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The Poker rules, that even advanced poker players do not know about

Aug 20, 2017
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The rules of poker are based on wide variety of unusual situations that may occur during the game. Some of them do not get much attention and even the most advanced players don´t know what poker rule applies to that specific situation. Let´s take a look at these specific situations that  get confused head of the dealer and player at the same  time.


Heart, Clubs, Diamonds, Spades

Did you ever wonder if any of four poker suit is stronger than the other? I suppose not very much. In most poker games or situations, all 4 suits are equivalent, such as Texas Hold’em or Omaha. However, there are games where the suit has a precisely defined hierarchy. If some of you have already been able to enjoy the variation of Stud poker, you have certainly noticed that suits definitely matter here. In seven-card stud, the player with the lowest-ranked card showing to start must pay the Bring-in.  When two players tie for the lowest-ranked “door card,” suits are used to break the tie. Suits are ranked as follows: spades (highest), hearts, diamonds, and clubs (lowest).  The same rule is used in seven-card stud hi-lo or Razz game.

Who Gets the Odd Chip?

It´s split pot again & player with the worse hand got lucky again and loves it! But, what happens when the pot doesn’t add up to an even number? Who gets the extra chip and why? For example: Player 1 gets 2550 in chips and Player 2 gets 2575. Why is that so?

  • In board games with two or more high or low hands, the odd chip goes to the first seat left of the button.
  • In stud and razz, and if there are two or more high or low hands in stud hi-lo, the odd chip goes to the high card by suit in the best five-card hand.
  • In hi-lo games, if identical hands win both the high and the low, the pot will be split as evenly as possible.
  • In hi-lo games, the odd chip goes to the winner of the high hand.
It´s Showdown time!

But who shows first? Sometimes, Even experienced poker players are unsure who is supposed to show their cards first. The action checks around on the river and everyone keeps looking at each other and waiting for someone to show a hand.

  • If it checks around on the last betting round, then the showdown simply goes in the same order in which the players checked. It will start with the SB, with the action proceeding clockwise around the table from there. If a player in later position sees that he or she is beaten, that player can fold the cards face down.
  • If there is betting on the last street, then the last player to take an “aggressive action (betting or raising)  must show a hand first at showdown. The action proceeds clockwise around the table, with the next player to the aggressor’s left having to show next and so on.
  • In heads-up situations, we often see tha one of the players discard the cards and the other opponent wins the pot without a showdown. Other players on the table do not like it and argue that the winning hand must always be shown! If you have never heard about so-called “Last man standing” rule. This is it! The last player with a live hand win the pot without showing his cards to his opponents.
Call or Raise?

Typical situation with blinds, for example 1500/3000. UTG opens with minraise 6000 and UTG + 1 throws in the center two 5k value chips without any verbal announcement. Call or raise? I have seen this situation recognized by inexperienced young floorman as a raise. But this is not the right decision and it is just a call. Why? Just remember a simple trick. If the chip of the lowest nomination is removed (in this case it is a 5k chip, because both chips have same value) and the second chip does not cover the previous bet, this is a call. In this case, the second chip is required to match the previous raise. Most of the players will be arguing: “Why did he not use a 5k + 1k chip if he just wanted to call?” Well, I do not know, my friend. He probably does not even know that his action still will be just a legitimate call!

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