The Play of the Game
In most areas of the country, the most popular form of casino or cardroom poker is Holdem.
Holdem is being played in cardrooms more and more. Because of this the procedural details are becoming more and more standardized.
This chapter gives an introduction to the mechanics and procedures of Holdem as typically played in a cardroom.
In a cardroom players are generally expected to follow fixed playing procedures which are designed to keep the game moving at a regular pace.
Most players act in turn and act quickly.
If you aren’t used to playing in a cardroom, the play may seem to be moving very fast to you, but you’ll quickly become acclimated to the routine.
Because cardrooms typically charge their fee by raking a small amount from each pot (there are some exceptions to this), the more pots, the larger the total rake.
So they have a financial incentive to keep the games fast paced.
THE DEALER BUTTON
Both to keep the game moving smoothly and to guard against card manipulation by the players, the casino provides a nonplaying dealer.
In Holdem the action at each betting round begins with the first player to the left of the dealer.
There is a large disadvantage to having to go first and a large advantage in going last.
So a player-dealer is designated for each hand.
This player-dealer doesn’t actually deal the cards, but the deal and the play proceeds as if that player were the dealer.
This player-dealer is designated by having a large, round “button” placed in front of him.
The button is passed to the left after each hand.
The player who has the button in front of him is said to be “on the button.”
He is last to act for each betting round except the first round.
Entering a Public Cardroom / The Play of the Game / The First Betting Round
