Fri, 08/26/2011 – 05:19 – PokerPages Staff

Omaha is similar to Texas Hold’em, however, it also differs in a number of key ways. As a beginner poker player, this is a great game to learn. Read on to find out the poker rules.

What you need:
•    52 card deck
•    Chips
•    Dealer button
•    Two to 10 players

How to play:
•    The two players sitting to the dealer’s left place blind bets. The one directly left, a small blind and the other a big blind.
•    All players are dealt four; face down cards known as pocket or hole cards.
•    Betting begins with the player directly on the left of the big blind.
•    After this round of betting is complete, three cards are dealt face up in the middle of the poker table or the board. These cards are known as the flop. All players must use these, along with their hands, to make the best combinations.
•    After the flop, betting starts from the player left of the dealer.
•    A fourth card is then dealt face up on the board. This is known as the turn card, also referred to as the Fourth Street.
•    Another round of betting follows.
•    The final card, known as the River or Fifth Street, is then placed onto the board face up.
•    After the final round of betting, the players remaining show their cards. The final hand must be made up of two hole cards and three cards from the board.

Want to learn more about Omaha? Visit PokerSchoolOnline. Alternatively, have a go at the game at PokerStars.net.

Thu, 08/18/2011 – 05:01 – PokerPages Staff

A major issue for a beginner poker player is knowing when to walk away. It’s good to have confidence but you shouldn’t believe that you’re capable of winning every hand. Therefore, one of the important, unwritten poker rules is knowing when to call it quits.

There are two main situations when it really matters:

•    The first scenario is when you’re consistently losing and find yourself no longer in the game. If you find that your poker betting has taken this turn, walk away from the table or sign out. Don’t be tempted to try and win back your money. Take what you have left for betting to another game.

•    The second scenario, in which it pays to walk away, is the complete opposite. It is when you’re on a winning streak. This is where all of your bets seem to be the right ones. Remember though, you’re not invincible. If you start getting too cocky, it’s time to take your profits and run.

It’s worth knowing when to stop betting and walk away. Avoid stubbornness. You’ll only end up losing a lot more money than you should have or throwing away all your profits. As soon as you’re able to figure out when to leave a game and stop betting, you should start seeing your winnings increase.

Are you a beginner poker player who wants to find out more? Visit PokerSchoolOnline – the home to future champions. Then, you can test out what you’ve learned free at PokerStars.net.