Basic Online Poker Betting Rules

Basic online poker betting rules:

1.    If there are no bets by other players:

Bet    :    A player can put 1 bet on the table. All players must then call that bet by then putting in the same amount of money, or they must fold.

Check    :    A player can decide not to make a bet. If no player bets, the game will continue with all players still in the hand. Should another player bet,  then the players will have to decide if they will match that bet or fold.  

2.    If there is a bet on the table by another player:

Fold    :    A player folds if he does not put in any more money, but he will be out of the hand and cannot win any money. Any money you have put into the pot up to this point is lost.

Call    :    A player places in money equal to the amount bet so far.  He then stays in the hand and play carries on.  Unless another player raises the bet, the next card will be dealt.  Should there be no further cards to deal, a showdown will take place.

Raise    : A player will bet : equal to the amount bet up to that point plus another bet.  All other players will now have to call the raise or fold their hands.  They may also re-raise the player.  

Showdown

Once all the cards have been dealt and all players in the game have called on the last round of betting, and more than 1 player is left, a showdown will take place where those players will showdown their hands.  The player holding the best poker hand, will win the pot!  Should there be a tie - that is, 2 or more players holding tying hands, then all the tying hands will split the winnings in equal amounts.  The poker room / house also takes a share of the winnings though, and will take a rake from the pot before it it paid out to the winner(s).  The rake is usually a a few cents to the $.

Win by default

Should all the players excepting for one, fold, then he will win by default, without having to show his hand.  He will also get all the money in the pot, less the house takings or rake.  

Betting tactics

Re-raise    :    When another player raises the player, but he feels he has a strong, good hand, and prefers to make his opponent pay to stay in the hand, he will then re-raise that bet and force him to up his bet to stay in the game.  This process can carry on indefinitely, depending on the house rules, or it can be capped at a certain number ie: 4 bets in each betting round - as with most online poker rooms.for limit poker.  There are no betting caps in place for No-limit and Pot-limit poker games.

Check-raise    :    Players generally get greedy when they hold a good or strong hand!  Generally they will then want to also take more than 1 bet from their opponent and will continue to raise him.  The player will check, the opponent will bet, the player will raise him, the opponent may then call.  If the players hand is good - he will ahve won 2 bets from his opponent.  Check-raising is high risk playing.  It is a powerful multiplier and can be dangerous as the players' opponent might also check, and may... have a better hand and re-raise!. The player may win no money if the opponent checks him and end up loosing should he re-raise.

Check-and-call    :    Should the player have a decent hand, but presumes that his opponent has a better one - he may then wish to avoid a raise.  At this point, the player may check-and-call.