Blinds versus antes.

Many newcomers to poker know what antes are, but are confused when it comes to blinds. Both are similar in the fact that both are placed on the table before a hand is dealt. People refer to placing blinds as posting blinds normally. Most poker games require you to put money into the pot before you see cards. This is done to ensure that people will not just sit around and twittle their thumbs until the perfect hand comes along. That would take forever. Therefore, you can think of blinds and antes as a goad to make you play hands eventually, even if that is not right away.


Antes are a set amount that is placed into the pot by every player before the start of the hand. If you got to take a wiz, and you don't want to play the hand. Don't put in an ante. Because antes are placed in before the hand, it is possible to merely check through the first round of betting, unlike blinds. Also, every starting hand you decide not to play, you are losing money which is also unlike blinds. Antes are mostly used in small home cash games.


Blinds are used in most poker games, including Texas Hold'em. There are two blinds at any given time. They are the small blind and the big blind. The small blind is the position one spot directly to the left of the dealer, and the big blind is the position two spots to the left of the dealer. The small blind is always exactly half of the big blind. In most tournament formats, blinds start at a set amount, and increase at certain time intervals. For example, blinds could start at $1 for the small and $2 for the big (normally represented as 1-2), and they could double in amount every hour. The big difference from antes is that you can see your cards for absolutely free in any spot at the table other than the two blinds. Yet in the first round of betting, you must call the amount of the big blind in order to stay in the hand. If there is no raise, the small blind puts in enough to match the big blind, and the big blind can check.



For those of you that have no idea what I am talking about, here's an example. Say you are not a blind at the table, and you get dealt 7d-3c as your hole cards. These are no good, so you will probably fold. The beauty is that you went through a hand with crummy cards without paying a cent.

Okay, same situation as before, but you receive Ad-Ks. That's a pretty good hand, so in order to stay in you must at least call the big blind. In antes, you can check if their is no bet in front of you.

That's basically the just of the two. If I missed anything please let me know.

Always be aware of what you hold

Don't do this




You always need to be aware of what your best 5 card hand and what could beat it. These two things will help dictate how you play the hand.

Texas Hold'em

I won't go into much detail on this because you probably have seen this on T.V. It is by far the most common game of poker played.

A hand of Texas Hold'em starts with each player being dealt two cards face down. Betting starts to the left of the dealer and continues around. After betting is completed, three community cards are dealt face up in the middle. This is known as the flop.

Another round of betting occurs, and then a fourth community card is dealt. This is known as the turn or 4th street.

A third round of betting occurs, and then the fifth and final community card is dealt. This is known as the river or 5th street. After all the cards are dealt a final round of betting occurs, and the best hand wins. Below is a hand of online texas hold'em.

Ranking of poker hands

From best to worst:

Royal flush: A-K-Q-J-10 all of the same suit. This is the most rare hand in poker. In fact, I have only gotten it twice in non-internet play.

Straight flush: Five sequential cards that are of the same suit. Ex: 7d-6d-5d-4d-3d

Four of a Kind: Fours cards that match. Ex: Jh-Jd-Jc-Js-Ah

Full House: Having three of a kind and a pair within the same hand. Also known as "a full boat" or just "a boat." Ex: 8c-8d-8s-Qd-Qh. This would be expressed as eights full of queens.

Flush: Five cards of the same suit. The order of the 5 cards does not matter. Ex: 2h-5h-Jh-Ah-7h

Straight: Five sequential cards of any suit. The ace can be used as a low or high card. Around the bends (Q-K-A-2-3) normally are not allowed. Ex: As-2d-3s-4h-5s. This is known as the whell A-10 is known as broadway.

Three of a Kind: Three matching cards. Also known as trips. Ex: 9d-9h-9s-10h-7d

Two Pair: Two sets of matching cards. Ex: 10h-10d-Kc-Kh-As

Pair: Two matching cards. Ex: As-Ah-4h-5s-9d

High Card: In the case of nobody having any of the forementioned hands. The highest card wins. Ex: Ah-8d-7d-6d-5d beats Kh-Qd-Jh-10c-2s

The absolute basics

Before I get into any strategy or types of games, there is a basic set-up that is followed in all types of poker. I will define any potentially confusing terms. If you are confused on something, just comment below.

Lets go over what will normally happen on any given hand in any poker game.

Pre-hand action. In all games, there will be some sort of pre-hand bet to ensure that players won't sit around, folding every hand, until they get something perfect. There are two types of this. This bet is put into the middle of the table, and it will financially grow over the course of the hand. This is called the pot.

Ante: An ante is a designated amount of money put into the pot by all people playing in the hand. If you don't ante, you don't play the hand.

Blind: Blinds are more complicated, but they are used in some poker games including the undeniably popular "Texas Hold'em." I will go into more depth when I explain games that use this.

The Deal. Next the cars will be dealt. They will either be dealt face up, face down, or a combination of up and down cards. Sometimes, your face down cards will be referred to as hole cards.

First round of betting. Now, everyone has their cards, and betting starts with the person to the left of the dealer and continues moving around the table clockwise. Depending on the game, a person could do one three things if no bet has been made.

Fold: This is the most important word in poker. Folding is when you don't think your cards can win, and you basically give up for that hand. Don't be afraid to fold.

Bet: Being the first person to put money in the pot on that round of betting. This is a strong move, and people will think you could have a good hand.

Check: Deferring your right to put money in the pot. It's like saying, "I bet nothing." The chance to make an opening bet get passed on to the next person. This can only be done if nobody has bet. If everyone remaining in the hand checks, the round of betting is over. Checking is the weakest move in poker except for folding.

A bet has been made! Now you have three other choices to consider.

Fold: You can always fold.

Call: To match the bet made by another player. You must at least call to stay in the hand.

Raise: When a person raises, not only do they match the bet made, but they put even more money ino the pot. This forces everyone else, even the original bettor, to put as much money as the person that raised did. This is the strongest move in poker that you can make.

The round of betting is over. The next thing that is done is very specific to the game, but whatever it is, it most likely has the possibility to make or break your chances of winning the hand. Here are some possibilities of what it could be.

This marks the end of the hand: The hand is over. Show your hand if you remain, and the best five card hand wins the pot.

Another card(s): A card dealt to you, face up or down, that only you can use. This would happen in 7 card stud or razz.

A community card: This is a card dealt face up in the middle of the table. Everyone can use this card in their hand. This happens in Texas Hold'em or Omaha.

Drawing: Here you have the opportunity to exchange a number of cards in your hand for new cards from the deck. This would happen in 5 and 7 card draw.

More betting: Another round of betting occurs where you have the same options as before. Then more cards, etc. Eventually, this stops according to what game your playing, or it will immediately stop if everybody except for one person has folded. In this case, that one person win the pot.

After all of that, chips have been lost by most and gained by one, and you get to do it all again on the next hand.

Peace


Matt