If a player bets, the player immediately clockwise from him or her (and any subsequent players) may fold, raise, or call.

3. FOLD - The act of folding forfeits all interest in the pot. A player who folds is not allowed to wager any further money for the current game.

4. CALL - If there has been a wager on the current betting round, a player may call. The act of calling requires the player to match the current bet made by his or her opponent(s).

5. RAISE - If there has been a wager on the current betting round, a player may raise. The act of raising requires the player to match the current bet and make a greater one. All subsequent players are required to call the raise or raise again ("re-raise") to maintain interest in the pot.

On each betting round, betting continues until the person immediately counterclockwise the last bettor or raiser acts. When this person acts, the next round begins, or the hand is complete.

When the last bet or raise on the final betting round is called, the "showdown" occurs. This is when it is determined who wins the pot, as players reveal their hands. It may be the case that there is no showdown. This occurs when a player bets or raises, and no active players choose to call the player’s bet (in other words, all players fold). In this case, the player doing the betting or raising wins the full amount of the pot.

Table Stakes and All-In

Poker is typically played "table stakes", meaning only the chips in play at the beginning of each hand may be used throughout the hand. The table stakes rule has an application called the "All-In" rule, which states that a player cannot be forced to forfeit a hand because the player does not have enough chips to call a bet. A player who does not have enough chips to call a bet is declared All-In. The player is eligible for the portion of the pot to the point of his final wager. All further action involving other players takes place in a "side pot", which is ineligible to the All-In player.