How To Play Poker
"For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them."
-- Aristotle
Texas Hold'em :: 7 Card Stud :: 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo
Omaha :: Omaha Hi/Lo
Pineapple :: 5 Card Draw :: Razz
No Limit/ Pot Limit :: Tournaments
Texas Hold'em Courtesy of Pacific Poker
Texas Hold’em, a game for between 2-10 players, is today among the most popular versions of Poker. The game has gained popularity, both in the US and abroad, due to its fast paced play and simple game rules. Texas Hold’em consists of 4 Betting Rounds. Throughout the game each player receives 2 facedown “Pocket Cards”. 5 face-up “Community Boardcards” are placed in the center of the Table, to be shared by all the players. Each player creates the highest valued Poker hand, using any combination of his/her 2 Pocket Cards and the 5 Community Boardcards.
Betting Limits
Pacific Poker offers a variety of Tables, designed for different numbers of Players, and offering various Table Betting Limits.
In the game of Texas Hold’em, each Table has both a Lower and Higher Limit Stake (Betting amount). A Table’s Lower Limit Stake is always half the Higher Limit Stake (i.e. a $1/$2 Table, or a $5/$10 Table).
In the first two Betting Rounds (see the Betting Rounds below), of a Texas Hold’em game, Members Bet (wager) in multiples of that Table’s Lower Limit Stake.
In the final two Betting Rounds, of a Texas Hold’em game, Members Bet in multiples of that Table’s Higher Limit Stake.
The Buy-in
In order to Sit-in (join) a Pacific Poker Texas Hold’em Table, Members must purchase a minimum amount of Chips to play with (“Buy-in”). At Pacific Poker, the minimum Buy-in amount is 10 times the Lower Limit Stake of that particular table (i.e. at a $1/$2 Table the Member must Buy-in with a minimum of $10).
Posting
A Member entering a Pacific Poker Texas Hold’em Table is required to pay an initial fee (“Post”), equal to that Table’s Lower Limit Stake. The Post follows the same rules as the Blind Bets (see The Blind Bets below) and allows the Member to Sit-in at the Table.
Members have the option of "Sitting Out", and waiting for the Big Blind before beginning to play. Posting ensure fairness to all Members, by preventing players from entering a Poker game in a Late Position in order to avoid placing Blind Bets.
The Dealer (The "Button")
In Pacific Poker’s Texas Hold’em, the Members take turns acting as the Dealer. The Dealer is identified by the Button: .
After each hand, the Dealer Button moves left, in a clockwise fashion, to the next Member who is Sitting-in at the Table.
The Blind Bets
In Pacific Poker’s Texas Hold’em, Antes do not “seed” the Pot. Instead, the Pot is formed, initially, through the use of “mandatory” bets, known as "Blind Bets".
The first Blind Bet, known as the Small Blind, is posted by the first Member Sitting-in to the left of the Dealer in a clockwise fashion. The amount of the Small Blind Bet is half of that Table’s Lower Limit Stake. On Tables with Lower Limits Stakes greater than $1, the Small Blind is rounded down to the nearest dollar.
The second Blind Bet, known as the "Big Blind", is posted by the second Member Sitting-in to the left of the Dealer in a clockwise fashion. The amount of the Big Blind Bet is equal to that Table’s Lower Limit Stake.
Both the Big and Small Blinds, in Texas Hold’em Poker, are considered “Live” (active) Bets and therefore, according to Poker rules, can be Checked, Called, Raised or Folded.
Missing the Blind Bets
Occasionally, a Member may choose to temporarily Sit-out from a Table:
1.If, while Sitting-out, the Member misses his/her turn to place the Small Blind, upon re-Sitting-in that Member will be required to Post. This Post consists of a live Bet equal to the Big Blind.
2.If, while Sitting-out, the Member misses his/her turn to place either the Big Blind or both the Small Blind and the Big Blind, upon re-Sitting-in, that Member will be required to Post. This Post consists of a live Bet equal to the Big Blind, plus an additional “Dead” (non-active) Bet, equal to the Small Blind , which is donated by the Member directly to the Pot.
The Betting Round
Pacific Poker’s Texas Hold’em follows the conventional Poker Betting Round Structure.
There are four possible Betting Rounds in Pacific Poker’s Texas Hold’em. The first two Betting Rounds are set at that Table’s Lower Limit Stake. The last two Betting Rounds are set at that Table’s Higher Limit Stake.
After the Members’ Pocket Cards are dealt, the first Betting Round is initiated by the first Member Sitting-in, in a clockwise fashion to the left of the Big Blind.
After each of the subsequent three deals ("The Flop", "The Turn " and "The River "), in which the Community Boardcards are dealt, the Betting Rounds are initiated by the first active (who has not Folded) Member, in a clockwise fashion, to the left of the Dealer.
Betting Rounds always proceed in a clockwise fashion, from one active Member to the next. Each Member must either:
a.Check – Pass the option to act to the next active Member.
b.Bet – Place a Betting Round’s initial increase to the amount that each of the following Members must place in the Pot, in order to remain in the game.
c.Raise – Place a Betting Round’s 2nd, 3rd or 4th increase to the amount that each of the following Members must place in the Pot, in order to remain in the game.
d.Call – Equal the previous active Member’s Betting amount in that Betting Round and remain in the game (In the first Betting Round each Member must at least equal the amount of the Big Blind).
e.Fold – Discard hand and no longer remain active to participate in that game. The Member forfeits the amount (if any) that he/she has previously Bet during that game.
In keeping with conventional Poker rules, within each Betting Round there can be no more than one Bet and three additional Raises ("Raise", “Reraise” & "Cap"). Once a Cap occurs, the following Members will only be able to Call or Fold.
A Betting Round is concluded when:
All active Members have Checked in Turn.
or
All active Members have matched the last Member to increase the amount (Bet/Raise) to be placed in the Pot, during that Betting Round.
or
All previous Members have chosen to Fold, leaving only one active Player. This last remaining player automatically receives the Pot. In this case both the Betting Round and game are automatically terminated.
The Showdown
Once the fourth Betting Round is completed, if more than one Member remains active in the game, there is a "Showdown". In the Showdown, each active Member may utilize any combination of his/her 2 Pocket cards and the 5 Community Boardcards, to create the highest valued 5 card Poker hand (see Poker Hand Value Chart below).
For the Showdown, Members may use any of the following combinations, to create the highest valued Poker hand:
Both Pocket Cards & three Community Boardcards.
One Pocket Card & four Community Boardcards.
All five Community Boardcards (referred to as “Playing the Board").
Pacific Poker follows Standard Poker Rules for determining Poker hand value (see Poker Hand Value Chart below). The active Member who creates the highest valued Poker hand wins the Pot, minus the Pot won by any Members holding higher valued All-in hands (see Pacific Poker's All-in Policy below) and the "Rake" (see "Limits, Antes and Rake" section of this site).
If the active Member with the highest valued Poker hand is "All-in" (see All-in below), that Member receives the Pot total, up until the time that they were All-in. (A Texas Hold’em Poker game can have as many All-in Pots as there are active Members, minus one.) The remainder of the Pot goes to the active Member with the next highest valued Poker hand.
Tie Hands
In the event that 2 or more active Members participating in the Poker hand’s Showdown, hold equal ranking (by combination) hands, the winner is determined by the high card (i.e. a pair of Aces beats a pair of Kings).
Should the Poker hands remain tied (i.e. a pair of Kings vs. a pair of Kings), the highest valued card not held in common (the “Kicker”) determines the game’s winner.
In the event of exact ties in Poker hand value, between 2 or more active Members, the Table’s Pot will be split evenly between those Members. In the event of extra odd Chip(s) the first winning Member to the left of the Dealer, in a clockwise fashion, will receive the odd Chip(s).
7 Card Stud Courtesy of Pacific Poker
Seven Card Stud, a game for between 2-8 players, is today among the most popular versions of Poker. The game has gained popularity, both in the US and abroad, due to its classic Poker feel and simple game rules. Betting in Seven Card Stud consists of an initial Ante, preceded by 5 Betting Rounds. Throughout the game each player receives 3 facedown cards and 4 face up cards. Each player creates the highest valued Poker hand, using any combination of 5 of his/her 7 total cards.
The Buy-in
In order to Sit-in (join) a Pacific Poker Seven Card Stud Table, Members must purchase a minimum amount of Chips to play with ("Buy-in"). At Pacific Poker, the minimum Buy-in amount is 10 times the Lower Limit Stake of that particular table (i.e. at a $1/$2 Table the Member must Buy-in with a minimum of $10).
Ante
Before the initial deal of the cards, each Member must place an initial Ante (opening Bet), equaling one half of the Table's Lower Limit Stake (rounded down to the lowest $1 - see Betting Limits below), in the center of the Table, to seed the Pot. Each Member is then dealt 2 facedown Hole Cards and 1 face up Door Card.
Betting Limits
Pacific Poker offers a variety of Tables, designed for different numbers of Players, and offering various Table Betting Limits.
In the game of Seven Card Stud, each Table has both a Lower and Higher Limit Stake (Betting amount). A Table's Lower Limit Stake is always half the Higher Limit Stake (i.e. a $1/$2 Table, or a $5/$10 Table).
In the first Betting Round (see the Betting Rounds below), of a Seven Card Stud game, Members Bet (wager) in multiples of no less than one half of that Table's Lower Limit Stake ("Bring-in"), and no more than that Table's Lower Limit Stake.
In the second Betting Round, of a Seven Card Stud game, Members Bet (wager) in multiples of that Table's Lower Limit Stake. However, in the event that a Member is showing a pair, with his/her initial 2 face up cards, at the beginning of the second Betting Round, Members have the option to Bet in multiples of that Table's Lower or Higher Limit Stake. If a Member Bets at the Table's Higher Limit Stake, then all following Members must Bet at the Table's Higher Limit Stake.
In the final three Betting Rounds, of a Seven Card Stud game, Members Bet in multiples of that Table's Higher Limit Stake.
The Betting Rounds
Pacific Poker's Seven Card Stud follows the conventional Poker Betting Round Structure.
There are five possible Betting Rounds in Pacific Poker's Seven Card Stud.
After the initial deal of the cards, the first Betting Round is set at the Bring-in Bet amount (one half of that Table's Lower Limit Stake) and no more than that Table's Lower Limit Stake.
After the initial deal of the Members' first 2 Hole Cards and 1 Door Card are dealt, the first Betting Round is initiated by the Member with the lowest valued card showing, **by suit (see Poker Hand Value Chart below). This Member is required to Bet no less than the Bring-in amount (half of the Table's Lower Limit Stake), up to the Table's Lower Limit Stake.
**Card suits are valued in the following order, with Spades being of the highest value, followed by Hearts, Diamonds and Clubs (lowest value).
After the second deal of the cards ("Fourth Street"), in which each Sitting-In Member receives an additional card, face up, there is a second Betting Round. This Betting Round is initiated by the Sitting-in Member with the ***highest valued card(s) showing. This Betting Round is set at the Table's Lower Limit Stake. However, in the event that a Member is showing a pair, with his/her 2 face up cards, Members have the option to Bet in multiples of that Table's Lower or Higher Limit Stake. If a Member Bets at the Table's Higher Limit Stake, during the second Betting Round, then all following Members must Bet at the Table's Higher Limit Stake.
***In the event that 2 or more Member's showing card(s) signify a tie, the Betting Round is initiated by the Member with the highest valued Poker hand and sitting closest to the left of the Dealer (first Member to the left of the Chip Box), in a clockwise fashion.
After the third and fourth deals of the cards ("Fifth Street and "Sixth Street"), in which each Sitting-In Member receives an additional card, face up, there is a third and fourth Betting Round. These Betting Rounds are both initiated by the Member with the highest valued card(s) and are set at the Table's Higher Limit Stake.
After the fifth deal of the cards ("The River"), in which each Sitting-In Member receives a final card, facedown, there is a fifth and final Betting Round. This Betting Round is initiated by the Member with the highest valued card(s) and is set at the Table's Higher Limit Stake.
Betting Rounds always proceed in a clockwise fashion, from one active Member to the next. Each Member must either:
a.Check - Pass the option to act to the next active Member
b. Bet - Place a Betting Round's initial increase to the amount that each of the following Members must place in the Pot, in order to remain in the game.
c. Raise - Place a Betting Round's 2nd, 3rd or 4th increase to the amount that each of the following Members must place in the Pot, in order to remain in the game.
d. Call - Equal the previous active Member's Betting amount in that Betting Round and remain in the game (In the first Betting Round each Member must at least equal the amount of the Big Blind).
e. Fold - Discard hand and no longer remain active to participate in that game. The Member forfeits the amount (if any) that he/she has previously Bet during that game.
In keeping with conventional Poker rules, within each Betting Round there can be no more than one Bet and three additional Raises ("Raise", "Reraise" & "Cap"). Once a Cap occurs, the following Members will only be able to Call or Fold.
A Betting Round is concluded when:
All active Members have Checked in Turn. or
All active Members have matched the last Member to increase the amount (Bet/Raise) to be placed in the Pot, during that Betting Round. or
All previous Members have chosen to Fold, leaving only one active Player. This last remaining player automatically receives the Pot. In this case both the Betting Round and game are automatically terminated.
The River Community Boardcard
Occasionally there are not enough cards in the deck to give each player his/her own final seventh card, the River, face down. In this case one card will be placed, face up, in the center of the table. This Community Boardcard will be shared by all remaining Sitting-in Members when determining their final hand (see The Showdown below).
The Showdown
Once the fifth Betting Round is completed, if more than one Member remains active in the game, there is a "Showdown". In the Showdown, each active Member may utilize any combination of 5 of his/her 7 total cards, to create the highest valued 5 card Poker hand (see Poker Hand Value Chart below).
Pacific Poker follows Standard Poker Rules for determining Poker hand value (see Poker Hand Value Chart below). The active Member who creates the highest valued Poker hand wins the Pot, minus the Pot won by any Members holding higher valued All-in hands (see Pacific Poker's All-in Policy below) and the "Rake" (see "Limits, Antes and Rake" section of this site).
If the active Member with the highest valued Poker hand is "All-in" (see All-in below), that Member receives the Pot total, up until the time that they were All-in. (A Seven Card Stud Poker game can have as many All-in Pots as there are active Members, minus one.) The remainder of the Pot goes to the active Member with the next highest valued Poker hand.
Tie Hands
In the event that 2 or more active Members participating in the Poker hand's Showdown hold equal ranking (by combination) hands the winner is determined by the high card (i.e. a pair of Aces beats a pair of Kings).
Should the Poker hands remain tied (i.e. a pair of Kings vs. a pair of Kings), the highest valued card not held in common (the "Kicker") determines the game's winner.
In the event of exact ties in Poker hand value, between 2 or more active Members, the Table's Pot will be split evenly between those Members. In the event of extra odd Chip(s) the first winning Member to the left of the Dealer, in a clockwise fashion, will receive the odd Chip(s).
Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo Courtesy of Pacific Poker
Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo, a game for between 2-8 players, is today among the most popular versions of Poker. The game has gained popularity, both in the US and abroad, due to its true Poker feel and highly challenging game play. Betting in Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo consists of an initial Ante, preceded by 5 Betting Rounds. Throughout the game each player receives 3 facedown cards and 4 face up cards. Each player creates the highest valued and/or lowest valued qualifying Poker hand(s), using any combination of 5 of his/her 7 total cards.
The Buy-in
In order to Sit-in (join) a Pacific Poker Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo Table, Members must purchase a minimum amount of Chips to play with ("Buy-in"). At Pacific Poker, the minimum Buy-in amount is 10 times the Lower Limit Stake of that particular table (i.e. at a $1/$2 Table the Member must Buy-in with a minimum of $10).
Ante
Before the initial deal of the cards, each Member must place an initial Ante (opening Bet), equaling one half of the Table's Lower Limit Stake (rounded down to the lowest $1 - see Betting Limits below), in the center of the Table, to seed the Pot. Each Member is then dealt 2 face down Hole Cards and 1 face up Door Card.
Betting Limits
Pacific Poker offers a variety of Tables, designed for different numbers of Players, and offering various Table Betting Limits.
In the game of Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo, each Table has both a Lower and Higher Limit Stake (Betting amount). A Table's Lower Limit Stake is always half the Higher Limit Stake (i.e. a $1/$2 Table, or a $5/$10 Table).
In the first Betting Round (see the Betting Rounds below), of a Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo game, Members Bet (wager) in multiples of no less than one half of that Table's Lower Limit Stake ("Bring-in"), and no more than that Table's Lower Limit Stake.
In the second Betting Round, of a Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo game, Members Bet (wager) in multiples of that Table's Lower Limit Stake. However, in the event that a Member is showing a pair, with his/her initial 2 face up cards, at the beginning of the second Betting Round, Members have the option to Bet in multiples of that Table's Lower or Higher Limit Stake. If a Member Bets at the Table's Higher Limit Stake, then all following Members must Bet at the Table's Higher Limit Stake.
In the final three Betting Rounds, of a Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo game, Members Bet in multiples of that Table's Higher Limit Stake.
The Betting Rounds
Pacific Poker's Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo follows the conventional Poker Betting Round Structure.
There are five possible Betting Rounds in Pacific Poker's Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo.
After the initial deal of the cards, the first Betting Round is set at the Bring-in Bet amount (one half of that Table's Lower Limit Stake) and no more than that Table's Lower Limit Stake.
After the initial deal of the Members' first 2 Hole Cards and 1 Door Card are dealt, the first Betting Round is initiated by the Member with the lowest valued card showing, **by suit (see Poker Hand Value Chart below). This Member is required to Bet no less than the Bring-in amount (half of the Table's Lower Limit Stake), up to the Table's Lower Limit Stake.
**Card suits are valued in the following order, with Spades being of the highest value, followed by Hearts, Diamonds and Clubs (lowest value).
After the second deal of the cards ("Fourth Street"), in which each Sitting-In Member receives an additional card, face up, there is a second Betting Round. This Betting Round is initiated by the Sitting-in Member with the ***highest valued card(s) showing. This Betting Round is set at the Table's Lower Limit Stake. However, in the event that a Member is showing a pair, with his/her 2 face up cards, Members have the option to Bet in multiples of that Table's Lower or Higher Limit Stake. If a Member Bets at the Table's Higher Limit Stake, during the second Betting Round, then all following Members must Bet at the Table's Higher Limit Stake.
***In the event that 2 or more Member's showing card(s) signify a tie, the Betting Round is initiated by the Member with the highest valued Poker hand and sitting closest to the left of the Dealer (first Member to the left of the Chip Box), in a clockwise fashion.
After the third and fourth deals of the cards ("Fifth Street" and "Sixth Street"), in which each Sitting-In Member receives an additional card, face up, there is a third and fourth Betting Round. These Betting Rounds are both initiated by the Member with the highest valued card(s) and are set at the Table's Higher Limit Stake.
After the fifth deal of the cards ("The River"), in which each Sitting-In Member receives a final card, face down, there is a fifth and final Betting Round. This Betting Round is initiated by the Member with the highest valued card(s) and is set at the Table's Higher Limit Stake.
Betting Rounds always proceed in a clockwise fashion, from one active Member to the next. Each Member must either:
a. Check - Pass the option to act to the next active Member.
b. Bet - Place a Betting Round's initial increase to the amount that each of the following Members must place in the Pot, in order to remain in the game.
c. Raise - Place a Betting Round's 2nd, 3rd or 4th increase to the amount that each of the following Members must place in the Pot, in order to remain in the game.
d. Call - Equal the previous active Member's Betting amount in that Betting Round and remain in the game (In the first Betting Round each Member must at least equal the amount of the Big Blind).
e. Fold - Discard hand and no longer remain active to participate in that game. The Member forfeits the amount (if any) that he/she has previously Bet during that game.
In keeping with conventional Poker rules, within each Betting Round there can be no more than one Bet and three additional Raises ("Raise", "Reraise" & "Cap"). Once a Cap occurs, the following Members will only be able to Call or Fold.
A Betting Round is concluded when:
All active Members have Checked in Turn. or
All active Members have matched the last Member to increase the amount (Bet/Raise) to be placed in the Pot, during that Betting Round. or
All previous Members have chosen to Fold, leaving only one active Player. This last remaining player automatically receives the Pot. In this case both the Betting Round and game are automatically terminated.
The River Community Boardcard
Occasionally there are not enough cards in the deck to give each player his/her own final seventh card, the River, face down. In this case one card will be placed, face up, in the center of the table. This Community Boardcard will be shared by all remaining Sitting-in Members when determining their final hand (see The Showdown below).
The Showdown
Once the fifth Betting Round is completed, if more than one Member remains active in the game, there is a "Showdown". In the Showdown, each active Member may utilize any combination of 5 of his/her 7 total cards, to create the highest valued and/or lowest valued qualifying 5 card Poker hand(s) (see Poker Hand Value Chart below).
Pacific Poker follows Standard Poker Rules for determining Poker hand value (see Poker Hand Value Chart below).
The active Member who creates the highest valued Poker hand wins 50% of the Pot, minus the percentage of the Pot won by any Members holding higher valued All-in hands (see Pacific Poker's All-in Policy below) and the "Rake" (see "Limits, Antes and Rake" section of this site).
The active Member who creates the lowest valued Poker hand wins 50% of the Pot, minus the percentage of the Pot won by any Members holding lower valued All-in hands and the "Rake".
In order to qualify as the lowest valued Poker hand, the Member must create a Poker hand containing no card higher than an 8.
Straights or Flushes are not applied when vying for the lowest valued Poker hand (i.e. and A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest valued Poker hand).
An active Member who creates both the highest and the lowest valued Poker hands wins 100% of the Pot, minus the percentage of the Pot won by any Members holding higher or lower valued All-in hands and the "Rake".
No "Crossovers" are permitted in Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo (i.e. a Q-K-A-2-3 is not valued as a Straight).
If none of the active Members are able to create a qualifying Lo hand the Member with the highest valued Poker hand wins 100% of the Pot, minus the percentage of the Pot won by any Members holding higher or lower valued All-in hands and the "Rake".
If the active Member with the highest and or lowest valued Poker hand is "All-in" (see All-in below), that Member receives the appropriate percentage (50% or 100%) of the Pot total, up until the time that they were All-in. (A Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo Poker game can have as many All-in Pots as there are active Members, minus one.) The remainder of the Pot goes to the active Member(s) with the next highest and/or lowest valued Poker hand(s).
Tie Hands
In the event that 2 or more active Members participating in the Poker hand's Showdown hold equal ranking (by combination) hands the winner is determined by the highest and/or lowest card (i.e. a pair of Aces beats a pair of Kings for the Hi hand and a 2 beats a 3 for the Low hand).
Should the Poker hands remain tied (i.e. a pair of Kings vs. a pair of Kings or low card 2 vs. low card 2), the highest and/or lowest valued card not held in common (the "Kicker") determines the game's winner(s).
In the event of exact ties in Poker hand value, between 2 or more active Members, the appropriate percentage of the Table's Pot will be split evenly between those Members. In the event of extra odd Chip(s) the first winning Member to the left of the Dealer, in a clockwise fashion, will receive the odd Chip(s).
Omaha Courtesy of Pacific Poker
Omaha Hi, a game for between 2-10 players, has gained popularity, both in the US and abroad, due to its fast paced play and relatively simple game rules. Omaha Hi consists of 4 Betting Rounds. Throughout the game each player receives 4 facedown “Pocket Cards”. 5 face-up “Community Boardcards” are placed in the center of the Table, to be shared by all the players. Each player creates the highest valued Poker hand, using any 2 of his/her 4 Pocket Cards and any 3 of the 5 Community Boardcards.
Betting Limits
Pacific Poker offers a variety of Tables, designed for different numbers of Players, and offering various Table Betting Limits.
In the game of Omaha Hi, each Table has both a Lower and Higher Limit Stake (Betting amount). A Table’s Lower Limit Stake is always half the Higher Limit Stake (i.e. a $1/$2 Table, or a $5/$10 Table).
In the first two Betting Rounds (see the Betting Rounds below), of a Omaha Hi game, Members Bet (wager) in multiples of that Table’s Lower Limit Stake.
In the final two Betting Rounds, of a Omaha Hi game, Members Bet in multiples of that Table’s Higher Limit Stake.
The Buy-in
In order to Sit-in (join) a Pacific Poker Omaha Hi Table, Members must purchase a minimum amount of Chips to play with (“Buy-in”). At Pacific Poker, the minimum Buy-in amount is 10 times the Lower Limit Stake of that particular table (i.e. at a $1/$2 Table the Member must Buy-in with a minimum of $10).
Posting
A Member entering a Pacific Poker Omaha Hi Table is required to pay an initial fee (“Post”), equal to that Table’s Lower Limit Stake. The Post follows the same rules as the Blind Bets (see The Blind Bets below) and allows the Member to Sit-in at the Table.
Members have the option of "Sitting Out", and waiting for the Big Blind before beginning to play. Posting ensure fairness to all Members, by preventing players from entering a Poker game in a Late Position in order to avoid placing Blind Bets.
The Dealer (The "Button")
In Pacific Poker’s Omaha Hi, the Members take turns acting as the Dealer. The Dealer is identified by the Button: .
After each hand, the Dealer Button moves left, in a clockwise fashion, to the next Member who is Sitting-in at the Table.
The Blind Bets
In Pacific Poker’s Omaha Hi, Antes do not “seed” the Pot. Instead, the Pot is formed, initially, through the use of “mandatory” bets, known as "Blind Bets".
The first Blind Bet, known as the Small Blind, is posted by the first Member Sitting-in to the left of the Dealer in a clockwise fashion. The amount of the Small Blind Bet is half of that Table’s Lower Limit Stake. On Tables with Lower Limits Stakes greater than $1, the Small Blind is rounded down to the nearest dollar.
The second Blind Bet, known as the "Big Blind", is posted by the second Member Sitting-in to the left of the Dealer in a clockwise fashion. The amount of the Big Blind Bet is equal to that Table’s Lower Limit Stake.
Both the Big and Small Blinds, in Omaha Hi Poker, are considered “Live” (active) Bets and therefore, according to Poker rules, can be Checked, Called, Raised or Folded.
Missing the Blind Bets
Occasionally, a Member may choose to temporarily Sit-out from a Table:
If, while Sitting-out, the Member misses his/her turn to place the Small Blind, upon re-Sitting-in that Member will be required to Post. This Post consists of a live Bet equal to the Big Blind.
If, while Sitting-out, the Member misses his/her turn to place either the Big Blind or both the Small Blind and the Big Blind, upon re-Sitting-in, that Member will be required to Post. This Post consists of a live Bet equal to the Big Blind, plus an additional “Dead” (non-active) Bet, equal to the Small Blind , which is donated by the Member directly to the Pot.
The Betting Round
Pacific Poker’s Omaha Hi follows the conventional Poker Betting Round Structure.
There are four possible Betting Rounds in Pacific Poker’s Omaha Hi. The first two Betting Rounds are set at that Table’s Lower Limit Stake. The last two Betting Rounds are set at that Table’s Higher Limit Stake.
After the Members’ Pocket Cards are dealt, the first Betting Round is initiated by the first Member Sitting-in, in a clockwise fashion to the left of the Big Blind.
After each of the subsequent three deals ("The Flop", "The Turn " and "The River "), in which the Community Boardcards are dealt, the Betting Rounds are initiated by the first active (who has not Folded) Member, in a clockwise fashion, to the left of the Dealer.
Betting Rounds always proceed in a clockwise fashion, from one active Member to the next. Each Member must either: Check, Bet, Raise, Call or Fold. Pacific Poker’s Omaha Hi follows the conventional Poker Betting Round Structure.
There are four possible Betting Rounds in Pacific Poker’s Omaha Hi. The first two Betting Rounds are set at that Table’s Lower Limit Stake. The last two Betting Rounds are set at that Table’s Higher Limit Stake.
After the Members’ Pocket Cards are dealt, the first Betting Round is initiated by the first Member Sitting-in, in a clockwise fashion to the left of the Big Blind.
After each of the subsequent three deals ("The Flop", "The Turn " and "The River "), in which the Community Boardcards are dealt, the Betting Rounds are initiated by the first active (who has not Folded) Member, in a clockwise fashion, to the left of the Dealer.
Betting Rounds always proceed in a clockwise fashion, from one active Member to the next. Each Member must either:
a. Check – Pass the option to act to the next active Member.
b.Bet – Place a Betting Round’s initial increase to the amount that each of the following Members must place in the Pot, in order to remain in the game.
c. Raise – Place a Betting Round’s 2nd, 3rd or 4th increase to the amount that each of the following Members must place in the Pot, in order to remain in the game.
d. Call – Equal the previous active Member’s Betting amount in that Betting Round and remain in the game (In the first Betting Round each Member must at least equal the amount of the Big Blind).
e. Fold – Discard hand and no longer remain active to participate in that game. The Member forfeits the amount (if any) that he/she has previously Bet during that game.
In keeping with conventional Poker rules, within each Betting Round there can be no more than one Bet and three additional Raises ("Raise", “Reraise” & "Cap"). Once a Cap occurs, the following Members will only be able to Call or Fold.
A Betting Round is concluded when:
All active Members have Checked in Turn. or
All active Members have matched the last Member to increase the amount (Bet/Raise) to be placed in the Pot, during that Betting Round. or
All previous Members have chosen to Fold, leaving only one active Player. This last remaining player automatically receives the Pot. In this case both the Betting Round and game are automatically terminated.
The Showdown
Once the fourth Betting Round is completed, if more than one Member remains active in the game, there is a "Showdown". In the Showdown, each active Member utilizes any 2 of his/her 4 Pocket cards and any 3 of the 5 Community Boardcards, to create the highest valued 5 card Poker hand (see Poker Hand Value Chart below).
Pacific Poker follows Standard Poker Rules for determining Poker hand value (see Poker Hand Value Chart below). The active Member who creates the highest valued Poker hand wins the Pot, minus the Pot won by any Members holding higher valued All-in hands (see Pacific Poker's All-in Policy below) and the "Rake" (see "Limits, Antes and Rake" section of this site).
If the active Member with the highest valued Poker hand is "All-in" (see All-in below), that Member receives the Pot total, up until the time that they were All-in. (A Omaha Hi Poker game can have as many All-in Pots as there are active Members, minus one.) The remainder of the Pot goes to the active Member with the next highest valued Poker hand.
Tie Hands
In the event that 2 or more active Members, participating in the Poker hand’s Showdown, hold equal ranking (by combination) hands, the winner is determined by the high card (i.e. a pair of Aces beats a pair of Kings).
Should the Poker hands remain tied (i.e. a pair of Kings vs. a pair of Kings), the highest valued card not held in common (the “Kicker”) determines the game’s winner.
In the event of exact ties in Poker hand value, between 2 or more active Members, the Table’s Pot will be split evenly between those Members. In the event of extra odd Chip(s) the first winning Member to the left of the Dealer, in a clockwise fashion, will receive the odd Chip(s).
Omaha Hi/Lo Courtesy of Pacific Poker
Omaha Hi/Lo 8 or Better (Omaha Hi/Lo), a game for between 2-10 players, has gained popularity, both in the US and abroad, due to its highly challenging game play and many facetted game rules. Omaha Hi/Lo consists of 4 Betting Rounds. Throughout the game each player receives 4 facedown “Pocket Cards”. 5 face-up “Community Boardcards” are placed in the center of the Table, to be shared by all the players. Each player creates the highest valued and/or lowest valued qualifying Poker hand, using any 2 of his/her 4 Pocket Cards and any 3 the 5 Community Boardcards.
Betting Limits
Pacific Poker offers a variety of Tables, designed for different numbers of Players, and offering various Table Betting Limits.
In the game of Omaha Hi/Lo, each Table has both a Lower and Higher Limit Stake (Betting amount). A Table’s Lower Limit Stake is always half the Higher Limit Stake (i.e. a $1/$2 Table, or a $5/$10 Table).
In the first two Betting Rounds (see the Betting Rounds below), of a Omaha Hi/Lo game, Members Bet (wager) in multiples of that Table’s Lower Limit Stake.
In the final two Betting Rounds, of a Omaha Hi game, Members Bet in multiples of that Table’s Higher Limit Stake.
The Buy-in
In order to Sit-in (join) a Pacific Poker Omaha Hi/Lo Table, Members must purchase a minimum amount of Chips to play with (“Buy-in”). At Pacific Poker, the minimum Buy-in amount is 10 times the Lower Limit Stake of that particular table (i.e. at a $1/$2 Table the Member must Buy-in with a minimum of $10).
Posting
A Member entering a Pacific Poker Omaha Hi/Lo Table is required to pay an initial fee (“Post”), equal to that Table’s Lower Limit Stake. The Post follows the same rules as the Blind Bets (see The Blind Bets below) and allows the Member to Sit-in at the Table.
Members have the option of "Sitting Out", and waiting for the Big Blind before beginning to play. Posting ensure fairness to all Members, by preventing players from entering a Poker game in a Late Position in order to avoid placing Blind Bets.
The Dealer (The "Button")
In Pacific Poker’s Omaha Hi/Lo, the Members take turns acting as the Dealer. The Dealer is identified by the Button: .
After each hand, the Dealer Button moves left, in a clockwise fashion, to the next Member who is Sitting-in at the Table.
The Blind Bets
In Pacific Poker’s Omaha Hi/Lo, Antes do not “seed” the Pot. Instead, the Pot is formed, initially, through the use of “mandatory” bets, known as "Blind Bets".
The first Blind Bet, known as the Small Blind, is posted by the first Member Sitting-in to the left of the Dealer in a clockwise fashion. The amount of the Small Blind Bet is half of that Table’s Lower Limit Stake. On Tables with Lower Limits Stakes greater than $1, the Small Blind is rounded down to the nearest dollar.
The second Blind Bet, known as the "Big Blind", is posted by the second Member Sitting-in to the left of the Dealer in a clockwise fashion. The amount of the Big Blind Bet is equal to that Table’s Lower Limit Stake.
Both the Big and Small Blinds, in Omaha Hi/Lo Poker, are considered “Live” (active) Bets and therefore, according to Poker rules, can be Checked, Called, Raised or Folded.
Missing the Blind Bets
Occasionally, a Member may choose to temporarily Sit-out from a Table:
If, while Sitting-out, the Member misses his/her turn to place the Small Blind, upon re-Sitting-in that Member will be required to Post. This Post consists of a live Bet equal to the Big Blind.
If, while Sitting-out, the Member misses his/her turn to place either the Big Blind or both the Small Blind and the Big Blind, upon re-Sitting-in, that Member will be required to Post. This Post consists of a live Bet equal to the Big Blind, plus an additional “Dead” (non-active) Bet, equal to the Small Blind , which is donated by the Member directly to the Pot.
The Betting Round
Pacific Poker’s Omaha Hi/Lo follows the conventional Poker Betting Round Structure.
There are four possible Betting Rounds in Pacific Poker’s Omaha Hi/Lo. The first two Betting Rounds are set at that Table’s Lower Limit Stake. The last two Betting Rounds are set at that Table’s Higher Limit Stake.
After the Members’ Pocket Cards are dealt, the first Betting Round is initiated by the first Member Sitting-in, in a clockwise fashion to the left of the Big Blind.
After each of the subsequent three deals ("The Flop", "The Turn " and "The River "), in which the Community Boardcards are dealt, the Betting Rounds are initiated by the first active (who has not Folded) Member, in a clockwise fashion, to the left of the Dealer.
Betting Rounds always proceed in a clockwise fashion, from one active Member to the next. Each Member must either: Check, Bet, Raise, Call or Fold. Pacific Poker's Omaha Hi follows the conventional Poker Betting Round Structure.
There are four possible Betting Rounds in Pacific Poker’s Omaha Hi/Lo. The first two Betting Rounds are set at that Table’s Lower Limit Stake. The last two Betting Rounds are set at that Table’s Higher Limit Stake.
After the Members’ Pocket Cards are dealt, the first Betting Round is initiated by the first Member Sitting-in, in a clockwise fashion to the left of the Big Blind.
After each of the subsequent three deals ("The Flop", "The Turn " and "The River "), in which the Community Boardcards are dealt, the Betting Rounds are initiated by the first active (who has not Folded) Member, in a clockwise fashion, to the left of the Dealer.
Betting Rounds always proceed in a clockwise fashion, from one active Member to the next. Each Member must either:
a. Check – Pass the option to act to the next active Member.
b. Bet – Place a Betting Round’s initial increase to the amount that each of the following Members must place in the Pot, in order to remain in the game.
c. Raise – Place a Betting Round’s 2nd, 3rd or 4th increase to the amount that each of the following Members must place in the Pot, in order to remain in the game.
d. Call – Equal the previous active Member’s Betting amount in that Betting Round and remain in the game (In the first Betting Round each Member must at least equal the amount of the Big Blind).
e. Fold – Discard hand and no longer remain active to participate in that game. The Member forfeits the amount (if any) that he/she has previously Bet during that game.
In keeping with conventional Poker rules, within each Betting Round there can be no more than one Bet and three additional Raises ("Raise", “Reraise” & "Cap"). Once a Cap occurs, the following Members will only be able to Call or Fold.
A Betting Round is concluded when:
All active Members have Checked in Turn. or
All active Members have matched the last Member to increase the amount (Bet/Raise) to be placed in the Pot, during that Betting Round. or
All previous Members have chosen to Fold, leaving only one active Player. This last remaining player automatically receives the Pot. In this case both the Betting Round and game are automatically terminated.
The Showdown
Once the fourth Betting Round is completed, if more than one Member remains active in the game, there is a "Showdown". In the Showdown, each active Member utilizes any 2 of his/her 4 Pocket cards and any 3 of the 5 Community Boardcards, to create the highest valued and/or lowest valued qualifying 5 card Poker hand (see Poker Hand Value Chart below).
Pacific Poker follows Standard Poker Rules for determining Poker hand value.
a. The active Member who creates the highest valued Poker hand wins 50% of the Pot, minus the percentage of the Pot won by any Members holding higher valued All-in hands (see Pacific Poker's All-in Policy below) and the "Rake" (see "Limits, Antes and Rake" section of this site).
b. The active Member who creates the lowest valued Poker hand wins 50% of the Pot, minus the percentage of the Pot won by any Members holding lower valued All-in hands and the "Rake".
c. In order to qualify as the lowest valued Poker hand, the Member must create a Poker hand containing no card higher than an 8.
d. Straights or Flushes are not applied when vying for the lowest valued Poker hand (i.e. and A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest valued Poker hand).
e. An active Member who creates both the highest and the lowest valued Poker hands wins 100% of the Pot, minus the percentage of the Pot won by any Members holding higher or lower valued All-in hands and the "Rake".
f. No "Crossovers" are permitted in Omaha Hi/Lo (i.e. a Q-K-A-2-3 is not valued as a Straight).
g. If none of the active Members are able to create a qualifying Lo hand the Member with the highest valued Poker hand wins 100% of the Pot, minus the percentage of the Pot won by any Members holding higher or lower valued All-in hands and the "Rake".
h. If the active Member with the highest and/or lowest valued Poker hand is "All-in" (see All-in below), that Member receives the appropriate percentage (50% or 100%) of the Pot total, up until the time that they were All-in. (An Omaha Hi/Lo Poker game can have as many All-in Pots as there are active Members, minus one.) The remainder of the Pot goes to the active Member(s) with the next highest and/or lowest valued Poker hand(s).
Tie Hands
In the event that 2 or more active Members, participating in the Poker hand’s Showdown, hold equal ranking (by combination) hands, the winner is determined by the highest and/or lowest card (i.e. a pair of Aces beats a pair of Kings for the Hi hand and a 2 beats a 3 for the Low hand).
Should the Poker hands remain tied (i.e. a pair of Kings vs. a pair of Kings or low card 2 vs. low card 2), the highest and/or lowest valued card not held in common (the “Kicker”) determines the game’s winner(s).
In the event of exact ties in Poker hand value, between 2 or more active Members, the appropriate percentage of the Table’s Pot will be split evenly between those Members. In the event of extra odd Chip(s) the first winning Member to the left of the Dealer, in a clockwise fashion, will receive the odd Chip(s).
Pineapple Courtesy of Ultimate Bet
Crazy Pineapple is a texas hold'em game very similar to regular texas hold'em. There are only two significant differences in pineapple texas hold'em, however, which do change the game a lot.
DIFFERENCE #1: YOU START WITH THREE HOLE CARDS
In regular texas hold'em, you start with two hole cards. In Pineapple, you start with three, creating many more possible good starting hands, and many more hands that can work with the flop.
DIFFERENCE #2: IN PINEAPPLE, YOU THROW A HOLE CARD AWAY!
Just as in regular texas hold'em, there is a betting round after you receive your hole cards, and another betting round after you see the flop. However, in Pineapple a very important change happens here. AFTER betting on the flop is completed, you must discard one of your hole cards.
For example, if you start with a hand of (8h-8s-Jh) and then see a flop of 10h-9h-8d, you have a pretty big decision to make. If you want to keep your open-ended straight flush draw, you're going to have to discard one of your trip eights (a pleasant dilemma, but a dilemma nonetheless). If you want to keep the trips, you need to throw away the the key card in the straight flush draw.
Pineapple really is an odd hybrid of texas hold'em and Omaha. The average winning hands are stronger in Pineapple than they are in texas hold'em, because you get to look at more combinations on the flop. Occasionally you will make a stronger hand in Pineapple than you would have in Omaha, even though you get four hole cards in Omaha, because Pineapple does not share the Omaha "you must use two and exactly two of your hole cards in your final hand" rule.
For example, if your Omaha hand was Ac-Qd-Jc-10d, and the final community board was Ah-As-5c-5h-8c, you do NOT have a full house, but rather only trip aces with a Q-8 kicker, because you must play at least two cards from your hand and can't just add the ace in your hand to the two pair on board to make aces full of fives. In pineapple, had you kept an ace in your hand after the post-flop discard, the five on the turn would have given you a full house, just as if you'd started with A-J or A-Q in texas hold'em.
You'll find Pineapple a fun game to play, because of the extra strong flops and extra key decision about what cards to keep after the flop.
5 Card Draw Courtesy of TBD
Currently Being Revised. Check Back Soon.
Razz: Quick Start Courtesy of Full Tilt Poker
Razz is a game that many poker players love to hate. Part lowball, part 7 card stud, the goal is to make the best five-card low hand from the seven cards you are dealt. It is played with anywhere from 2-8 players. Each player starts with two hole cards and one upcard; the dealer then gives each active player three more upcards, and then a final downcard. Each player ends up with seven cards, four face up and three face down. At the showdown, the player holding the best low hand using only five of his seven cards wins the pot. Aces are always low, and flushes and straights have no effect on the value of a hand. The best possible hand is A-2-3-4-5. If at any point only one player remains at the end of any round of betting, that player wins the pot. Each new hand begins with each player putting an ante into the pot. For example, in a $2/$4 limit game, each player would ante 40 cents. The ante does not count toward any future bets. When you first sit down at a table, you are prompted to ante, after which you will immediately receive a hand.
Razz has five rounds of betting:
1. The dealer gives each player two cards face down and one card face up (third street). Only you can see your hole cards. You can tell which are your hole cards and which is your upcard, because the hole cards are situated lower than the upcard. The first round of betting commences. On the first round, the betting starts with the player having the highest upcard. This bet is a forced bet. The bet must be at least a specified minimum (called the bring-in), but can be more. Each player in turn can call the bring-in, or complete the bet, that is, raise to the limit. For example, in a $2/$4 game, the bring-in is 50 cents. Any player can call that bet, or complete to $2. Once completed, there is a limit of 3 reraises on the betting round. For example, in a $2/$4 game, the complete bet would be $2, with the betting being capped at $8 (first reraise to $4, second reraise to $6, and the final reraise to $8).
2. The dealer deals each active player a second upcard (fourth street). Players still in the hand participate in a round of betting. The betting on fourth street always proceeds at the lower limit. Unlike 7 card stud, an open pair does not affect the betting limit. All bets and raises on fourth street will be equal to the lower limit bet size.
3. The dealer deals each active player a third upcard (fifth street). Players still in the hand participate in a round of betting, but the bet size is now equal to the higher limit bet size. All bets from here on out will be at the higher limit.
4. The dealer deals each active player a fourth upcard (sixth street). Players still in the hand participate in a round of betting.
5. The dealer deals each active player a final card, face down (seventh street, or the river card). Players still in the hand participate in a final round of betting. In the rare event that all eight players remain in the hand at this point, there would not be enough cards for each player to receive another card. Should this occur, a single "common" card is placed in the middle of the table face up which every player is free to use. After the final round of betting, the software awards the pot to the holder of the best hand, and a new hand begins.
The software prompts you whether to post, when to put up the ante, when it is your turn to bet, and presents the choices for that bet (including the option to check or fold, as appropriate). To speed things up, you can select "Auto-Post Ante", and your ante will be posted for you without prompting you. Additionally, during any round of betting, if it is not yet your turn, you may select your betting action in advance using the "Advanced Actions" located in the lower right portion of the screen.
No Limit/ Pot Limit Courtesy of Pacific Poker
No Limit Texas Hold'em is said to be the purest form of poker.You can also play No Limit games of Omaha Hi/Lo and No Limit Hold'em Tournaments.
General rules for No Limit Poker
The main difference between regular No Limit Hold'em and Limited Hold'em is when it comes to the betting amounts so once you know how to play Limited Texas Hold'em or Limited Omaha Hi/Lo, the rules to No Limit are very easy to learn.
The betting rules for No Limit, therefore, are very simple:
Minimum eligible raise: The raise amount must be at least as much as the previous bet or raise in the same round. For example, if the first player to play bets $10 then the second player must raise a minimum of $10 (total bet of $20).
Maximum eligible raise: All (and we mean all) of the chips you have at the table!
When playing at Pacific Poker you have a betting "slider" which allows you to bet many amounts between the minimum and maximum allowable bet size.
It's important to remember that there is no cap to the number of raises in No Limit games!
No Limit games are very exciting and for newer players we recommend getting familiar with the large betting amounts at the Tournament tables where you can better control the amount of money you wish to risk.
Pot Limit Poker in our Poker Rooms
In Europe, the popularity of the exciting game of Pot Limit poker is growing by the day. At Pacific Poker you can play Pot Limit games of Omaha Hi/Lo, Omaha High, Hold'em and also Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo Tournaments!
General rules for Pot Limit Poker
The main difference between Pot Limit games and regular Limited games is when it comes to the betting amounts so once you know how to play limited Omaha high, limited Omaha Hi/Lo and limited Hold'em, the rules to No Limit are very easy to learn.
The betting rules for Pot Limit games, therefore, are very simple:
Minimum eligible raise: The raise amount must be at least as much as the previous bet or raise in the same round. As an example, if the first player to act bets $10 then the second player must raise a minimum of $10 (total bet of $20).
Maximum eligible raise: The size of the pot. The size of the pot is defined as the total of the Pot in the middle plus all bets on the table plus the amount the active player must first call before raising. As an example, the pot in the middle is $20 and the first player to act in the round bets $15 and the next player calls $15... the third player has a maximum eligible total bet of $80. The $80 total is his $15 call and $65 raise. The $65 max raise portion is equal to the pot of $20 + first player's $15 + second player's $15 + his own call of $15.
It's important to remember that there is no cap to the number of raises in Pot Limit games! When playing at Pacific Poker you have a betting "slider" which allows you to bet many amounts between the minimum and maximum allowable bet size.
Pot Limit games can be thrilling and for newer players we recommend getting familiar with the large betting amounts at the Tournament tables where you can better control the amount of money you wish to risk.
Tournaments Courtesy of Pacific Poker
What is a Tournament?
A "Tournament" is a contest in which all players begin with an equal amount of chips and continue to play until one player remains and wins all the chips. Blinds/antes are raised consistently throughout the tournament. For details of the blinds/antes uplevel structure, please click here.
What is a Sit and Go Tournament?
Sit & Go Tournaments usually take place on a single table and have a maximum of 10 players. Play begins as soon as all players are seated (seats are assigned randomly) and continues until the one winning player remains. Prizes are usually also awarded to the runners up.
What is a Multi Table Tournament?
Multi-Table Tournaments have many players spread across many tables, they have set starting times and players must register in advance in order to play. The closing time of registration for each tournament will be announced in the Lobby. All seat assignments are randomly drawn prior to the start of the tournament.
As play progresses and players are knocked out, the remaining players are moved to different tables in order to keep them full. Tables will break down from the highest numbered table to the lowest numbered tables. The transferring of players from one table to another (as a result of tables breaking down) is done in a completely random fashion. This process continues until only one player remains.
Who plays first?
Hold'em and Omaha tournaments begin by dealing every player one card. The Player who receives the highest card dealt will be the dealer at his/her table for the first round of the tournament. If two Players are dealt the same high card, the suit preference of spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs will determine who starts as the dealer.
How is the winner decided?
Tournaments will continue until one Player wins all the chips.
How are players eliminated?
Players are eliminated from Play when they lose all their chips.
How much does each player win?
The Prize structure is published in the Tournament Lobby and depends on the number of entrants.
How many times can I raise in each betting round?
Pacific Poker's betting structure will be one bet and three raises for each betting round.
Do I have to play the Blinds?
Yes, Players are obligated to take their blinds.
What are the Blinds?
The Small Blind is the player immediately to the left of the dealer button and the Big Blind is the player to the immediate left of the Small Blind. It is possible for a player to take two Big Blinds in a row.
e.g., If one player had just played the Big Blind at a table which then broke down, the player could then be seated at the Big Blind position in the new table.
When only two Players remain, the Player due to play the Big Blind will do so and the Small Blind will inherit the button. The Small Blind or button will act first prior to the flop and second after the flop.
Are there any breaks in the tournament play?
There are no breaks during Sit & Go Tournaments. In Multi-Table tournaments, there is a 5- minute break each hour.
How many chips do I start with?
In Single Table tournaments, players start with either $800 in chips for tournaments with buy-ins less than $30 or with $1,000 in chips for tournaments with higher buy-ins. The Levels for these tournaments go up after every ten hands. In Multi-table tournaments, levels are on a time basis and the time may vary depending on the tournament.
Can I exchange my prize?
The prize payoffs will be exactly according to the Payout Schedule (the "Payoff Structure") and there are no deals.
What happens if two (or more) players go out on the same hand?
If two (or more) players are eliminated on the same hand, the player who started the hand with the most chips will be awarded the higher finishing position.
What will happen if I attempt to cheat?
All Players are expected to abide by the House Rules. Those who do not abide by the House Rules may be asked by PacificPoker.com Personnel to leave the Tournament and/or to stop playing at PacificPoker.com. There should be no soft playing or chip dumping during Tournaments. Soft playing could be considered cheating in some instances.
What happens if I do not act on my hand in time?
Players who do not act on their hand in time ("Time Out")it will be folded.
What happens if I am disconnected?
Our standard Disconnection, Cancellation and All-in Policy applies to all Tournaments.
Can I play in more than one tournament at a time?
PacificPoker.com allows Players to participate in only one tournament at a time. If you are registered for two tournaments with overlapping scheduling, PacificPoker.com will refund your buy-in for the tournament with the later commencement time.
Can I ever play 'on the button' twice in a row?
PacificPoker.com uses a "forward moving button" rule in its tournaments. According to this rule, no player ever receives the button twice in consecutive hands; at the completion of every hand, the button is moved clockwise to the small blind. The implication of this rule is that when players are eliminated, there may be players who get a reprieve from one or both blinds. The forward moving button is common practice in online poker due to the technicalities involved in adjusting the blinds after players are eliminated. Since these are basically random occurrences, no player will receive any long-term advantage, and the rule is necessarily fair for all players.
What happens if a tournament is cancelled?
If a Tournament is cancelled due to technical issues, Players who were eliminated prior to the cancellation will lose their buy-in and entry fee. The remaining Players will be refunded their buy-ins and entry fees and will equally divide up the buy-in fees from the Players already eliminated, regardless of the chip standing when the tournament was halted.
The Small Print
PacificPoker.com reserves the right to change the rules and render final decisions on all matters herein at its sole discretion. Rule changes and relevant decisions will be communicated accordingly via PacificPoker.com via electronic and/or written means.
PacificPoker.com reserves the right to cancel or reschedule Tournaments at any time, for any reason, with or without notice.
PacificPoker.com reserves the right to amend the Tournament Rules and Policies at any time without notice to Players. Such amendments will become effective immediately upon being listed under the "Tournament Rules" section of the PacificPoker.com website. It is the Players' sole responsibility to review the Tournament Rules and Policies.
The rules and policies contained herein represent the complete understanding between Player and PacificPoker.com with respect to Player's activities at any PacificPoker.com tournament, except as otherwise specified in the any rules pertaining to a particular tournament, as posted at the PacificPoker.com website.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, all use of the website by Player is governed by the PacificPoker.com Terms & Conditions of Use. And in the event of dispute those terms and conditions shall apply.
Multi-Table Tournaments have many players spread across many tables, they have set starting times and players must register in advance in order to play. The closing time of registration for each tournament will be announced in the Lobby. All seat assignments are randomly drawn prior to the start of the tournament.
Hold'em and Omaha tournaments begin with the dealing of a "high card". The Player who receives the highest card dealt will be the dealer at his/her table for the first round of the tournament. If two Players are dealt the same high card, the suit preference of spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs will determine who becomes the dealer.
Tournaments will continue until one Player wins all the chips.
Players are eliminated from Play when they lose all their chips.
Prizes will be awarded as stated in the Tournament Lobby
PacificPoker.com's betting structure will be one bet and three raises for each betting round.
Players are obligated to take their "blinds"
The Small Blind is the player immediately to the left of the dealer button and the Big Blind is the player to the immediate left of the Small Blind. (It is possible for a player to take two Big Blinds in a row. For example, if he just had the Big Blind at his table, which just broke down and then was seated in the BB at his new table.)
When two Players remain, the Player due to assume the Big Blind will do so, and the Small Blind will inherit the button. The Small Blind or button will act first prior to the flop and second after the flop.
There are no breaks during Sit & Go Tournaments. In Multi-Table tournaments, there is a 5- minute break each hour.
In Single Table tournaments, players start with either $800 in chips for tournaments with buy-ins less than $30 or with $1,000 in chips for tournaments with higher buy-ins. The levels for these tournaments go up after every ten hands. In multi-table tournaments, levels are on a 'time' basis and the time may vary depending on the tournament. Play continues until there is a winner. Chips are purchased in the Lobby, and the value of the chips varies according to the tournament.
The prize payoffs will be exactly according to the Payout Schedule (the "Payoff Structure") and there are No deals.
If two (or more) players are eliminated on the same hand, the player who started the hand with the most chips will be awarded the higher finishing position.
