There are a number of different variations of the poker game. There are Blind bets, Buy-ins, and Tie hands. Some variations include Three-Card Monte and Spit-in-the-Ocean. We’ll describe all of these later in this chapter. If there are more than 10 players, two separate games may be organized. In addition, there are a number of different rules. Here are a few of the most important ones to remember:
Buy-ins
Whether you’re playing poker online or at your local casino, buy-ins are an important aspect of poker tournaments. A buy-in is the amount of money that each player must pay to enter a tournament. It’s similar to a cash entry fee, although the buy-in can be much more expensive. The amount that you pay at the start of the tournament will determine how much money you can win. When you buy-in, you’re also paying a small rake, which means that the poker house keeps a portion of the prize money.
Blind bets
Blind bets in poker are the mandatory bets that players place before the cards are dealt. Blind bets can vary in number, from none to three. Regardless of the number, blind bets have great strategic importance. Usually, a player will bet one-fourth of his or her original bet as a blind bet, thereby increasing his or her chances of winning.
Tie hands
In poker, tie hands occur when two players have the same five-card combination. Common examples are two pairs of twos or sevens. The player with the higher pair wins the hand. In some poker games, ties are more likely than others, and certain board textures may increase the chances of them. Despite their low likelihood, they do occur, and you should always be prepared for them.
High card
The High card in poker is one of the most dreaded hands in poker. The fact that you can end up with this hand says a lot about the unpredictability of poker. Even the best players can end up with this card if they play poorly. This hand can make or break your game, and there are several ways to use it.
Draw poker
Draw poker is a card game in which the players exchange cards from their initial hand with cards from a new hand. This variation of poker is played using a standard 52-card deck and is best played with a minimum of seven players. Eight is considered too many for a good game.
Fixed-limit poker
Fixed-limit poker is one of the most popular types of poker today. It can be played in a variety of settings, from cash games to tournaments. The most popular version of fixed-limit poker is the Limit Texas Hold’em ring game, where players are limited to a certain amount of money in bets at a time.