Games - American Poker

GAMES

American Poker (MKD)

One of many variants of Poker game is American Poker. Four of five cards are being dealt face up and one is being dealt face down.

There`s table sign indicating minimum buy-in in order of taking part in the game. During the game, the total amount of chips that a player can bet is called “table stake”. During a round of play it is not allowed for the players to add or take chips out of the table stake. The game is played with full deck containing 52 cards.

Prior to the commencement of receiving the cards, the players are putting a bet called “Ante” in the pot. The croupier starts dealing the cards in a clockwise manner. Every player gets the first card face down and the second face up beginning with the player sitting on a “Buck” position. A “Buck” indicates a marker showing which player will first get card in every round of play. The player with the highest card at the table will open the first round of betting. He may put no less than the minimum bet or he may check. Moving clockwise any player will have the opportunity to bet, to bet and raise, to check or to fold. Until the end of that round of play every player will get three more cards and after every dealt card there will be a betting round.

Every player is taking part in the pot with the required amount of chips unless his table stake is too small to follow the particular bet and the player wishes to participate in the game. In that case he has to put all the remaining chips into the pot. It is called “All-in” and separate pot will be made for that player only.

At the end of the last betting round, the player that first made a decission about his bet is the first one that will turn face up his card, and the other players that are in for the pot will do the same. The croupier will announce the winning hand.

CARD RANKING AND ORDER OF “HANDS”

American poker is played with full deck of cards which consists of 52 cards arranged in 4 equal suits with every suit containing: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2. Card ranking beginning with the highest towards lowest card is: A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2. Aces can be ranked as the highest card (for ex. A, K, Q, J, 10) or as the lowest card (for ex. 5, 4, 3, 2, A). All other cards are ranked by their face value. Neither of the suits (or colours) has higher rank than the others. That means that hearts ♥, clubs ♣, and diamonds ♦ and spades ♠ are equal in ranking.

The order of the hands beginning with the highest towards lowest is as follows:

a) Royal Flush: 10, J, Q, K, A-all of the same suit;

b) Straight flush: Any five cards in order and of the same suit with 9, 10, J, Q, K as the highest and A, 2, 3, 4, 5 as the lowest straight flush;

c) Four of a kind: Four of the same number or picture (4A, 4K, 4J...);

d) Full house: Three of the same with a pair (3K and 2J);

e) Flush: Five cards in any order of the same suit;

- In case when two or more players have flush at the same hand,

the winner shall be the hand with the higher ranking card.

f) Straight: Any five cards in order with 10, J, Q, K, A as the highest

and A, 2, 3, 4, 5 as the lowest straight;

g) Three of a kind: Three of the same number or picture card;

h) Two pairs: Any two pairs of cards with the same number or picture;

i) One pair: Two of the same number or picture card;

j) Highest card: Five different cards by suit, colour and value with the highest card in ranking making the strongest hand.