Rules
| Stick Poker | Variations
|
Stick of five cards | Stick of seven cards | High-Low
Poker was developed in the United States
and has since then become the favorite game of North Americans,
specially of the West Pioneers(está repetindo o que
está escrito abaixo, de forma praticamente idêntica,
sugiro tirar esta frase do início do texto e deixar
apenas abaixo, onde ela dá continuidade ao assunto),.
The origin of the Poker Game is very old
and is related to other games that are also based upon combinations
of same-value-cards and have a betting system very similar
to current Poker. The oldest of these games is Ás-Nas,
created in Persia many centuries ago. Poker was developed
in the United States and has become the favorite game of
North Americans since then, in special of the West Pioneers,
who hurled themselves at exciting and considerable bets,
as if they suffered of "poker fever", in addition
to the "gold fever".
Around 1830, it was given its modern name
and it was initially basically the same as Ás-Nas.
It collected contributions from many countries and from
many other games, but the combinations seem to have come
from ancient Chinese games, from which the Mah-Jong as well
as the Rummy game also seem to have originated. According
to some authors, Pochen (bluff) and Pacaire, respectively
the German and the French games, appear to be local variants
of the American Poker, which seems to be the game with the
largest amount of varieties, all over the world. The two
basic types of recent game card arrangement are sequence
(combination of five cards with different ranks) and the
combination of same rank cards.
The best known form of the innumerable
variants is the Straight Poker, whose basic principles are
the same of all the other forms. Draw Poker and Stud or
Stick Poker are the major branches of the Poker game. One
of Poker characteristics, the act of "peeking"
(to hold the cards as if only the first one were at sight,
and sliding the other cards very slowly, so that their identifying
symbols come to view gradually to provide bigger emotions
to the player) was responsible for one of the most important
innovations introduced in the card decks: the corner-placing
of the number or of its corresponding rank symbol, such
as K for Kings, Q for Queens, J for Jacks and A for Aces.
Besides luck, two other very important factors in Poker
are cleverness and experience, due to what experienced players
take enormous advantage upon others.
Rules
A regular 52-card deck is used in the United
States. In Brazil, the lower value cards are withdrawn,
depending on the number of participants. In case of four
participants, only the cards from Seven to Ace are used.
When there are five players, from Six to Ace. Although the
groups may consist of two up to eight players, the game
tables formed by four to seven players are considered ideal.
For each new player added to the group, another card shall
be added. Thus, if there are six participants, the Fives
will be included, and so on. Ace is the highest card, but
it can also fit in Sequences as the lowest one. Example:
if Seven is in the game, the highest sequence is A-K-Q-J-10
and the lowest is 10-9-8-7-Ace.
Dealing:
Before starting the game, the players must
establish the value of the ante; that is, the amount of
poker-chips that will be needed for the bets carried out
during the game. The first card dealer will be the one who
draws the highest card, picked up only for purposes of card
dealing. From then on, the first player to his left will
replace the dealer, at each turn. Because Poker is a betting
game, it has strict conventions for shuffling, cuts and
card dealing. Before being dealt, the cards must be shuffled
at least three times. Any player may shuffle the cards too,
assured that he asks the dealer for it and that the dealer
is the last one to shuffle.
The player to the right of the dealer cuts
the cards. If he declines, any other player may do it.
The cards are cut only once, unless some
irregularity occurs. If any card turns over during the cut,
the deck of cards must be shuffled and cut once again. If
none of the players shuffles the deck, the dealer must NOT
shuffle it again and must then deal the cards.
Dealing is to be done clockwise, one at
a time, turned down and each player is to receive five cards.
The remaining cards must be placed beside the card dealer,
to be used later.
The "hands" - Each player will
try to make up a set or hand (card arrangement) out of his
cards. The value of the bets will depend upon the hand values
and they must be fixed before the beginning of the game.
All suits have the same rank. The values of the games or
hands are the following, in decreasing order:
1) Straight flush: is a sequence of five
cards of the same suit. The highest Straight Flush, called
Royal Straight Flush, is made up of Ace, King, Jack and
Ten. The lowest one, depending on the lowest card in use
(6 or 7), is 10, 9, 8, 7 and Ace, or 9, 8, 7, 6 and Ace.
Between two or more Flushes, the one headed by the highest
card wins.
2) Four of a Kind: consists of four cards
of the same rank - 4 Aces, 4 Kings etc. Between two or more
Fours, the one with the highest card wins.
3) Flush: five cards of the same suit that
do not build a sequence. If there are two or more Flushes,
the one headed by the highest card wins; if they happen
to be the same, the second higher one must be considered,
then the third, and so on and so forth, as long as necessary.
A tie will only exist when two players' five cards happen
to be of the same value.
4) Full Hand, Full House or Full: three
of a kind (three cards of the same value) plus a pair. Example:
Queen, Queen, Queen, 9 and 9. Between two Fulls, the one
with the highest triple wins.
5) Succession, Sequence or Straight: five
cards in sequence, no matter the suits. Between two sequences,
the one headed by the highest card wins. Example: A, K,
Q, J, 10 and 10, 9, 8, 7, A (standing for 6) - the first
one wins.
6) Three of a Kind: three cards of the
same rank. The highest triple wins.
7) Two pairs: two distinct pairs of cards
and a 5th card. 10, 10, 7, 7 and Ace. When two players have
two pairs, the one who has the highest pair wins. In case
they are the same, the second pair shall be considered.
If this one is also equal, he who has the highest fifth
card wins.
8) Pair: one pair and three odd cards.
Example: King, King, 9, 7, and 6. When two players have
one pair, the one who has the highest pair wins. If both
have the same pair, the remaining cards shall be considered.
Example: 8, 8, Ace, 10, 9 beats 8, 8, Ace, 10, 7. In case
all the cards of both hands are absolutely equal, the bet
poker chips will be shared.
Bets - First round - Before receiving cards,
players must "ante" something to participate.
These chips will be disputed during the game. As with the
card dealing, the game proceeds clockwise (from left to
right). Thus, the player who is to the left of the card
dealer will be the first one to bet. The options are the
following:
1) A player thinks that he will not have
a good set of cards and "passes" or "folds",
laying two closed cards on the table;
2) He says, "table" to check
how the others are doing before betting. Doing so, he transfers
the right of betting first to the player on his left, preserving
the right of betting later, if anyone else starts;
3) He likes his game and makes an initial
bet.
Sometimes, the limit of the bets is not
established, but, generally, the bets are agreed before
the beginning of the game and the lowest and the highest
limits are established. When the first player "passes"
or says "table", the second one will have the
same options, and so on and so forth, until it comes to
the card dealer. If everyone "passes", the cards
will be collected and the second player of the table will
carry out a new dealing. The chips shall remain on the table
and will be indicated by the new bets. When the first player
bets, the second one must choose if he matches, folds or
raises the bet amount.
When a player raises, any other may counter-raise.
If someone bets and the others only match, the caller cannot
raise his own initial bet. When one raises or counter-raises,
those who have already followed him must decide whether
they wish to keep their bets or fold. To join the game,
all participants must have bet the same amount of chips.
When a player says "table" in the beginning, he
has to decide right after the "opening" (initial
bet), on his turn to bet, whether he wants to match or if
he would rather fold.
Card swap - When the bets are over, the
players who remain playing, may swap cards. This is done
only once. Very rarely does a player want to exchange four
cards, for this would reduce the possibilities of improving
his hand. In some places, the swap of four cards is only
allowed to the first player. Usually, the players exchange
one, two or three cards. When one is given a good natural
hand, he doe not need to swap cards. The card dealer will
deal the new cards using those which were undealt in the
first dealing, plus those collected from the players who
have left; and shuffles the cards again, has them cut, always
clockwise and according to each player's request.
Each player should announce how many cards
he wants at his turn, and then hand out the same amount
of cards and put them face down on the table before getting
the new ones. When there are no cards for the swaps, the
dealer will collected the discarded ones, shuffle them and
distribute them to those who have not yet exchanged cards.
Bets - second round - Having the new game
in hands, the player who made the initial bet, that is,
the one who opened the game, shall be the first one to bet.
When there are raises, the last player to raise will bet
first. He may fold or bet. The next player may say "table"
if the first one has also done so or he may fold, call or
raise the bet. When all players say "table", the
one with the best game collects the chips.
When there are bets (simple, raises or
counter-raises) the remaining players shall check who has
the best hand. If some player bets and no one else calls,
he shall collect the chips without showing his game. The
lowest opening, in the first dealing, is a pair of Jacks;
if everybody passes, in the second dealing it is a pair
of Queens, and so on, until it comes to two pairs. Opening
is free in some circles.
Bluff: It is often used in Poker, aiming
at winning with a low game, pretending to have a high game.
This is done through high bets; if the others have weak
or simply reasonable games, they will not call and in such
case the bluffer does not need to show his cards. Bluffing
requires experience and cold blood. The systematic bluffer,
who is known for never bluffing, will also be in disadvantage,
for, when he bets, nobody will call, since they will guess
his game is very high. One needs to know how to balance
and vary, in order not to establish a game pattern.
Darkness: it is only a variant in the betting
system. By convention, the initial bet is proportionally
increasing. The card dealer puts one chip, the first player
to his left puts two, the next one four, etc. So that the
game is not too violent, darkness is generally used only
by three or four players. The last one to bet is called
"the owner of darkness" or "darkener".
He has the right to raise the bets, if
he wants, before the card swap. Thus, cards handled, the
player after "darkener" has to decide whether
he calls or not; if he wants to do so, he should put the
same amount of chips on the table.
So will do the others. Those who have already
bet one or two chips, shall call or fold, loosing what they
had already played. Before carrying out the card swap, the
card dealer must ask "darkener", for he is allowed
to raise the bets. After the swap, "darkener"
will be the last one to bet and will only have the right
to raise bets already made by the remaining players. When
"darkener" raises, counter-raising is free.
Stick Poker
It may be played with five or seven cards
(the most usual modalities).
Variations
a) Poker with a Joker - A Joker is added
to the usual cards which will take the rank of any card.
The ranking of hands is changed, since right below a Royal
Straight Flush, the highest combination is the one with
five same rank cards. Example: 4 Kings plus a Joker meaning
5 Kings.)
b) Misery Poker - The rank is reversed,
so that the player with the worst hand wins. Some people
play what is called "Whoever deals, orders", that
is, the game varies at each hand according to the dealer's
will, who shall announce which modality he wants to be played,
while he is dealing the cards.
Stick of five cards (most commom
in Brazil)
It is a very violent game, because betting
amounts may be very high. The rank of the games is the same
as in Poker. In Brazil, in Stick Poker only the combinations
with pairs (pair, two pairs, triple, full hand, four) are
usually considered. The complete game, where all the combinations
are valid, is called "Big Stick". As there is
no card swap, the number of participants may be larger.
In general, Sixes and even Sevens are not used when six
or seven players are playing.
Bets are made after getting each card.
Each player is given a closed card and an open one. After
analyzing the closed card, each player bets according to
the possibility of combining a winning game with the cards
that he will still receive. The player with the highest
open card is the first one to bet and after him, the game
goes on clockwise.
The dealer usually points out who is to
be the first one to bet, saying "Ace bets" or
"King bets", in case this is the highest opening
card. When the open cards are tied, the player who is closer
to the dealer's left, shall bet. To be given cards, all
of the players have to bet a lowest value. After getting
the first closed card, each player, starting with the one
with the highest card, must bet, drop out, or raise the
bet of a player who came before him. Usually, it is contracted
that the player who gets a figure in the first round has
to match the bets.
A second open card is given and bets are
restarted, once again by the player who has the best card
combination. The dealer points out, for example: "Ace
and King bet", or "Pair of Queens bets".
If they are playing "Big Stick", where all arrangements
are valid, at this phase Sequences and Flushes are not yet
considered for bet openings. A new card is given (third
and fourth open cards of the game); once again, bets are
restarted. In case they are not playing "Big Stick",
then the possibilities of Sequences and Flushes are to be
considered.
The dealer will say, for example: "Possible
Sequence bets" to the player whose three open cards
are in sequence, if this is the highest game at sight. The
fifth card, also open, will constrain the repetition of
the process. The increasing bets make the game more difficult
to play, so that the inexperienced players must be very
careful. When it is agreed before the game, players may
have another closed card if they wish to, as long as the
first one is opened, since each player may only get one
closed card.
Stick of Seven Cards
Card swap is allowed so, in consequence,
bet volume may still be larger. Each player is given three
cards, two closed and one open. Bets then start, as in Five
Card Stick. The fourth and the fifth cards are given the
same way, interrupted by the bets. Each player may then
exchange one card, open or closed, depending on the card
he gives back to the dealer. When he puts aside a closed
card, he shall have another closed one, and vice-versa.
New bets are carried out and the last swap is made following
the same rules. The last bets are made, cards are shown
and the winner collects the chips. It is usual to control
the volume of bets by fixing a limit for the initial bets,
so that the game does not turn out to be too high.
High-Low
It consists in a variant of Poker also
similar to Misery Poker, since both, highest and lowest
hands win. The chips are shared between the worst and the
best combination on the table, and any remaning chip goes
to the best combination. Five cards may be exchanged. The
remaining rules are the same as in regular Poker.
