Objective:
Form the highest ranked 5 card poker hand OR obtain the lowest hand.
To form a low hand:
- No card higher than an 8.
- Straights and flushes do not count towards the low hand. All other combinations disqualify the low hand, such as pairs.
- Aces can be counted as high or low cards, so the best low hand is A-2-3-4-5 of any suit. This hand may also count as a 5 high straight for the high hand.
- The player has 4 cards in hand of which 2 must be used and 5 community cards of which 3 must be used.
Alternative win condition: All other players fold.
Betting Structure:
Some games may have a starting ante imposed on all players.
Dealer - The player starting the hand, indicated by a small dealer icon next to his nickname.
Small blind - A forced bet imposed on the player left of the dealer. This player will be the dealer for the next round.
Big blind - The player left of the small blind pays a forced bet twice that of the small blind. Players joining the table must start by posting a forced blind bet.
Betting options:
Bet - Place a bet that other players must call to stay in the game.
Raise - Increase the current bet, other players must call your raise to stay in the game.
Call - Match another player's bet or raise.
Check - Remain in the hand without betting, only available if no other player has a placed a higher bet that round.
Fold - Withdraw from calling further bets on the hand; forfeit your chance at the pot.
Betting Limits:
Fixed Limit - Each game has a specified betting limit imposed, and a player cannot raise beyond this.
Pot Limit - A player may bet up to the current amount of money in the pot.
Game Progression:
- The dealer is decided and the blind bets are paid.
- Each player is dealt 4 cards, and then the first betting round begins. As the blinds are considered to be a live bet, betting starts from the player left of the big blind.
- The flop, the first 3 community cards are dealt on the table, followed by a new betting round.
- The turn, the fourth community card is dealt, followed by a new betting round.
- The river, last community card is dealt, followed by the last betting round.
- After the last betting round, the game ends with a showdown. If there is a low hand, the pot is split equally between the highest and lowest hands.