Poker Rules

At Poker On Pi our aim is to deliver a game that is always fair, friendly, and fun. To ensure this, the following rules must be abided by.

Collusion in poker is the act of sharing information with others on the table with the aim of gaining an unfair advantage over other players at the table (doing this is not fair!). Poker On Pi routinely employs collusion detection measures. Any users found engaging in collusion will be banned without warning and have their Poker on Pi chips forfeited.

Poker is a game of strategy, skill and chance. There is no one way to play poker that is right or wrong, and that's part of what makes it such a great game! Players may engage in friendly discussion and banter with each other via the table chat, but these interactions must never become abusive. Poker On Pi routinely monitors for abusive behaviour. Any users engaging in abusive behaviour can be suspended from the site at the discretion of Poker On Pi.

Pi Coin currently has no specific monetary value, but that does not mean it is worthless! Pi Coin has intrinsic value from the network of users who believe in the project, and the growing infrastructure of the Pi Network. Only play with Pi Coin that you are comfortable risking at the poker table. If it stops being fun, then take a break. Poker On Pi routinely monitors player behaviour for signs of reckless risk taking. If we suspect that a user is being reckless with their Pi, we may intervene.

At Poker on Pi the minimum bet or raise amount in any game is the big blind amount, or double the previous bet/raise (whichever is larger).

Hand example:

- The blinds are 5/10 in a game and a player is the first to open betting in any round of betting (the minimum they can bet is 10, the value of the big-blind). The player bets 10.

- The next player elects to raise (the minimum they can raise is another 10, making the bet a total of 20 (2x the previous bet). The player raises to a total bet of 50 (40 more than the previous bet)

- The bet is now 50, and the next player elects to raise again. The minimum raise now is 40, as the previous raise was 40 more than the previous bet. The minimum total bet in this spot is 90.

NOTE* - If a player's chip stack balance is less than the minimum bet/raise amount, they may go all-in for their remaining stack regardless of the minimum.

At Poker on Pi the rules for straddling (in games where straddle is enabled) are as follows:

- The player to the left of the big-blind will be given the option to place a blind bet (known as a straddle) before the cards are dealt.

- If a straddle bet is placed, the player to the left of the straddle player will be given the option to 'over-straddle'. If another straddle is placed, the next player can straddle (the player's in the blinds CAN NOT straddle

- The straddle bet is two times the current largest bet (ie. 2x the big-blind, or 2x the previous straddle

- Unless there is a raise during the pre-flop betting (after the cards are dealt), the player to straddle last does not receive an option to raise again if the action checks around to them.

At Poker on Pi there are No Limit games, and Pot Limit games (as indicated under the game style in the poker lobby).

No Limit poker is simple. At any time, any player can choose to bet or raise to the value of their entire chip stack at that game. There is no upper limit.

In Pot Limit poker the maximum bet or raise at any time is the total amount of chips in the pot, including any bets that have been placed during the current betting round.

Pot Limit Hand Example:

- In a Pot Limit game the blinds are 5/10. The blinds have been paid 5 for the small-blind and 10 for the big blind. The pot is now 15.

- During the pre-flop betting, the next player to act can choose to fold, call 10, or to raise between a minimum of 10 (see minimum rules above) and a maximum of 15. The player raises the maximum of 15 (making their total bet 25). The pot is now 40 (15 + 25)

- The next player to act can choose to fold, call 25, or raise between a minimum of 15 (see minimum rules above) or to a maximum of 40.

The object of Texas Holdem is to make the best 5 card poker hand from the 5 community cards on the table and your own 2 cards that only you can see. The community cards are dealt out during the hand with betting rounds in between so you are betting on the likleyhood of forming a winning hand by the end of the hand when all cards are revealed.

A game consists of playing hands of cards and each hand is split into alternating rounds of revealing cards and betting on the results.

Whatever profit or loss you make whilst playing in a game will be added or deducted from your total bankroll whenever you leave a table. The total bankroll determines your player ranking.

Game Play - Pre Flop

1. The hand begins.

2. The next player from the dealer button posts the small blind.

3. The next player posts the big blind.

4. Each player is dealt their personal hand 2 cards each. These are called the players hole cards.

5. Betting round 1 commences pre-flop.

6. The first 3 community cards are dealt out. This is called the Flop.

Game Play - Post Flop

7. Betting round 2 commences from the first player to the left of the dealer who is still in the hand.

8. The 4th community card is dealt out. This is called the Turn card.

Game Play - Post Turn

9. Betting round 3 commences from the first player to the left of the dealer who is still in the hand..

10. The 5th and last community card is dealt. This is called the River card.

Game Play - Post River

11. Last betting round commences.

Showdown!

12. The cards of the remaining players that have not folded are turned over to find the winner.

13. The winnings are distributed**. If more than one player wins the pot is split.

14. If more than one player still has money in their pot, a new hand begins.

** Note: You cannot win more than the amount you bet from another player.

Hand Rankings:

The aim of texas holdem poker is to make the best possible hand using any 5 cards from the available 7 cards (2 hole cards plus 5 community cards). The best possible hand at the table wins the pot. The poker hand rankings are listed below from best to worst.

Royal Flush

The highest possible poker hand is the Royal Flush. It consists of a Ten, Jack, Queen, King and Ace, all of the same suit.

Straight Flush

A combination of both a straight and a flush. The cards must all be of the same suit and they must run in value e.g. 4,5,6,7,8. If more than one player has a Straight Flush, the player with the best Highcard wins.

Four Of A Kind

This hand is made up with 4 cards of the same value (e.g. 4 X Jacks). If more than one player has Four Of A Kind the highest value Four Of A Kind would win.

Full House

This hand is made up with 3 cards of one value and two of another value e.g. 3 X Nines and 2 X Queens. If more than one player has a Full House the winning hand would be the one with the highest triple value or failing that the highest double value.

Flush

A Flush is when the hand contains 5 cards of the same suit e.g. 5 X Spades. If more than one player has a Flush the winner is the player with the best Highcard.

Straight

To make a Straight the must run in value e.g. 4,5,6,7,8 but it does not matter what suit they are. If more than one player has a Straight , the player with the best Highcard wins.

Three Of A Kind

This hand is made up with 3 cards of the same value e.g. 3 X Sevens. If more than one player has a Three Of A Kind the winning hand would be the one with the highest value Three Of A Kind.

Two Pair

Two pair of the same value e.g. 2 X Fours and 2 X Sevens. If more than one player has Two Pair, the winner is the player with the highest pair value. If both players have the same pairs the player with the best Highcard wins.

One Pair

One pair of the same value e.g. 2 X Fours. If more than one player has One Pair, the winner is the player with the highest pair value. If both players have the same pair the player with the best Highcard win.

Highcard

The Highcard is the highest value card that is in your hand that is not duplicated not a pair, 3 of a kind or 4 of a kind. If one or more players has the same Highcard the next highest Highcard will be evaluated until a winner is found.

Terms:

Dealer Button: A chip that marks where the dealing begins. This moves forward one player each hand.

Small Blind: An automatic bet that must be paid by the next player from the dealer button at the beginning of a hand. The small blind is usually 50% of the big blind

Big Blind: An automatic bet that must be paid by the next player from the small blind player at the beginning of a hand. The big blind amount is the amount that all players must match or raise to stay in the current hand, and it is the minimum amount that players may bet in any new betting round.

Hole Cards: The 2 cards that you are dealt as your personal hand. Other players cannot see your cards unless they turn over at the end of the hand to find the winner.

Betting Round: There are 4 betting rounds during a game. A player can choose to call a bet, raise a bet or fold their hand.

Flop: The first 3 community cards dealt out during the hand after the first betting round.

Turn: The 4th community card dealt out after the second betting round.

River: The 5th community card dealt out after the third betting round.

Call: Match the current bet amount.

Raise: Raise the current bet amount.

Fold: Discard your current hand and lose any money you have bet so far in this hand.

All-In: Bet your entire remaining chip stack on the hand.