General Rules of Poker
The basic poker rules are very simple, and only take a few minutes to learn. In a nutshell, you get dealt two cards in Hold’em, and then try to win by either having the best hand or pretending that you do. This is done through a series of checking, calling, betting and raising with your chips.
Of course, there’s a bit more to it than that. In this guide to poker game rules, we’ll explain the basics, from shuffling to buy-ins, and give you the confidence to get started at the poker tables.
The Buy-In
In order to play poker, you need to pay a buy-in, which is the amount of money you’re comfortable betting on the game.
If players don’t have anything on the line, there’s nothing to stop them from going all-in at random. This makes the buy-in an essential component of poker, rather than just an added thrill.
Depending on the type of poker game you’re playing, the rules of poker buy-ins will work a little differently.
Cash Game Buy-Ins
In cash games, there are fixed blinds, which you must pay each orbit if you want to continue playing. Stakes range from $0.01/$0.02 up to thousands of dollars.
You can’t just buy in for three or four blinds. Normally, the minimum buy-in for a cash game is 30-50 big blinds. So, if you want to join a $0.02/$0.05 cash game, the minimum buy-in is likely to be somewhere between $1.50-$2.50.
Maximum buy-ins vary in cash games. Sometimes, there’s no max at all. And of course, if you win loads of chips while playing, that’s totally fine. For example, if there’s a $300 max buy-in and you end up making over $300 by beating other players, you won’t be kicked off the table. The max buy-in only relates to your buy-in, not your winnings.
Tournament Buy-Ins
Tournaments and MTTs have a fixed buy-in. Each player pays the same predetermined buy-in for a certain amount of chips, then joins the tournament and play down until there’s one eventual winner.
If you’re playing online or at a casino, there’ll be two elements to the tournament buy-in: the entry fee and the rake. The rake goes towards the house, to pay for software, dealers and so on. For instance, if you see a tournament where the buy-in is written as ‘$10 + $1’, that means $10 goes to the shared prize pool and $1 goes to the house as rake.
Rebuys and Add-Ons
Certain poker tournaments allow rebuys, add-ons, or both.
If you get knocked out of a rebuy tournament, or fall below a certain threshold of chips, you’ll be given the option to buy another starting stack. You’ll remain in the same seat at the same table.
An add-on is a chance to purchase extra chips mid-tournament. This often comes at the end of the late reg or rebuy period, making it a kind of last chance to give yourself a chip boost.
Shuffling the Deck
Everyone knows how to shuffle a deck of cards, and this is done between every hand in poker. It’s also cut at the end of the shuffle. In home games, this can be done by the player to the dealer’s right.
Rules of poker state that you should protect the bottom of the deck using a cut-card (like a joker) so that nobody sees it while you’re dealing.
Poker game rules state that, before dealing the flop, turn and river, one card is ‘burnt’. To burn a card, you just take the card from the top of the deck and discard it in a pile next to the community cards, face-down.
Online poker shuffling is done automatically, using a random number generator. You won’t see anything happen, but each new hand is shuffled and randomized.
Misdeals
There are quite a few situations where, if something goes wrong, the poker hand will have to be dealt again.
Here are the most common accidents which lead to a misdeal:
- One of your hole cards is dealt face-up
- The dealer gives you too many hole cards (e.g. three cards instead of two in Hold’em)
- 2+ cards are exposed by the dealer
- A card is dealt in the wrong order
- The dealer button was in the wrong position when starting the hand
- Cards are dealt to a completely empty seat (however, cards will still be dealt to a vacant seat when the player has left the table)
- A player is accidentally missed out from the deal
If any of the above happens, all cards will be returned to the dealer, any bets will be returned, and the hand starts again.
Dead Hands
A dead hand is a situation where your hand is no longer in play, even if you didn’t really want to fold. If your hand is dead, you will sit out the rest of that round and join in as normal for the next hand.
Here are the basic poker rules that lead to your hand being declared ‘dead’:
- You say ‘fold’ – one of the most basic poker rules
- You throw your cards forwards, towards the dealer
- Your clock runs out (some tournaments have an automated clock, or the clock can be called on you specifically if another player thinks you’re taking far too long)
- Your cards go into the muck. However, in some instances, the dealer may be able to retrieve them. For example, if a player mishears that others have folded and mucks his winning hand, it may be the case that it can be retrieved. There’s no hard and fast rule here, as it depends on the context
- You leave the table during the hand and action is on you
Betting and Raising
Betting and raising is one of the most difficult concepts for new poker players. If you’ve not played much poker, it can be confusing to figure out how much you’re allowed to raise, how much you should raise, and what types of hands are worth raising. That’s why many newer players just end up calling and playing passively.
As well as poker card rules, keep the poker hand rankings in mind and use that as a rough guide as to which hands you should be raising.
Here are the main poker game rules for betting and raising in the most common version of the game, no-limit Texas Hold’em poker:
- There’s no upper limit on how much you can raise. You can go all-in right away if you like
- You can check-raise, contrary to what any grouchy curmudgeons might tell you
- If you’re raising, the amount must be equal to or greater than the previous bet or raise in that round (unless a player goes all-in)
- You can’t bet less than the smallest chip at the table. For example, if the smallest chip is worth 5, you have to bet a multiple of 5. This is less important in online poker, where you can tweak your bet to a really specific amount
- If you announce ‘raise’, you can’t change your mind and must put in at least a minimum raise
- If you tap the table, that counts as a check
- You need to place all of your chips into the pot in one action. If you do it bit-by-bit, it’s called a string bet, and will be treated as a call. It’s safer to announce ‘raise’, and then place your chips in the pot
- If you place a chip or chips into the pot without saying anything, and the total chips are less than what is required for a raise, this is a call. It’s also a call if you put just one chip in without saying anything, even if the chip is larger than the bet
- If you accidentally put chips into the pot for a call, without having realised there was a raise, you may be able to withdraw your chips at the dealer’s discretion
The Showdown
Showdown is when two or more players remain in a poker hand and all betting has been completed, at which point all remaining players flip their cards face-up to see who has the best hand. The winner then receives all chips in the pot, and a new hand begins.
Here are the key rules you need to know for a poker showdown:
- In order to win at showdown, you must reveal all of your cards face-up
- The dealer will read your hand for you, so there’s no need to declare what you have. But it’s quite common to announce your hand, so that your opponent knows if they’ve won or lost right away
- If your opponent reveals a hand better than yours at showdown, it’s common to muck your hand rather than show it. But, if your opponent asks to see your hand at this stage, you’ll need to show it
- You can’t show your cards to the player next to you, even if you’re about to fold – it’s an everybody or nobody situation
- If action checks around at showdown, the player who was first to act must reveal their hand first
- If betting takes place in the final round, the last player to bet or raise (‘the aggressor’) must show their hand first
- If you have the nuts or an extremely strong hand, it’s expected that you reveal your hand quickly at showdown. Taking too long when you’re fairly certain you have the winner is called slowrolling and is frowned upon
Ties
Ties are common in Texas Hold’em, and result in a split pot. Here’s all you need to know about poker card rules for tied pots:
- If two players have the same hand – such as a pair of aces – then the third, fourth and fifth cards are also considered. If it’s still a tie, then a split pot is announced, and the pot is divided equally among the players with the winning hands
- In some instances, it won’t be possible to divide the pot perfectly evenly. For instance, if there are 100 chips in the pot and three players need to split it. In this case, the closest player to the left of the button gets the odd chip. It’s a little unfair, but necessary
- The main pot and any side pots are split separately. So, if one player is already all in, but two players continue betting, the side pot between the two players will be split, and the main pot will be split separately between the two or three players, depending on how many have the best hand
Common Poker Situations
There are some situations which will come up repeatedly when you play live poker but can be a little confusing for beginners. Being prepared and knowing the rules of poker means you’ll look more like a seasoned poker player, and won’t get flustered.
Here are some common poker situations and what to expect:
- What happens if someone acts out of turn? It depends on the specific situation and the intent of the player. Most of the time, the player will apologize and accept any limitations set by the dealer. For example, if they tried to raise out of turn, they'll often be told they can now only fold or call. If it's more contentious, the player or dealer may call for the 'Floor', at which point a manager will come to the table to make a final ruling.
- What if everyone folds? If everybody folds, the last player still in the hand wins the pot. This is the way most poker hands are won. It doesn't matter which cards the player has in their hand, and they do not have to show them to anyone. In fact, it's not a good idea to show your cards unless you have to, especially as a beginner. You will have to show your cards if it goes to showdown, which is when all betting has finished after the river, and there are two or more players still in the hand.
- What if a card is exposed? If the dealer accidentally exposes a card, they'll sometimes leave it face-up for a set time to let all players see it, then continue with the hand. If the card has a major impact on the hand, or happens to be an ace or king, it's more likely a misdeal will be declared and the hand will start from scratch. If you accidentally expose your cards while folding, you won't face any punishment, but you may be reminded to be careful.
- What if two players tie? It's common for two or more players to tie in a poker hand. If all remaining players have the same five-card hand, the pot is split between them. The chips will be counted out and distributed by the dealer, so you don't have to do anything. If two players tie but one has a better kicker, then the player with the stronger five-card hand takes the whole pot.
Online Poker-Specific Rules
The rules above are mostly geared towards live poker games. But many people play online and most of those processes are automated. There are no misdeals, showdown is automated, and the pot always goes to the right player.
But there are certain poker rules you need to follow with online poker, too:
Only One Player to a Hand
As a general poker rule, only one player can play a hand at a time. In a brick-and-mortar setting, it's incredibly obvious when someone is helping a player make a decision on their hand. But in an online poker scenario, this would be called "ghosting", and it's against the terms of service of nearly every online poker site.
No Training Software During Play
In the modern era of poker, solvers have become a big part of learning the game. But those are only permitted away from the table. You're not allowed to pull solvers up while you're playing. Many online poker sites have software that can detect when a solver is running on your computer and will not allow you to play while it's open.
One Account Per Player
This is similar to one player per hand, but on a broader scale.
One player is only allowed to have one account, or one screen name. Using multiple accounts can give you an unfair advantage, especially if you play regularly. If you have a history of playing with certain people, and then show up with a different screen name, then you have information about your opponents, but they don't have that knowledge about you.
Similarly, you're not allowed to play on someone else's account.
No Bots
Few of us know how to build a poker-playing bot. But, on the off-chance that you do, you should know that it's against the rules and will get you banned from online poker sites. It's also fairly easy for sites to catch bots. So, if the site you're playing on puts some effort into their security, they'll catch you, ban you, and withhold any funds in your account.
Live Poker vs Online Poker Rules
Here's a quick breakdown of how live poker rules compare to online poker rules:
| Live Poker | Online Poker | |
| Acting out of turn | Player punished with limited betting options | Not possible |
| Incorrect raise amount | Player may be forced to only call or put in a minimum raise |
Minimum and maximums are automatically capped, so mistakes aren't possible
|
| Two players sharing one tournament entry | Almost impossible due to physical appearance and I.D. checks |
Strong punishments including lifetime bans and withholding of funds
|
| Inappropriate and aggressive behavior | Temporarily forced to miss a few hands, possible ejection from venue |
Account banned from chat box and possibly banned from playing
|
| Illegal software | Not possible |
Strong punishments including lifetime bans and withholding of funds
|
