|
|
 |
|
|
Bet: When no players have bet, you can place a bet (put money into the pot). All other players must either call your bet (match your bet) to stay in the game, raise your bet (match your bet and add a bet on top of it) or fold their cards.
Check: When no one else has bet, you can check (put no money in the pot). Play continues until someone else bets.
Fold: When someone else places a bet, you decline to match a bet and fold your cards. You are out of the current game and cannot win any of the money in the pot.
Call: When another player places a bet, you match that players bet with an equal amount. Play continues until someone else bets.
Raise: When another player places a bet, you can raise (increase the amount of money in the pot by the bet amount plus an additional amount of money). All other players must either match your raise or fold. Other players can also reraise your bet.
Note: Once all the betting is done, there is either a showdown (remaining players show their cards and the best hand wins, or equal hands share the pot) or a default win (only one player remains, who takes the pot and does not have to show his/her cards).
Reraise: When another player raises your initial bet (or another players initial bet), you can reraise that players raise. You would follow this tactic if you believed that you had a very strong hand and you want to make the other player pay more to stay in the hand. In limit poker, there is usually a cap of 4 bets per betting round; No-Limit and Pot-Limit poker games do not have these caps. For more information on caps, check out Introduction to Betting Structures.
Check-raise: When you check and another player bets, you can raise on his bet (this is called a check-raise). This tactic is used to make your opponent believe that you do not have a good hand at first, but then forces the player to match your raise to stay in the game. This tactic only works when a player bets behind your initial check.
Check and call: You can check and call when you are unsure of your hand winning against another players hand.
Going all in: In No-Limit poker, you can push all your chips into the pot at any time. This tactic is often used after several players have bet and raised, and can be used to intimidate opponents or take a lot of money away from players.
What do I do if another player bets more than I have?
You have two choices: fold your cards or go all-in. Going all-in means that you call the amount of the other players bet that matches what you have in your stack. For example, if Player A bets $100 and you only have $50, then you would call $50 and would be eligible to win $50 of Player As bet plus whatever is already in the pot. If Player B also has $100 and calls Player As bet, then there would be a sidepot of $100 (Player A and Player B both have $50 more than you, so you are not eligible to win that amount).
Can I purchase more chips while I am still playing?
No. You have to wait until the hand is over before buying more chips. In most tournaments, once you are out of chips you are eliminated (unless they offer a rebuy option).
What happens when I join a game where I am not seated in the big blind?
You would either wait until the big blind comes around to your position (sit out the other hands) or post the big blind in your position.
How many bets and raises are allowed in a Limit Poker game?
Unless otherwise declared by house rules, each round has a one bet and three raise limit. In heads-up play, there may be unlimited bets and raises.
Are you ready to try out your betting knowledge? Play poker online and find out what it means to place a bet.
|
|
