Options for the Small Blind and Big Blind
Sep/080
Hello,
There are some things that have been bothering my mind for some time now. Hope you can help me out.
- Say in a $3/5 limit game, small blind puts in $1 and big blind puts in $3. Then the next to act is the person to the left of the big blind. What do you think, does he need to bet or check? By the way, the person being talked about here is in the “under the gun” position.
- How about if the person bets $3 and there are calls all the way around. Do you think the small blind has to call $3? Or else just have to call $2 for getting a credit for his $1 small blind ante? How about for the big blind? I guess it will be the same thing.
Thanks!
Michael James
Michael,
- The blinds are forced bets and therefore each player at the table must at least call the $3 big blind in order to stay in the pot. The under the gun player’s only options are to call or raise. They cannot check.
- The small blind only has to complete the big blind bet of $3. If the pot is not raised by the time action is back on the big blind, the big blind can either check or raise.
Mucking a Hand
Sep/080
I’ve started playing poker just recently. So I guess it’s understandable if I don’t yet fully understand some of the stuff concerning the game.
Well, right now, I’m wondering if not showing your cards when you know you lost is actually an act of mucking a hand.
Any idea?
Thanks!
Bill
Bill,
Anytime you fold your hand and do not show the hand, this is considered mucking. It doesn’t matter whether you fold because you know that you are beat, or if you are folding preflop.
Stay in the Original pot or Just Have to Fold Out of Both Pots?
Sep/080
Let’s say in a certain game, there is player 1, then player 2 and player 3. Player 1 goes all in with $50 on the fourth card before the 5th card is turned. Then there is player 2 who calls, followed by player 2 who also does the same thing. Eventually, the 5th card is turned, then player 2 checks, and player 3 goes all in on a side bet to player 2.
In case player 2 declines, will he stay in the original pot or just have to fold out of both pots instead? What do you think?
Thanks!
Antoine
Antoine,
If player 2 folds, they forfeit their rights to the main pot. A side pot is a continuation of the original hand. It is only considered a separate set of betting.
Betting Side of the Game
Sep/080
Hi,
Your site has been a great help. Thanks!
I am a regular visitor of your site actually, but still, I have some questions in mind that up to now were not yet answered.
Can you explain to me the betting side of the game? What are the important things I need to know about it? It seems quite confusing to me.
Alexzander
Alexzander,
Before each hand, the two players to the left of the button put up forced bets known as blinds. The first player puts up a small blind, and the second player puts up a big blind. The small blind is half the size of the big blind. In a $1-$2 blind No Limit Holdem game, the small blind is $1 and the big blind $2.
The first player after the big blind is the under the gun position and has the option to either call, raise, or fold. If they raise, they must raise at least the size of the big blind. The same decision is faced by each person until the action returns around to the blind. If nobody has raised the pot, the small blind may either call the big blind, raise, or fold. If the small blind does not raise, the big blind then has the option to either raise or check.
When choosing to raise the pot, a standard raise is considered to be 3 and one half times the big blind. You do have the option of raising up to the total amount in your stack.
“Forced” to Fold
Sep/080
Hi,
For an instance, in a no limit, anti game, player 1 has $10.00 and bets $5.00. Eventually, player 2 sees the $5.00. Same thing with player 3, sees the $5.00, but unlike player 2 he raises $30.00.
What do you think, will this situation force player 1 to fold? Or else will just cause him to go all in with the $5.00 remaining and a side pot created? Any idea?
Thanks!
Rohanne
Rohanne,
Player one will not be forced to fold. They can go all-in for the $5 and a side pot is created.
Starting Off the Bets
Sep/080
Let’s say everyone calls the flop and the betting starts again, from how much do you think the bets should start? Should it start from the previous round level? And if so, is this the same thing in all betting rounds?
Thanks. Your help will be much appreciated.
Hudson
Hudson,
This depends on whether the game is Limit or No Limit. If the game is No Limit, the minimum bet is the size of the big blind up to a player’s entire stack. This is true for all betting streets. If the game is limit, the turn and river bets are in increments that are double the big blind. Preflop and on the flop, betting is equal to the big blind amount in Limit Holdem.
Number of Decks to Use
Sep/080
Hi,
Can you help me? I don’t know how many decks are normally used at the table. Do you think there is a standard for this or else just depends on the number of people seated at the table?
In a certain event at WPT and WSOP on TV just recently, I’ve seen only one deck was used. Please, I need clarity on this one.
Thank you.
Misael
Misael,
Typically each poker table is supplied with two decks of cards. The deck is changed out at the end of each level during a tournament and during a dealer change in cash games. The same two decks are alternated until either the table is no longer being used or they are replaced by a member of the floor staff.
Who Wins What?
Sep/080
Right now, I’m totally clueless about stuff relating to multiple all ins.
I’m wondering if who is entitled for which pot. Who wins what? And how can I find out the answer?
If possible, kindly explain things to me in a simple manner. And if you can, please cite a specific situation. Let’s say for an instance there are four players who go all in on the same betting round and walk me through. In your opinion, how can I effectively ascertain who wins what?
Thanks in advance.
Nice and helpful site!
Jaheim
Jaheim,
I will give you an example of a situation involving four players who go all in but have different stack sizes. Player A has 2,000 chips, Player B has 5,000 chips, Player C has 1,000 chips, and Player D has 8,000 chips. The blinds are 250 and 500 and player D has the button. Player A posts 250 for the small blind and Player B posts 500 for the big. Player C moves all in for 1,000 chips. Player D then raises to 5,000 which is enough to cover the rest of the table. Both Player A and B call.
There will be three side pots in this scenario. First we will start with the shortest stack. Pull 1,000 from each stack and make that the main pot. Every player will be eligible for this pot. Next, take the remaining 1,000 from Player A, pull 1,000 from Player B and D, and make a second side pot. Players A, B, and D are eligible for this pot. Now take the remaining 3,000 from player B’s stack and put it with the remaining 3,000 from player D’s bet and make a third side pot.
The pots are then awarded based on the last one created. Players B and D will show down for side pot 3. The winner will then face off with player A for side pot 2. The winner of side pot 2 will face off with Player C for the main pot.
