Ultimate Texas Hold’em Poker | Casinos et Salons de jeux

Good to know

Before playing your first game of Ultimate Texas Hold’em, you might benefit from learning some basics of the game. These helpful tips and basic rules will give you a sense of what to expect. Once you are at the table, don’t hesitate to ask the dealer any questions you may have. Helping you understand how the game is played is part of their job.

• Taking a seat at the table

  Ultimate Texas Hold’em tables can be easily identified by their blue playing surface.

  First, find a spot that isn’t already occupied. A special marker is used to indicate spots reserved for players who have temporarily left the table. These spots may be used until the absent player returns.

• The initial bet

  Place your money on the table. Never hand it to the dealer. The dealer will exchange your money for value chips and you may place your bet in the betting spot indicated on the table before the first card is dealt. Initial bets and blinds cannot be made, changed or withdrawn after that point.

  You must respect the minimum and maximum limits indicated at the table when placing your bets.

• The cards

  Ultimate Texas Hold’em poker is played with a 52-card deck. In decreasing order, the value of the cards is Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2. Aces may be used for a Royal Flush or an Ace-2-3-4-5 Straight.

• The game

  You must place identical ante and blind bets.

  Once the 5 face-down community cards have been dealt, the dealer deals 2 cards face down to each player, in turn, and two to himself. Players can check or raise by adding a bet that is either three (3) or four (4) times their ante. Players are prohibited from showing or discussing their cards.

  Once all players have made their choice, the dealer reveals the first 3 community cards.

  Players that checked can check again or raise by adding a bet equal to twice their ante. Players that previously raised cannot bet again.

  Once all players have made their choice, the dealer reveals the last 2 community cards.

  Players that checked in the two preceding rounds may raise by adding a bet that is equal to their ante, failing which they are required to fold and thus lose both their ante and blind bets. Players that previously raised cannot bet again.

  Once all players have made their choice and placed their hole cards face down on the table, the dealer reveals his two cards. Players that have not already folded their hands, as well as the dealer, now make their best 5-card combination poker hand, using their 2 hole cards and the 5 community cards.

  To qualify, the dealer’s 5-card hand must contain a pair or a combination that is of higher rank.

  The dealer then turns over each player’s two cards and compares, if necessary, the rank of the hands of players that raised to the rank of his own hand.

• The combinations in decreasing order

  Royal flush: Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10 of the same suit

  Straight flush: Five consecutive cards of the same suit

  Four of a kind: Four cards of the same rank, independent of suit

  Full house: Three of a kind and one pair

  Flush: Five cards of the same suit

  Straight: Five consecutive cards, regardless of suit

  Three of a kind: Three cards of the same rank

  Double pair: Two pairs

  Pair: Two cards of the same rank

  High card: Highest ranked card

  When the dealer’s 5-card hand and the player’s hand consist of identical combinations, the hand that contains the highest ranked card outside the combination is deemed the winner. However, if all of the cards outside the combination are equal in rank, the hands are deemed identical.

• Winning and losing hands

  When the dealer’s hand qualifies (a pair or better):

  - If the player’s hand is ranked higher than the dealer’s hand, the player’s ante and raise bets win and are paid even money, and his blind wins and is paid, if the case should be, in accordance with the blind payout table; otherwise it is a push.

  - If the player’s hand is ranked lower than the dealer’s hand, the player loses his ante, raise and blind bets.

  - If the player’s hand is equal in rank to the dealer’s hand, the player’s ante, raise and blind bets are a push.

   

  When the dealer’s hand does not qualify:

  - Players that raised collect their antes.

  - If the player’s hand is ranked higher than the dealer’s hand, the player’s raise wins and is paid even money. The player’s blind bet also wins and is paid in accordance with the blind bet payout table.

  - If the player’s hand is ranked lower than the dealer’s hand, the player’s raise and blind bets lose.

  - If the player’s hand is equal in rank to the dealer’s hand, the player’s raise and blind bets are a push.

   

  Some games enable you to place additional bets. Ask the dealer about your options.