Supported Game Types

This article contains the description of poker game types supported on Stock Poker Online.

Texas Hold’em

Object of the Game

The object of the game is for players to form a five-card poker hand that ranks higher than the other players’ five-card poker hands. Each player may use any combination of the two cards initially dealt to them at the beginning of the game, referred to as “hole” cards, and the five cards dealt on the table throughout the course of the game, referred to as “community” cards or “board” cards. They may play the board by using no hole cards and using the five community cards, to make the highest ranking five-card poker hand, according to the rankings as shown below.

Deck

The game shall be played using one standard 52-card deck and no joker. The 52-card deck shall be shuffled, cut, and dealt by the house dealer.

Card Values and Hand Rankings

The rank of each card used in Texas Hold’em when forming a five-card high poker hand, in order of highest to lowest rank, shall be: ace, king, queen, jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2. All suits shall be considered equal in rank. The ace would be considered low any time the ace begins a straight or a straight flush.

Table

The game shall be played on a standard poker table which shall accommodate up to ten seated positions for patrons. Each seated position at the table shall have the same minimum and maximum wagering limits during each round of play, as specified by the table limits. Backline wagering is not permitted.

Dealing Procedures and Round of Play

1. The game shall utilize a flat white disk with the words dealer button on it to visually designate which player is in the dealer position (in theory) for that hand.
   
   1. The dealer button shall rotate from player to player around the table clockwise after each round of play.
   2. The player with the dealer button is the last to receive cards, and has the right of last action on all rounds of play except for the first round, where the big blind shall have the right of last action.
2. The game also utilizes two separate disks, one with the words small blind and the other with the words big blind on them, to visually designate which player is in the small blind position and which player is in the big blind position.
   
   1. The small blind and the big blind are used to initiate action and are positioned immediately to the left of the dealer button and posted before the house dealer deals cards.
   2. On all subsequent wagering rounds (second, third, and fourth), the action is started by the first active player to the left of the dealer button.
   3. The small blind and big blind buttons shall rotate from player to player around the table clockwise after each round of play.
3. When first opening a game, all players shall be dealt one card face-up, starting with the player to the immediate left of the house dealer and continuing clockwise around the table.
   
   1. The player with the highest ranked card shall receive the flat white disk with the words dealer.
4. Once the dealer button has been distributed by the house dealer, the player to the immediate left of the player with the dealer button shall receive the small blind button and shall be required to place the small blind. Additionally, the player to the immediate left of the player who received the small blind button shall receive the big blind button and shall be required to place the big blind.
   
   1. Both blinds are predetermined and mandatory for the players with the small blind and big blind buttons, and are used to initiate action.
   2. Both blind wagers shall be placed in the designated wagering area, referred to as the pot.
5. Once the blinds have been placed in the pot, the house dealer shall deal one card facedown to each player, starting with the player to the left of the dealer button, the player that received the small blind button, and continuing clockwise around the table until all players have two cards face-down.
   
   1. These initial two cards are referred to as hole cards.
6. Once each player has received their two hole cards, the first round of wagering will occur. Players are given the following options, starting with the player to the left of the player that received the big blind button and continuing clockwise around the table:
   
   1. Place a wager that is equal to the amount of the big blind or call a wager, meaning to match the amount wagered by another player;
   2. Place their two hole cards face-down into the center of the table, referred to as a fold. The hand shall be kept face-down and shall be collected by the house dealer, who shall then place them in the discard pile. A player that chooses to fold their hand will no longer participate during that round of play;
   3. Place a wager equal to the amount of the big blind as well as an additional amount within the posted table limit, referred to as a raise;
   4. Call the raise, re-raise, or fold their hand. There is a maximum of three raises per round of wagering, unless there are only two players participating during a round of wagering, in which case there is no limit to the number of raises;
   5. The player in the big blind position may check, meaning they do not wish to place an additional wager, or they may also raise, by placing an additional wager.
7. After all players have acted in turn and either called all wagers, raised or folded their hand, the house dealer shall move all player wagers into the pot.
8. The house dealer shall then take the top card of the deck and place it in the discard pile without exposing it, referred to as the burn card.
9. The house dealer shall then take the next three cards from the top of the deck and place them face-up on the table simultaneously.
   
   1. This is referred to as the flop.
   2. These are community cards and are shared by all players.
10. Once the first three community cards have been placed face-up on the table, the second round of wagering will occur.
11. All active players that called all wagers and did not fold their hand, shall be given the following options, starting with the first active player to the left of the dealer button:
    
    1. Place a wager according to the established table limits;
    2. Do not make a wager, referred to as a check, with the option to call or raise a wager by another player;
    3. Call a wager according to the rules and guidelines used in the previous round of play;
    4. Fold their hand according to the rules and guidelines used in the previous round of play;
    5. Raise the pot according to the rules and guidelines used in the previous round of play.
12. After all players have acted in turn and either called all wagers, raised or folded their hand, the house dealer shall move all player wagers into the pot.
13. The house dealer shall then take the top card of the deck and place it in the discard pile without exposing it.
14. The house dealer shall then take one card from the top of the deck and place it face-up on the table so that there are now a total of four community cards face-up on the table.
    
    1. This is referred to as the turn card.
    2. This card shall also become a community card and is shared by all players.
15. Once the fourth community card has been placed face-up on the table, the third round of wagering will occur.
16. All active players shall be given the following options, starting with the first active player to the left of the dealer button:
    
    1. Place a wager according to the established table limits;
    2. Call a wager according to the rules and guidelines used in the previous round of play;
    3. Check according to the rules and guidelines used in the previous round of play;
    4. Fold their hand according to the rules and guidelines used in the previous round of play;
    5. Raise the pot according to the rules and guidelines used in the previous round of play.
17. After all players have acted in turn and either called all wagers, raised or folded their hand, the house dealer shall move all player wagers into the pot.
18. The house dealer shall then take the top card of the deck and place it in the discard pile without exposing it.
19. The house dealer shall then take one card from the top of the deck and place it face-up on the table so there are now a total of five community cards face-up on the table.
    
    1. This is referred to as the river card.
    2. This card shall also become a community card and is shared by all players.
20. Once the fifth community card has been placed face-up on the table, which is the final community card, the fourth and final round of wagering will occur.
21. All active players shall be given the following options, starting with the first active player to the left of the dealer button:
    
    1. Place a wager according to the established table limits.
    2. Call a wager according to the rules and guidelines used in the previous round of play.
    3. Check according to the rules and guidelines used in the previous round of play;
    4. Fold their hand according to the rules and guidelines used in the previous round of play;
    5. Raise the pot according to the rules and guidelines used in the previous round of play.
22. After the fourth and final round of wagering has been completed, the house dealer shall move all wagers into the pot.
23. All active players shall then enter into a showdown with each other and compare their hands.

How Winners are Determined and Paid

Players may use any combination of the two hole cards initially dealt to them at the beginning of the game and the five community cards turned over throughout the course of the game, or they may use the five community cards and no hole cards to make the highest ranking five-card poker hand.
The following shall apply for determining which player wins the pot:

• The pot shall be awarded to the player with the highest ranking five-card poker hand, according to the hand and card rankings shown above. All other players shall lose.
• In the event that more than one player has the highest ranked hand, the pot shall be split equally among all players with the winning hand.
• In the instance that there are an odd number of chips, the odd chips shall be awarded to the player closest to the left of the dealer button.

6+ Hold’em (Short Deck Holdem)

Short Deck Holdem is a variant of Hold’em. The principal difference between standard Hold’em and this modification is that in 6+ Hold’em the deck consists only of 36 cards instead of 52. Thus, though the gameplay is identical in terms of streets and betting, the royalties differ.
The Ace is still low, A6789 making the lowest straight, and it’s still high making TJQKA. There are also differences in hand strength, like 3-of-a-kind now beats a straight and a flush beats a full house (since it’s harder to make one because you only have 9 suited cards out of 36 with which you can make a 5-card flush from). Thus, the hand rankings are the following:

1. Royal (straight) flush;
2. Four of a kind (quads);
3. Flush;
4. Full House;
5. Three of a kind;
6. Straight;
7. Two pair;
8. A pair;
9. High card.

Omaha

The rules of Omaha are very similar to the Texas hold’em rules. The only difference is that every player receives four cards face down (the ‘hole cards’) and has to pick exactly two of his four hole cards and three of the five community cards to make his or her best five card hand.

Omaha Hi/Lo

The Hi/Lo game is played exactly the same way as the Omaha game with only one difference. At the showdown the player with the best high hand takes half the pot. The other half of the pot goes to the best low hand, provided that it meets the required low qualifications. If nobody possesses a qualifying low hand then the entire pot goes to the best high hand.

Courchevel

This type of poker game is derived from 5 Card Omaha Poker. Much of the game is very similar and plays almost in an identical manner. However, interestingly, this poker variant features one really unique trait that sets it apart from regular Omaha games. The notable difference is that at the beginning of the game one of the community cards is dealt face up to the middle of the table before any pre-flop betting takes place.

Seven Card Stud Poker

This has become one of the most popular forms of poker. Each player is dealt a seven-card hand, some of the cards being face up, with several betting rounds during the deal. At the showdown players use any five of their seven cards to make the best poker hand.

Players and Cards

A standard 52-pack is used and from 2 to 8 players can take part. The game is best for 5 to 7 players. When 8 play there is the problem that the cards may run out towards the end of the deal.

The Play

The sequence of events is as follows (as usual the cards are dealt clockwise one at a time):

1. All players place an ante in the pot.
2. Each player is dealt two cards face down and one face up. There is a betting round (third street).
3. Each player is dealt a fourth card face up. There is a second betting round (fourth street).
4. Each player is dealt a fifth card face up. There is a third betting round (fifth street).
5. Each player is dealt a sixth card face up. There is a fourth betting round (sixth street).
6. Each player is dealt one final card face down. There is a fifth betting round (seventh street).
7. Surviving players have four face up and three face down cards. They show their cards and whoever can make the best five-card hand from their seven cards wins the pot.The concealed cards – the first, second and seventh card dealt to each player – are known as hole cards.

Order of Betting

Traditionally, each betting round is begun by the player with the best hand showing. For this purpose pairs, triplets, two pairs and quads count in their normal poker order – so for example with three cards showing 3-3-3 is higher than 7-7-8, which is higher than A-K-Q. Incomplete straights and flushes do not count. If there is a tie it is resolved by comparing the suits of the highest cards in the tied hands using the ranking order clubs (low), diamonds, hearts, spades (high).

The first betting round starts with a compulsory (bring-in) bet by the player showing the lowest card. The subsequent betting rounds from fourth street onwards are begun by the highest hand showing as usual.

Running Out of Cards

If there are eight players and after sixth street no one has folded, there will not be enough cards to deal everyone a seventh card. In this case a single “community” card is dealt face up to the table and this counts as everyone’s seventh card. Everyone then effectively has five cards showing, including the community card, and seventh street betting is begun by the player for whom this makes the highest poker hand – straights and flushes not count. Ties are resolved by the suit of the highest card as usual.

Seven Card Stud High-Low

In this kind of poker the deal and betting are mostly the same as in ordinary seven card stud, except for the following differences:

• At the showdown, each player selects five cards to make a high hand and five possibly different cards to make a low hand.
• The pot is split equally between the highest and lowest hands, the odd chip going to the high hand if the amount cannot be divided exactly by two.

Since different selections of cards can be used for the high and low hands, it is entirely possible for one player to win both halves of the pot.

Razz

Razz is seven card stud played for low only, using ace-to-five ranking. In the first betting round the compulsory bring-in bet is made by the owner of the highest card showing. In subsequent rounds, from fourth street onwards, the lowest hand showing bets first. Ace is low and king high throughout, and as usual the suit of the highest card is used to break ties, so if on fourth street two players tie for lowest with diamond6-club2 and club6-spade2 the second hand will start the betting, because the six of clubs is lower than the diamond.

In fixed limit games the limits double at fifth street: on third and fourth street only small bets are allowed, and from fifth street onwards only big bets. Pairs showing have no effect on the size of bets.

Triple Draw

In this game players have three opportunities to improve their hand. The maximum number of players for this game is six.

Normally it is played with blinds: the player to dealer’s left posts a small blind, and the next player to the left posts a big blind, equal to the minimum bet for the game.

The dealer deals five cards to each player and there is a round of betting beginning to the left of the big blind. As usual in games with blinds, the big blind player is allowed to raise even if the others have all folded or called. Then in clockwise order, starting to dealer’s left, players may discard any number of cards and are dealt replacements. There is a second round of betting begun by the first active player to dealer’s left. This is followed by a second opportunity to discard and draw, a third round of betting, a third discard and draw, and a fourth round of betting. In a fixed limit game, the size of the bet is normally doubles after the second draw, so that the last two rounds have big bets.

It happens fairly often in this game that the dealer runs out of cards. In this case all the discarded cards (the “muck”) are shuffled and cut to form a new deck from which replacement cards are dealt to players who are still waiting to draw.

Badugi

Badugi is a poker-like game played with four-card hands. To win the pot at the showdown you need to have the lowest set of cards with no two cards of the same rank or suit, ace ranking low. The best possible hand is therefore A-2-3-4 with one card of each suit.

Players, Cards and Hand Ranking

Badugi can be played by from 2 to 8 players, using a standard 52-card pack. The cards rank from Ace (low) up to King (high). When comparing hands, within each hand all the cards must be different in suit and rank. If a player has more than one card of a suit, or two or more cards of matching rank, some cards must be eliminated to create a valid hand.

The rules for comparing hands are:

• Any hand with more cards beats a hand with fewer cards. So a badugi beats any three-card hand, which beats any two-card hand, which beats any one-card hand.
• Between hands with the same number of cards, compare the highest card. The hand with the lower top card is better.
• If the highest cards of equal sized hands are equal, compare the second highest card, and the lower card wins. If these are also equal compare the third highest card (if present), and then the fourth highest.
• If two hands have the same number of cards and the ranks of the cards are the same, the hands are equal. There is no ranking of suits.

Deal, Draw and Betting

Badugi can be played as a fixed limit, pot limit or half pot limit game. As in any poker game, the turn to deal (or to have the dealer button if there is a non-playing dealer) passes clockwise after each hand. If there are more than two players, the player to dealer’s left places a small blind, and the next player to the left places a big blind, which is normally twice as big as the small blind. In a heads up (two player) game, the dealer places a small blind and the dealer’s opponent a big blind.

The dealer deals four cards to each player, clockwise, face down, one at a time, and the players look at their hands. There is then a betting round, begun by the player to the left of the big blind. The minimum bet is normally equal to the big blind. If none of the other players does more than call, the player who placed the big blind is allowed to bet.

The players have three opportunities to improve their hands by drawing cards. Starting with the first active player to dealer’s left, and continuing clockwise around the dealer, each player states how many cards he or she wishes to exchange, discards that number of cards face down to the muck (discard pile), and is immediately given an equal number of replacement cards face down by the dealer. Players can exchange any number of cards from zero to four: exchanging no cards is known as standing pat.

After each round of drawing, when each active player has had an opportunity to draw cards, there is a new betting round, begun by the first active player to the left of the dealer. There are therefore up to four betting rounds altogether: before the first draw and after each of the three rounds of drawing. In a fixed limit game, the size of the bet doubles after the second draw, so that the third and fourth betting rounds are played with big bets.

Showdown

If at any stage only one active player remains, that player takes the pot without showing any cards.

If there is more than one active player at the end of the last betting round, there is a showdown in which the active players display their cards in turn, beginning with the last player who bet or raised in the final betting round, or with the first active player to dealer’s left if all checked in the final betting round.

Players show all four cards, even if because of duplicate ranks or suits they only have a three-card, two-card or one-card hand. The cards speak for themselves, and the holder of the best hand wins the pot. If two or more players tie for best hand they divide the pot equally between them.

Chinese poker

The aim in classic Chinese poker is to achieve more units (also known as points) than your opponents by arranging your 13 cards into three poker hands – two combinations of five cards in back and middle hand and one of three cards in front hand – which should beat the corresponding poker hands made by other players.

Players, Cards and Deal

The maximum number of players is 4, each playing for themselves. A standard 52 card pack is used. 13 cards are dealt singly to each player in the beginning of the game. The players don’t see the cards dealt to their opponents.

Arrangement of cards

Each player must divide their 13 cards into a back hand of 5 cards, a middle hand of 5 cards and a front hand of 3 cards. Considered as poker hands, the back hand must be better than the middle hand, and the middle hand must be better than the front hand. The standard poker ranking is used – so the hand types from high to low are: royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pairs, one pair, high card. There are no wild cards.

Since the front hand has only 3 cards, only three hand types are possible: three of a kind; one pair; high card. There is no value in having a front hand with three consecutive cards or three cards of the same suit: straights or flushes in the front hand do not count.

Showdown and Scoring

When the player is ready to expose the arranged hands he clicks the Play button.

As soon as all players either clicked on the Play button or if they ran out of time to make a move, the hands arranged by all players are exposed. Then the hands are compared and the points are scored. For details on scoring please refer to the following article.

The main condition for creating hands without fouling is that the back hand must be stronger than or equal to the middle hand and the middle hand must be stronger than or equal to the front hand. If any of the players arranged the hand that violates the rule described above, the arranged hand will be considered a “dead” hand.

The time limit per move is usually set to 1.5-2 minutes. If time ran out and the player was unable to distribute the cards in boxes, then the cards will be automatically distributed. The cards distribution in such scenario will begin from the back hand and go from left to right.

Open Face Chinese poker

Open-face Chinese poker is typically played as a two- to three-person game, though it can also be played with four people. Each player must use thirteen cards consisting of 3 cards in the front hand, 5 cards in the middle hand, and 5 cards in the back hand. Play is in clockwise order and starts with the player left of the dealer. Same as in standard Chinese poker the back hand must be stronger than or equal to the middle hand and the middle hand must be stronger than or equal to the front hand. The strength of the hand is determined by poker hand rankings. The middle and back can make the best five-card poker hand while the front hand can only make the best three-card hand. The best front hand is AAA. Straights, flushes, and straight flushes are not legal front hands

Unlike standard Chinese poker where all thirteen cards are dealt at once, in open face Chinese each player is dealt five cards in the beginning and then one card at a time until thirteen card hands are made (8 deals after 5 cards are dealt). The cards are all set face up.

The goal of the game is to achieve more units (also known as points) than your opponents by winnings more hands also known as rows and/or by collecting royalties on premium hands without fouling.

Fouling is when an illegal hand is made and as a result, the hand is forfeited. The back hand must be stronger than or equal to the middle and the front, the middle must be stronger or equal to the front, otherwise, the hand is not legal and is considered fouled. In this case the player who fouled loses six points (one point per line plus three point scoop bonus) per non-fouling player and each non-fouling player gains six points. Players who fouled can lose additional units if players with legal hands achieved royalties. Opponents with legal hands gains six points plus any royalties in their hands, but not the royalties in fouled hands. When a hand is fouled the fouling players loses all royalties in their hands as well. If more than one player foul, then the players who foul tie other players who foul and no points are gained or lost between players with fouled hands. Unlike standard Chinese poker, players do not receive all thirteen cards at once. Therefore, fouling plays a large factor, and strategies are devised to avoid it.

Fantasyland

Fantasyland is a special bonus awarded to players that make a hand that has a pair of queens (QQx) or stronger in the front hand and does not foul. When fantasyland is achieved, the next hand, the player receives all thirteen cards dealt at once while other players must play out the hand as standard open face. Players in fantasyland sets their hand face down when it is their turn to act. Players can fantasyland repeatedly if they are able to make the required hand. However, to remain in fantasyland while in fantasyland requires higher royalties, one or more of the following conditions must be met:

Chinese Pineapple

Pineapple Open Face Chinese poker, the most popular OFC variation is derived from the standard OFC featuring Fantasy Land.

Just as in regular Open Face Chinese poker, players get several cards in turns, and place them face-up before setting a 13-card hand, consisting of the top, middle, and bottom rows, of three, five, and five cards, respectively. The game begins with the players setting their first five cards each before the pineapple part kicks in.

The first five cards are placed just like in the regular OFC, but then players are dealt three cards instead of just one at a time. Each player can then use only two of their three cards in any of the rows before discarding the third one face-down.

Chinese Pineapple 2-7

Pineapple 2-7 is one of the most exciting Open Face Chinese Poker variations. The goal in Pineapple 2-7 is to set strong hands in the bottom and top rows and the weakest possible hand in the middle row. In the low hand, the Ace is counted as a high card as well as flushes and straights.

In Pineapple 2-7 players receive their cards in the same order as in regular Pineapple. In the first draw each player receives five cards all of which need to be used in the hand. In the next four rounds each player receives three cards. They need to discard one card and place the remaining two in the hand. The same happens in each of the last four draws.

In order not to foul the hand, the player’s bottom row has to be stronger than the top row while the middle hand should not be stronger than 10 high.

Royalties

Royalties for the top and the bottom rows are the same as in regular Pineapple. Royalties for the middle row in Pineapple 2-7:

• 9 high – 1 point,
• 8 high – 2 points,
• 7 high – 4 points,
• 75432 – 8 points.

Fantasyland

KK or better in the top row or 75432 in the middle row results in a 14-card Fantasyland. Both KK or better in the top row and 75432 in the middle row at the same time results in a 15-card Fantasyland. Players can only repeat as 14-card Fantasyland even if they started with a 15-card Fantasyland. Fantasyland repetition happens when players make a set in the top row, or quads or better in the bottom row while they are already in Fantasyland.

Chinese Turbo

In the fast-paced Open Face Chinese Turbo every player is initially dealt five cards each. These cards are then set in either the front, middle or back rows in any way the player sees fit.

The play continues in rounds with each player being dealt four cards, and setting all of them into the hand. OFC Turbo features another two rounds until the players complete their hands. The hands and royalties are then scored and each player settles with their opponents. The rules for fouling a hand are the same as in traditional Open Face Chinese.

Chinese Pineapple Progressive

The Open Face Chinese Progressive Pineapple follows most of the same rules as the regular Pineapple OFC, with a few exceptions when players get into Fantasy Land. Unlike in Pineapple OFC where a player is always dealt 14 cards when they’re in Fantasy Land, in Progressive Pineapple, they can get up to 17 cards.

The basic gameplay in Progressive Pineapple doesn’t change – each player is dealt five cards in the first turn and then three more cards in all consecutive turns, using just two in their hand and discarding one card face-down.

The difference between the regular Pineapple OFC and Progressive Pineapple is by how many cards the player receives after getting into Fantasy Land. The amount is determined by the strength of the player’s top hand. The lowest-possible hand to get a player into Fantasy Land, QQ gives them 14 cards, while higher combinations give more.

Here’s the list of hands and the amount of cards the player receives:

QQ = 14 cards
KK = 15 cards
AA = 16 cards
222+ = 17 cards

Should the player stay in Fantasy Land in Progressive Pineapple, they will get 14 cards for their consecutive Fantasy Land hand despite of their top hand combination.