Wagering
How do I make a bet?
When it is your turn to act, place the appropriate amount of chips inside the betting area (usually about halfway between a player and the pot), where they will remain until all other players have acted. The Dealer will then collect the wagers into the pot.
What is "calling" a bet?
You call a bet when you match the total amount of the wagers to you.
How do I make a "raise"?
A raise may be made by placing the proper amount of chips into the betting area, but a verbal declaration of your intent to raise is always the best approach to avoid any misunderstandings. Be aware that a raise which is not made properly may be disallowed.
What is a "check"?
You may "check" whenever you are first to act, or when the players acting before you have checked. This is simply choosing not to bet, but reserving the option of remaining in the action if other players do bet.
Is "check and raise" permitted?
Yes. Checking early in a betting round and then later raising after a bet has been made by another player is a common strategy.
How many raises are allowed?
Generally the "cap" or maximum is three (3) raises per betting round. However, if action becomes "heads-up" (only two (2) active players remaining) before a third raise is made, there is no limit to the number of raises that can be made between the "heads up" players. Also, there is no limit to the number of raises allowed in both pot-limit and no-limit games, as well as all Draw games.
What is an "ante"?
An "ante" is a stipulated amount that must be posted by each player before cards are dealt.
What is a "force bet"?
A "force bet" is a mandatory predetermined wager used to stimulate action. It is usually the player who received the lowest initial card (Aces are counted as high) which must make the force. In games played for low, such as Razz, it would be the player with the highest initial card (in this case an Ace is the lowest value). In determining the lowest or highest initial cards, suits will be used to break ties with the relative value of the suits increasing from clubs, diamonds, hearts and spades. The amount of the wager varies based on each games wagering limits, and is posted at each table.
What is a "Dealer Button"?
This is a small round disk that is used in most board games and draw games to indicate the location of the theoretical dealer. All cards are dealt, and betting action begins after this position.
What is a "blind"?
A "blind" is a mandatory bet posted before the cards are dealt used to stimulate the action on the first betting round. The "blind" or blinds will usually be posted by the first player or players seated to the immediate left of the dealer button, unless a specific game or situation deems otherwise. All "blind" bets counts as part or all of a players wager, and must be "posted" before that player receives his or her cards.
What is a "straddle"?
A straddle is a blind wager made in a board game that raises the "big blind". Because it is made blindly, that is prior to receiving any cards, the straddle has the right of last action if there has been no subsequent raise.
What is a "kill"?
A "kill" is a blind wager that is placed prior to receiving any cards. When a "kill" is posted the wagering structure for that hand is then double the standard limits for the remainder of the hand. Some games are played with "half kills" which raise the limits half again as large as standard limits. A "kill" may be optional in some games such as 5-Card Draw, or mandatory in other games depending on the size of the previous pot. Ask any Floor Host for more information on which games are played with a kill.
What is a "structured limit"?
Structured limit games are those where the wagering limits are clearly defined for each betting round. For example, in a $10-20 game, the initial betting rounds would have all the action taking place in $10 increments while the later rounds would be in $20 increments.
What is a "spread limit"?
In a spread limit game, such as $1-5, players may wager any amount between $1 and $5 at any time. Any raise must also be within the limits, with the additional requirements that a raise must be at least double the previous bet or raise amount.
What is a "pot-limit" game?
Pot limit and No-Limit games offer the player an opportunity to make much larger wagers when they have a powerful hand. Also known as "big bet" poker, there is usually a predetermined minimum wager, and the maximum wager is the size of the existing pot.
What is a "no-limit" game?
This wagering limit is clearly one of the most exciting games available While there is usually a predetermined minimum wager, the maximum wager is in fact all of your remaining table stake.
What is a "burn" card?
A burn card is a method of providing an additional protective measure in the case of a marked or damaged card. After each betting round, the Dealer will deal the top card off the deck and place it under the pot.