Guts Poker Games

Every Guts poker game falls under the same guidelines: after the cards are dealt, players decide if they are "in" or "out" of the game. Those players that call "out" have no further stakes in the hand. They are out of the game for now, letting those players that called "in" continue playing. Of those players who called "in", the one who has the best hand collects the pot. All other players who called "in" and did not have the best hand at the table must match the amount of money in the pot. Now, there is an equal or greater amount of money in the pot, even after the round has ended.

So, the cards are picked up, shuffled, and the same game is dealt again, with players again deciding if they will go "in" or "out". This continues until only one player goes in...that player wins the pot and the game is over. Doing the math, if three people call "in", the amount of money in the pot will double...one person will win the money, while the other two match the pot. Guts games are characterized by this calling of "in" or "out" as well as the growing size of the pot, and the game being played and played until only one person calls "in" and wins. Note that, for this reason, Guts games are typically more expensive to play.

Caps:

Guts poker games are the one type of game where the term "small stakes" is thrown out the window. People will often assume that $10-$30 will suffice for a night of playing Home poker, but a good game of Jacks and Piss will see the pot rise higher than a week's pay. For this reason, some people play with caps. Caps limit how big the pot can get and how much money a player can lose in one hand. For example, the dealer who calls the Guts game may determine that there is a five dollar cap on the game. What this means is that if the pot ever reaches more than five dollars, a player who wins it only claims five dollars of it, and a poker player who loses only pays five dollars.



A cap means that no player can win or lose more than that amount of money. If, for example, there is six dollars in the pot and three players go in. The one of the three who wins, who would normally collect all six dollars, will collect only five of the six dollars in the pot. The two of the three who lose, who would normally pay all six dollars, will pay only five dollars into the pot. The advantage to this is that players do not lose their shirt, they only lose as much as the cap. The first disadvantage to this is that a lone player who goes "in" on a six dollar pot only claims five of it, and the game is redealt for the new one dollar pot (which goes against the Guts principle that when a single player goes "in", the game is over).



This leads into the second disadvantage, which is that the game is played a lot longer, because a ten dollar pot, for example, will require at least two wins to clear it out, even if a single player goes "in" each time. The third disadvantage is that caps are supposed to be to players' benefit, whereas it normally encourages them to call "in" more, knowing they can lose no more than the pot's cap. I personally do not like caps. If a pot exceeds players' expectations, it is because of bad calls and bad luck, two things that are supposed to contribute to a bigger pot in Guts games.

The Kitty:

This is a blind hand dealt face-down and not revealed to the table until the hand is over. If the particular guts poker games involves five cards being dealt to each player, then a five-card kitty is dealt as well, kept near the dealer, and only turned up at the end of the round. The purpose of the kitty is that those players who go "in" must not only beat the other players who have gone "in" but they must also beat the kitty's hand. It is the extra hand that belongs to the pot that nobody sees until the end of the round. The feature that this adds to the guts game is that if the kitty has the best hand at the table, everybody who went "in" loses and matches the pot. Now, the guts game ends when only one person goes "in"...and beats the kitty. The kitty does not get a draw but it is not rare to see the kitty beat everybody at the guts poker table. The main advantage of the kitty is to eliminate the dealer advantage. If everybody before the dealer calls "out", that dealer would normally win the game by default, calling "in" and having no other hands to beat. Now, that dealer would have to beat the kitty's hand in order to collect the pot. Otherwise, the pot is claimed by nobody and that dealer matches the pot. I favour kitties, especially in Guts games that involve a draw.

Coin Declare:

One way of calling "in" or "out" is by simply going in sequence after the dealer, starting with the player to the dealer's left and ending with the dealer himself. The disadvantage to this is that a player's decision is based on who called "in" or "out" before him, as opposed to all players declaring "in" or "out" at the same time. The coin declare is a method whereby all players declare at the same time. All players hide both hands and a chip (or coin) under the table, bringing up one closed hand over the table. If the poker player wants to go "in", then he has placed the chip in this hand to be dropped on the table. If the player wants to go "out", he has kept the chip in the hand that is not raised over the table. At the count of three, all players open their hands over the table. Those who drop the chip have declared themselves "in", the rest are "out". The purpose of this is so players cannot see who before them has called "in" or "out", instead all players are declaring their status at the same time, no turning back.

It's all Guts:

A Guts theme can be added to just about any Poker game, especially Draw games. The dealer simply states that the game (Snowmen and Hockey Sticks, for example) requires before the draw that each player declare "in" or "out". Those that are "out" are out of the game until it is redealt. Those that are "in" are allowed a draw (the betting round is optional) and of them, the one with the best hand collects the pot, the rest match it. When a Guts game involves a draw, the dealer must determine, when players match the pot, if they match the amount that it is there after there has been betting or the amount that was in there at the time they declared "in". For example, do players matching the pot of a Draw Guts game that starts at five dollars but sees an extra dollar of betting among those players who called "in" match the five dollar pot or the increased six dollar pot?

Everybody Ante:

This variation, which can be added to any Guts game, holds that with each new round of the game, every player re-antes into the pot. Under normal rules, the pot will only increase in size when at least three players go in (the first collects the pot, the second matches the pot, and the third doubles the size of the pot). In Everybody Ante however, the pot increases at least by the size of every players' antes with each round. This variation is used primarily in Guts games that tend to end quickly, and require being spiced up. In addition, the dealer may also determine that the winner of the last round is not required to re-ante, but all other players must.

History of Poker

There seem to be differences of opinion on the origin of Poker. Moreover, there seems to be no clear or direct early ancestor of the game. It is more likely that Poker derived its present day form from elements of many different games. The consensus is that because of it's basic principal, its birth is a very old one.

Jonathan H. Green makes one of the earliest written references to Poker in 1834. In his writing, Green mentions rules to what he called the "cheating game," which was then being played on Mississippi riverboats. He soon realized that his was the first such reference to the game, and since it was not mentioned in the current American Hoyle, he chose to call the game Poker.

The game he described was played with 20 cards, using only the aces, kings, queens, jacks and tens. Two to four people could play, and each was dealt five cards. By the time Green wrote about it, poker had become the number one cheating game on the Mississippi boats, receiving even more action than Three-Card Monte. Most people taken by Three-Card Monte thought the 20-card poker seemed more a legitimate game, and they came back time and time again. It would certainly appear, then, that Poker was developed by the cardsharps.

The origin of the word Poker is also well debated. Most of the dictionaries and game historians say that it comes from an eighteenth-century French game, poque. However, there are other references to pochspiel, which is a German game. In pochspiel, there is an element of bluffing, where players would indicate whether they wanted to pass or open by rapping on the table and saying, "Ich Poche!" Some say it may even have derived come the Hindu word, pukka.

Yet another possible explanation for the word poker, is that it came from a version of an underworld slang word, "poke," a term used by pickpockets. Cardsharps who used the 20-card cheating game to relieve a sucker from his poke may have used that word among themselves, adding an r to make it "poker." The thought was that if the sharps used the word "poker" in front of their victims, those wise to the underworld slang would not surmise the change.

There are those who also believe that "poke" probably came from "hocus-pocus", a term widely used by magicians. The game of Poker later evolved to include 32 cards, and eventually the modern day deck of 52, not counting the two Jokers.

The game of Poker has evolved through the years, through many backroom games to the present day casinos around the world. Its history is rich with famous places and characters. For example, during the Wild West period of United States history, a saloon with a Poker table could be found in just about every town from coast to coast.

Today, Poker is carefully regulated by gambling laws, and saloons have given way to casinos and cardrooms, but Poker is played more than any other card game in the world. It has grown into a sporting event, with competitions and tournaments all around the world. Tournaments take place almost every week of the year somewhere in the world.

If you compare the prizes of major sporting events around the world, you will find that the monetary outcome of any given event in Poker would (pardon the pun) stack up. Poker today is one of the fastest growing, but hardly recognized sporting events. The pinnacle of the poker world, The World Series of Poker, attracts players from all over the world every year to compete for money and titles as the world's top Poker players.

Poker will always be around and will continue to grow and flourish like so many other past times. There will always be a game to play, money to be won, and crowns to be worn.

Rules of Poker

Draw Poker

To begin, two players at the table make a small bet, or blind wager, before receiving any cards. Each player seated in the game takes a turn at placing such a wager.

Players first receive five cards dealt face down. Players pick up the cards and look at them and then decide if they wish to stay in the game. If so, a bet must now be placed.

Once all bets are called the first round of betting is complete.

Players may now choose to exchange with the dealer any number of cards from their hand. This is known as 'the draw'.

Once the draw is complete a second round of betting takes place.

If all bets are called there is a showdown.

The winner is the player with the highest ranking hand.

If only one player remains (ie. no showdown) they will win the pot without having to expose their cards.

Seven-Card Stud

Seven-Card Stud is easy for beginners to learn, yet challenging enough to hold the interest of seasoned players. In Seven-Card Stud, each player receives two cards face down and one card face up. The player with the low card opens the betting. Each player in turn must call, raise, or fold. On all subsequent rounds, the player with the best hand open the betting.

Each player is then dealt 3 cards face up with a betting round following each card.

The last card dealt to each remaining player is face down with the final betting round following.

Players remaining in the hand will then show their hands and the winning poker hand will be awarded the pot. Suits are not used in determining the winning hand, and tied hands will split the pot.

Seven-Card Stud High/Low Split

High/Low Split differs from the high-only game in that the player with the highest card must open the betting.

At the showdown, if a qualifying low hand (five cards of 8 or below with no pair) exists, it will be awarded one half the pot and the best poker hand is awarded the other half.

In the absence of a qualifying low hand, the best poker hand wins the entire pot. A straight or a flush, 8-high or lower, may be both the highest and lowest hand, in which case it wins the whole pot.

Five-Card Stud

All players place a small wager known as an 'ante'. The dealer then deals each player two cards, one dealt face down, known as the 'hole' card and the other face up.

The player with the lowest ranking up-card must place the opening bet.

Each player to the left of the player making the opening bet must in turn either call the opening bet, raise it or fold.

When this round is complete each player is then dealt another card face up followed by a round of betting. This continues until all players have fice cards, one face down and four face up or until only one player remains.

From the third card onwards, the betting is started by the highest poker hand showing.

All players have five cards in their hand, one down and four up.

If there is a showdown, players show all five cards. The winning hand is the highest ranking five card poker hand.

Texas Hold 'Em

Texas Hold 'Em is a seven card poker game with simple rules that a beginner can easily learn and begin to play immediately. In spite of the simplicity, it is a fast and complex game that takes skill and practice to master. No wonder it has become one of the most popular forms of poker played today.

Texas Hold 'Em uses a disc called a dealer button to indicate where the cards are to be dealt. Prior to the deal, the two players to the left of the button place live bets called the small and large blinds. It's called blind because it's made prior to seeing any cards. It's called live because it counts as part of any further bets in the first betting round.

The play begins with two cards dealt face-down to each player. Action starts with a betting round beginning with the player to the left of the blind bets and continuing clockwise around the table. Players may bet, check, raise, or fold in turn. The large blind has the privilege of last action and may check or raise the bet.

Three community cards are then dealt face up in the center of the table and another betting round takes place beginning with the player to the left of the dealer button. Another card is dealt face up followed by a round of betting. The fifth and last card is dealt face up and a final round of betting takes place.

Players remaining in the hand will then show their cards and the winning poker hand will be awarded the pot. Any combination of hole cards and community cards may be used to make the best five-card poker hand.

Omaha

Omaha is a form of Hold 'Em that brings a few variables to the table. First you'll receive four cards face down prior to the flop and you must use two cards from your hand combined with three cards from the board to form your best five-card poker hand. Throw in the 8 or better hi/lo variable and you've got a challenge for poker players at all levels.

Omaha is a nine-card poker game that uses a dealer button and blinds as in Texas Hold 'Em. The play begins with four cards dealt face down to each player. Action starts with the first player to the left of the blinds beginning the betting. Players may bet, check, raise, or fold in turn.

Community cards are then dealt face up in the center of the table in the same manner as in Texas Hold 'Em with betting after each round.

After the final betting round, the players remaining in the hand will then show all their cards. To qualify for a winning low hand, a player must have five cards of 8 or lower with no pair using two from their hand and three from the board. Straights or flushes may be used for the low hand if all the cards are 8 or below.

If there is a qualifying low hand, it splits the pot with the winning high hand. Other wise, the high hand takes the entire pot.

Remember, you must use two cards from your hand and three from the board to make the best five-card poker hand.

2 Card Manila

2 Card Manila shall be played with a reduced deck of 32 cards, with the maximum number of players being 11. The Ace cannot be used as a loc card to form a straight in all manila games.

11 players x 2 cards = 22

Community + burn cards = 9

Total = 31

The Ace cannot be used as a loc card to form a straight in all manila games.

In 2 Card Manila players are dealt 2 cards one at a time starting with the blind.

Flop comes down one at a time until 5 community cards are face up on the table. There is a burn card between each community card, making a total of 4 burn cards. In 2 Card Manila the 2 hole cards must be used, as well as 3 from the board.

Players are required to either bet or 'check' on each card as it is opened.

In 2 Card Manila an ace may only count high in a straight. For example, A, 7, 8, 9, 10 is NOT a straight. The only time you can use A in a straight is 10, J, Q, K, A

A flush beats a full house in any reduced deck game.

The betting structure for $2 manila is $2, $4, $4, $4, $8 and $5 manila is $5, $10, $10, $10, $20

Only one blind, before cards are dealt. (eg $2), all players can either call the $2, raise to $6 or fold.

After all bets are called, a card is burnt, and the second community card is dealt. Players can either, check, bet ($4) or fold. same thing up to 5 cards. The bet on the fifth card is now $8

The amount you can raise on the first round is double the blind and added onto the blind, so in a $2 game the raise would be $4 making the total to call $6. on a $5 blind, the raise is $10, making it $15 in total to call. All subsequent rounds, the raise is only double; eg. The bet is $4, first raise to make it $8, second raise to $12. Only 3 raises per round permitted when there are more than 2 players in the game.

At the showdown players use their two hole cards and any three cards from the five community cards in the center of the table to form a five card poker hand.

3 Card Manila

3 Card Manila is played the same way as 2 Card Manila except each player initially receives three cards and the deck may include 6's.

At the showdown players use any two of their three hole cards with any three cards from the five community cards to form a five card poker hand.

Only One Blind

In 3 Card Manila players are dealt 3 cards one at a time starting with the blind. (Canberra differs here by giving first 2 cards at a time then the third card one at a time.)

Flop comes down one at a time until 5 community cards are face up on the table. There is a burn card between each community card, making a total of 4 burn cards.

In 3 Card Manila 2 of the 3 hole cards must be used, as well as 3 from the board

In 3 Card Manila an ace may only count high in a straight. eg. A, 7, 8, 9, 10 is NOT a straight. The only time you can use A in a straight is 10, J, Q, K, A

3 Card Manila shall be played with a reduced deck of 36 cards, with the maximum number of players being 9.

9 players x 3 cards = 27

Community + burn cards = 9

Total = 36

A flush beats a full house in any reduced deck game.

Betting Structures:

We only deal limit manila in Melbourne, so here are the structures.

The betting structure for $2 manila is $2, $4, $4, $4, $8 and $5 manila is $5, $10, $10, $10, $20

Only one blind, before cards are dealt. (eg $2), all players can either call the $2, raise to $6 or fold.

after all bets are called, a card is burnt, and the second community card is dealt. Players can either, check, bet ($4) or fold. same thing up to 5 cards. The bet on the fifth card is now $8

The amount you can raise on the first round is double the blind and added onto the blind, so in a $2 game the raise would be $4 making the total to call $6. on a $5 blind, the raise is $10, making it $15 in total to call. All subsequent rounds, the raise is only double; eg. The bet is $4, first raise to make it $8, second raise to $12. Only 3 raises per round permitted when there are more than 2 players in the game.

Omaha 8/B or Omaha Hi/Lo

-By Jan Fisher

As in any dealer-button game, a random draw will determine the position to start with the button.

Two blinds will be posted to the left of the button. The small blind will be equal to one-half the small bet, the big blind will equal the small bet.

Both blinds are live and may raise the pot.

In the showdown, the player must use two cards from his hand and three from the board exactly. Player may use different cards for high and low.

In order for there to be a low, there must be a combination of two cards from the players hand and three from the board with a denomination of eight or smaller. Ace is low for this purpose. If there is no low, high will get the entire pot.

A wheel (A-2-3-4-5) is the best possible low and neither straights nor flushes count against you for low.

If a player misses his blind or blinds, he may wait until the big blind to post to come back in. Otherwise, he must post the missed blinds. Only the big blind is live.

A player who has posted the blind who is not present to act on his hand will have his hand killed and will not get his blind back.

Winning called hand must show all four cards to be awarded any part of the pot.

In the event of ties, the pot will be split.

Odd chip will go left of the button on both high and low pot odd chip.