Poker Rules

You need to make a buy-in when you join a poker game: a payment that allows you to take part. The size of the buy-in varies depending on the game and its stakes. For limit poker games, buy-ins are often a minimum of 10x the maximum bet, though that can differ. For pot-limit or no-limit poker games, the buy-in can be 40x the big blind.

The pack of cards used in a player-dealt poker game should be shuffled and cut before any cards are dealt. Two or three people may be involved in the shuffle and cut to ensure fairness. 

Generally, at least four cards must be in each portion after the cut, and no players should be able to see the bottom card (a joker is usually the cut-card).

A ‘misdeal’ refers to a mistake in dealing cards. Players may call a misdeal, before two players take action, in a range of situations. For example, the first or second card of a hand may be dealt face-up, or the dealer exposes a card accidentally. A misdeal can also be called if cards are dealt in the wrong sequence or the button is in the wrong position.

A player’s hand may be ‘dead’ if they fold, exceed a time limit on raising or betting, or it has too few cards as required for the game. Cards can be declared ‘dead’ when thrown into a different player’s hand, or when face-up cards are mixed with face-down cards (in stud games).

There are many irregularities to consider in the basic rules of poker. For example, players are obligated to inform others and the dealer if they realise a defective deck is being used. If they try to use that to their advantage instead, they may be unable to get a refund. 

Another example is discovering a joker card in a deck: these are replaced if found before a player acts, but if a player doesn’t point out to others that they have a joker before they act, their hand is considered dead.

The check-raise process is in almost all poker games, with the exception of some lowball games. 

Players can raise without limitation in pot-limit and no-limit games. Bets are required to be equal to the size of a previous wager or raise in the current round or higher (though not if players are going all-in). 

In limit games, a player moving chips forward into the pot area (even accidentally) may be required to follow through with their action if they prompt another player to take action.

The showdown comes at the end of a poker game. At this stage, all players still in the hand must reveal their cards by placing them face-up on the table. Dealers can help to announce hands if necessary. If all players check on the last round of betting (or go all-in), the player who made the first action will reveal their hand before everyone else.

If two or more players hold matching hands during the showdown of a game, a winner can be decided in various ways. If both players have a straight flush, for instance, the flush containing the highest card is the winner. For a full-house tie, the winning hand has the highest-ranking three of a kind.