Poker Texas Hold’em ›

Game rules

• Introduction to Poker Texas Hold’em
• Aim of the game
• Value of the plays
• How to play Texas Hold’em
  • Big blind and small blind
  • Flop, Turn and River
  • End of game
• Multiple pots
• Games for 2 players
• Controls
• Table options
• Ranking per points

Introduction to Poker Texas Hold’em

Poker Texas Hold’em (or stud poker) is the most popular variant of this type of card games. Differently from the Draw Poker, only 2 cards are dealt to each player plus 5 face-up cards that will be shown throughout the game.

2 to 9 players can play niwanza games and they may enter or quit the table even if there is a game underway.

All the cards of the French deck are used on this game, except the joker.

Aim of the game

The main aim of the game is to bet and win the biggest number of chips as possible. The bets are accumulated in a pot that is won by the player that has the best combination of cards. It is also possible to win if the other players leave the game.

Value of the plays

1. Royal straight flush: 5 cards of the same suit in run from 10 to Ace.
   

2. Straight flush: 5 cards of the same suit in run. The Ace can make up a sequence with the King and with the 2 (the card with the lowest value).
   

3. Poker: 4 equal cards.
   
4. Full House: 3 equal cards and two equal more. That is, a trio and a pair. If there is a tie, the winner is the one who has the highest trio.
   
5. Flush: The 5 cards of the same suit.
   
6. Straight: Similar to the straight flush, but it is not necessary that the 5 cards be of the same suit.
   
7. Three of a kind: 3 equal cards.
   
8. Two pairs: Two pairs of equal cards. Te hand made up of 8♠ 8♣ A♠ A♣ is called “The dead man’s hand”.
   
9. Pair: A pair of equal cards.
   
10. High card: The Ace is the highest card.
    

How to play Texas Hold’em

On the first game, the player that will be the dealer is appointed randomly (indicated with a “D”), that will be a reference to know who starts to play.

Big blind and small blind

Before dealing the cards, some mandatory “blind” bets are made. They are called that way because the player makes the bets without seeing his/her cards.

• The small blind is made by the player on the left of the dealer. This one corresponds to half of the minimum bet.
• The big blind is made by the following player on the left and corresponds to the minimum bet.

After that, 2 cards are dealt to each player and the first round of bets starts. On that round, the player that is on the left of the big blind starts betting.

On their turn each player can equalize the bet (“Call”), raise it (“Raise”) or leave (“Fold”). If the bets are equalized, they pass to the next round (flop).

If all the players except one leave, that one will automatically win the game.

Flop, Turn and River

The flop is the second round of bets, in which 3 cards are placed faced-up on the table. Those cards are common to all the players. So, another round of bets is started, but from that moment on the player on the left of the dealer starts (the one that made the small blind).

On that round and on the following ones, each player can bet based on the play he/she has. It is possible to make any combinations of cards with the two own cards plus the common cards of the table.

The turn is the third round of bets, in which a fourth card that is visible to all players is placed.

The river is the last round of bets, in which the fifth and last card is placed on the table.

End of game

If there are 2 or more players at the end of a Texas Hold’em game, the winner is the player that has the best play of 5 cards among his/her own cards and the table cards. If there is a tie, the pot is shared.

Multiple pots

It is possible that multiple pots are generated if the players do not have game chips. 2 or more pots will be created, depending on the bets made by each player.

Example: there are three players with 40, 30 and 10 chips respectively. If a player with 40 chips makes an all-in and the other players want to bet, 2 pots are created: one with 30 chips (10 chips x 3 players) and another one with 40 chips (20 chips x 2 players). The first player will have 10 chips since no one can equalize that bet.

Games for 2 players

When only 2 players play, the leader makes the small blind and starts betting on the first round. The opponent would bet the big blind.

From the flop on, the rounds of bets will start by the player that made the big blind.

Controls

Bet

Begin the bets with the indicated amount.

Call...

Equalizes the bets made by other players. For example, “call 100 chips”.

Raise...

Equalizes the bets of the other players (call) and also raises the amount indicated. That forces the other players to equalize your bet or leave.

Check

If no one bet on a round, it is possible to “check” the turn to the following player without betting. However, if someone makes a bet, the players that checked must call or leave.

Fold

Indicates that you want to leave and “not call” the bets made by the other players. It is very useful if you consider you do not have cards good enough to continue playing, but you will lose all that was bet until that moment.

In the settings tab it’s possible to personalise various game options. For instance, one can place blinds automatically.

Why do robots play? What for?

In some games, when a player loses connection during the game, a robot substitutes until the player can return. The player has a time allowed of some minutes to return to the game and continue playing.

End the game amicably (cancel game)

Some games have the option of ending the game amicably. If this happens, the game is cancelled. That is, the players don’t receive or lose points and the game doesn’t count in the leaderboards or statistics. What’s more, the chips bet are returned to each player (except in the case of penalisation for abandoning the game).

To cancel a game, one of the players must click the following button . All the players must agree to end the game, otherwise the game will continue.

The robot doesn’t count in the votes to end a game amicably.

Table options

The table options are chosen by the master (the first player to sit at the table and that has a star beside his/her avatar).

To see or change the table options, press the following button . The table options can be changed before starting a game or in the middle of the games. If the icon is changed to red, that means the master changed some of the options.

Time per turn

Used to indicate the time a player has to play on his/her turn. If the time ends, the game plays for him/her. See also: Game in automatic mode

Compete for points and chips.

Permits playing competitive games. Deactivate this option to practise (you will not score points or win chips, nor will you get badges or level up).

Private table.

If this option is active, only invited players or friends can sit in. See also: How to invite other players to play at your table.

Spectators allowed.

Other people can enter the table to watch the game and chat. See also: Watchers during the games

Limit to bet:

• No limit (no limit). There is no limit for the maximum bet a player can make on his/her turn.
• Limit (fixed limit). A player on his/her turn can only make the bet according to the value of the big blind. From the “turn” on this value doubles.

• Pot limit. The player can raise the bet, at maximum, the sum of what there is on the table, including the central pot and the other players’ bets in that round.

  Example (pot limit): there is a main pot with 10 chips, a player bets 5 chips, and another one calls those 5 chips. The following player can raise his/her bet with 20 chips, as maximum.

Minimum bet (big blind)

Indicates the value of the big blind and the minimum bet a player can make. See also: What are the game chips? How can I get them?

Minimum amount of chips to play

It is necessary to have this amount of chips to play at this table. This value depends on the minimum bet.

Sit and Go sign up

Only available in the tournament rooms. It’s necessary to have this quantity of chips to play at a Sit and Go table. The game’s prize is the sum of all the entry fees.

Break to increase blinds

Only available in the tournament rooms. The blinds (and minimum bet) increase from time to time to speed up the game.

Ranking for points

To take part in the leaderboard of this game, it is necessary to be registered and have chips enough to meet the bets.

To score points, the games have to be competitive (indicated by a boxing glove or swords). There is no scoring if 2 players at the table share the same IP.

If at one table game chips are being bet, you will need to have sufficient chips available to cover the bet. The winner of the game will get the XP points and the chips bet (the bank will receive 5% of the pot).

Points won depend on the chips won and the number of players.

In addition, all players win 2 extra points for each round a bet was made.

If a player leaves the game, he/she will simply lose the chips bet (there is no penalization). If there is a general disconnection during the game, the chips will be returned to the players’ accounts on the following days.

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