OMAHA: Omaha games will have their own Bad Beat Jackpot, Both Omaha hands must use two cards from their personal hand and three on the board.

ALL HOUSE RULES APPLY!

**MAY BE VOIDED IN THE EVENT OF THE FOLLOWING**

1. Improper shuffle
2. Too many or too few burn cards
3. Foul Deck or too many or too few cards
4. Cars dealt out of sequence
5. Cards having left the clear view of the table
6. The use of cell phones or texting during the hand
7. Discussion during the hand that might alter the outcome of the hand
8. All players must play their hands independent of any influence by
   another player or spectator
9. In the event that there are more then 2 qualifying Bad Beat Hands,
   the higher of the two hands will be paid.

Pre Flop:

Before cards are dealt the forced bets must be paid, which are called the big blind and the little blind. The little blind is sometimes called the small blind as well. A bet is when money is put into the pot for the first time in a round. The amounts of the bets and blinds are predetermined, and the little blind is always half the big blind. The little blind position is always the seat to the left of the dealer, and the big blind is the seat to the left of the little blind. The dealer will then deal two cards (referred to as pocket cards or hole cards) face down to each player, one at a time, starting with the player on his left. Once the cards are dealt, each player looks at their cards; on their action they must then decide if they wish to call the current bet (the big blind, which is the highest amount bet at this point) which means to match it, fold their hand with out betting if they don't like their cards, or raise the bet by putting in more money. Each player, starting with the seat to the left of the big blind, makes their choice and acts. If a player raises the bet, each player must now call the new amount, including those who may have already acted. At any time a player may re-raise, meaning that they raise it again beyond the amount it was raised previously. If no player raises the big blind, then the player in that position may check, meaning they do not want to put more money in, or raise. It is important to note that if a players raises he may not raise again unless he was re-raised, as opposed to called. The round of betting stops when all players have either folded or called the last raise.

Flop:

The dealer burns a card, which means they deal it to one side and it is not used in play, and then deals three cards face down. The dealer then turns the thee cards face up simultaneously; this is called the Flop. These are the first of five community cards that all players can use, along with their pocket cards, to make the best possible poker hand. The standard poker hand ranks are used. The player in the little blind position (once again, the first seat to the left of the dealer) is now UTG, or Under The Gun, meaning they are first to act now and on every subsequent round of betting. They must make a decision as in pre-flop play, with one change: they can choose to check if they don't want to bet or fold. Many experts advise players to stop here if they do not improve their hand, as they have now seen five of the seven cards they will use. Once again, the betting round ends only when all players have folded or called the last bet or raise.

Turn:

The dealer burns another card and then deals a fourth community card, called the turn, face up. There is another round of betting, exactly as after the flop, with the small blind seat being UTG.

River:

After a final burn card, the dealer turns over the fifth and last community card, called the River. There is one final round of betting. At this point (or before) if all but one player folds, the last player who didn't fold wins the pot. This player may muck his hand, which means to toss it into the discard pile by the dealer without showing anyone what it was.

Showdown:

A showdown occurs when a player is called after the River, and could involve anywhere from two players to the entire table, depending on how many stayed in to this point. All players still in the hand show their cards, starting with the last person to bet. At any point after this player showed his cards other players in the showdown may muck their hand, essentially conceding the pot; just think of mucking as folding. They are admitting they have been beat without having to show their cards. This strategy (mucking) helps keep the other players from learning your playing style, such as if you bet heavy on two pairs or like to chase a flush. The best five-card poker hand wins. That is the essence of Texas Hold'em, but there are a number of other important points to understand.

In Omaha each player is dealt four cards face down, these are the "hole" or "pocket" cards and are each player's private cards. Five cards are then dealt onto the table face up; these are called the "community" cards as all players can use them. Each player then uses their hole cards in conjunction with the community cards to make the best five card poker hand.

The Dealer and the Blinds:

A small disc, called a dealer "button," indicates which player is currently the dealer. The player to the immediate left of the dealer places, posts, a forced bet called the "small blind." The small blind is usually half a small bet (for example $1 in a $2 / $4 game). The player to the left of the small blind also posts a small bet, called the "big blind." The big blind is usually equal to a small bet (for example $2 in a $2 / $4 game). Each player now receives there hole cards.

Pre Flop:

After studying their cards each player now has the option to "bet," "call," "raise" or "fold." Play now starts with the player to the left of the big blind; this position is called "under the gun" as the player is the first to act. This player can fold, ending participation in the current hand, call the big blind, betting the same as the big blind, or raise.

The betting then continues to the next player on the left until one at a time, as poker etiquette dictates, each player has contributed equally to the pot or folded.

Flop:

Three cards are now dealt face-up in the center of the table; this is called the "Flop." These are community cards and are used by all players still in the hand, called "in the pot." A round of betting now occurs starting with the player next to the dealer button.

Turn:

A single card is now dealt face-up in the center of the table, this is called the "Turn." This is the fourth community card. A round of betting now occurs starting with the player next to the dealer button.

River:

A single card is now dealt face-up in the center of the table; this is called the "River." This is the fifth community card. A round of betting now occurs starting with the player next to the dealer button.

The Showdown:

If there is more than one player left in the pot at the end of the last round of betting then the last player to bet shows there cards. If there was no betting on the last round then the player to the left of the dealer button shows there cards first.

The player with the best five card poker hand wins the pot; the hand is made up of two of the four pocket cards plus any three from the community cards.

If there are two or more players with equal best hands then the pot are equally divided between these players, this is called a "split pot."

Highest hand wins

Ace plays both high and low for straights

Three raise limit per round

Cards speak

1. Each player is dealt two cards face down and one face up. The player with the lowest up card makes an forced bet of either $1 half minimum bet or $2 full bet (player's choice) to start the game. The rest of the players, in clockwise order, either call the opening bet, raise it, or not call and "fold" their hands back to the dealer.
2. All get a fourth card face up followed by a round of $2 betting. From this round on, the player with the highest up card(s) is always first to check or bet.
3. After the fifth card is dealt face up, the minimum bet goes to $4.
4. The sixth card is dealt face up and there is another round of $4 betting.
5. The seventh and last card is dealt face down and followed by the final round of $4 betting. The dealer then determines the highest hand and awards the pot.

 

*(Note). Only for the purpose of determining the lowest upcard to bring in the betting, the card denominations are sub-divided by these suit values in decending order: Spades the highest, through Hearts, Diamonds, and Clubs the lowest.

 

General Strategy:

Seven Card Stud is a HIGH card game. More winning hands are decided by the highest pair of two pair or just the highest pair, than by straights, flushes and other big hands. So if you start with a straight or flush draw, it should have at least two high cards or at least one card that is higher than anything up on the board. These draw hands and low pair starting hands need to improve or turn a high pair quickly to justify continued play. Any time your high hand is beaten on the board, fold, unless you think you still have the best draw hand. Fast play early high hands ( that could win without improvement) to thin out the competition. Slow play draw hands to keep other players in to increase the pot odds in case you hit.