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Don't argue with your
friends over the rules
of Texas Hold Em, Omaha,
7 Card Stud, Razz or
H.O.R.S.E. Get the
official rules of poker
for all the most popular
games here courtesy of
Poker Stars. Use the
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for the official rules
of poker games.
Basic Poker Rules
Poker Stars
Poker is the name given to a number of card games where players wager on the strength of the cards they hold. Poker is a game
that involves a communal "pot" consisting of the players' wagers which is awarded to the poker player who either holds the highest ranking hand or makes a wager which goes unmatched by his or her opponents.
For a detailed breakdown of hand rankings, visit our
poker hand rankings page.
All poker games begin with some forced wager over which poker players compete. In Seven Card Stud, there are two forced wagers, an ante and a bring-in. In Texas Hold'em and Omaha, the forced wagers are a small blind and a big blind. In any basic poker game, players strategically wager using a number of actions available to them. The actions are as follows:
1. CHECK - If there is no wager on the current betting round, a player may check. The act of checking passes the action to the next poker player immediately clockwise from him or her. A check does not forfeit interest in the pot, only the current right to bet. If all players check during a round of betting, the round is considered complete.
2. BET - If there is no wager on the current betting round, a player may bet. If a player bets, the poker player immediately clockwise from him or her (and any subsequent poker players) may fold, raise, or call.
3. FOLD - The act of folding forfeits all interest in the pot. A player who folds is not required or allowed to wager any further money for the current poker game.
4. CALL - If there has been a wager on the current round of poker play, a player may call. The act of calling requires the player to match the current bet made by his or her opponent(s).
5. RAISE - If there has been a wager on the current betting round, a player may raise. The act of raising requires the poker player to match the current bet, and make a greater one. All subsequent players are required to call the raise or raise again ("re-raise") to maintain interest in the pot.
On each betting round, betting continues until the person immediately counterclockwise the last bettor or raiser acts. When this person acts, the next poker round begins, or the hand is complete.
When the last bet or raise on the final betting round is called, the "showdown" occurs. This is when it is determined who wins the pot, as players show their hands one-by-one. It may be the case that there is no showdown. This occurs when a player bets or raises, and no active players choose to call the player's bet (in other words, all players fold). In this case, the player doing the betting or raising wins the full amount of the pot.
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