Poker Introduction for Rotarians

Poker is NOT Gambling

• USA Federal Court has ruled it is a game of Skill • NPL / APL – Poker Leagues run with Leader boards

• 80 year old Grandmothers , Grandfathers play

• Like Tennis, Golf it has professional circuits in USA & Europe • Easy to learn , Hard to Master

• WSOP – World Series Main Event – 6000 - 7000 players • First prize is $10,000,000. (Shane Warne 525th - $31,000) • Australian of the Year (Adam Goodes) plays.

National Poker League(NPL) Web siteWilloughby Club

Saturday October 24th Willoughby Club – 26 Crabbes St

50% of Prize pool to Rotary

• 6pm – 7pm – Free Lessons • Bistro Open – Eat prior to 7pm or at 20min break Approx. 8pm • 7pm Game starts • 8 per table – hopefully 2 NPL players on each table • $25 buy-in to game. 25,000 chips • Option to RE-Buy $25 for 25,000 chips if knocked out • Top –up at Break $25 for 25,000 chips if you haven’t done Re-Buy• Two “Phone a Friend” opportunity (Rotarians only) • Cheat cards • Prizes for knocking out NPL player / Royal Flush / etc • Trophy for Top Rotarian • Charity Raffles / opportunity to sell Melbourne cup trifecea

How to Play a hand – No Limit Holdem • How to make your Hand in No Limit Holdem • Winning Order of Hands • Betting• Tips / Tactics / Strategy

Each player determines his five card poker hand by making the best combination of the five common cards, known as "the board," and player’s two individual cards. Play may use both , one or none of their hole cards.

Making Your Hand

There are four rounds of betting in hold'em. Pre-flop: the round of betting when each player has two hole cards only.Flop: the round of betting when each player has two hole cards and there are three exposed common cards.Turn: the round of betting when each player has two hole cards and there are four exposed common cards.River: the final round of betting when each player has two hole cards and there are four exposed common cards.

Betting Rules

Betting (clockwise around the table)

Two players to the left of the Dealer must put in compulsory bets (Small Blind, Big Blind). Blind bets act just as any other bet in a poker game.Each player, in turn, starting to the left of the large blind, have a choice of making one of three betting actions. They may call, fold or raise.

The first player to the left of the dealer has the option of initiating the betting orchecking. A "check" means that the bettor with the first betting option passes that option to the next player, who then has the same two options of either betting orchecking. Once a bet has been made, however, there is no more option to check.A player must either call the bet, fold, or raise.

Betting

Betting after the turn is the same as betting on the flop. The option to betbegins with the player to the immediate left of the dealer and proceeds clockwise around the table, ending when all bets are equalized or all players check. If a player bets or raises and then all remaining players fold, theplayer who initiated the last bet or raise wins and is awarded the pot.

Betting on the river is the same as betting on the flop and on the turn.The only difference is that when betting ends, either with everyonechecking or all bets and raises being called, the players remaining in thehand expose their hole cards and the pot is awarded to the highest hand.Players must show both of their hole cards to be awarded the hand. Should a player make a bet or a raise that is not called by any other player (all remaining player folding when it becomes their turn to act),then the player making the uncalled bet or raise is the winner of the handand is awarded the pot.

Winning order of hands

• Royal Flush

• Straight Flush

• Four of a Kind

• Full House (3 of kind + Pair)

• Flush

Kicker

Winning order of hands

• Straight

• 3 of a Kind

• Two Pair

• Pair

• High Card K Kicker Identical hands (< 5 cards) then Highest

Card Kicks

One Basic Hand

Hand 1

Hand 2

Hand 3

Hand 4

One Basic Hand

Hand 1

Hand 2

Hand 3

Hand 4

FLOP

One Basic Hand

Hand 1

Hand 2

Hand 3

Hand 4

FLOP TURN

One Basic Hand

Hand 1

Hand 2

Hand 3

Hand 4

FLOP TURN RIVER

Tips / Tactics / Strategy • All players can use SHARED community cards • What does your opponent have ? • What hands beat you ? What hands you beat ? • Observe Type of Opponent

o Loose / Tight o Aggressive / Passive

• Patience - No need to play every hand • Position – Dealer position is powerful as you are LAST to act • Watch for SLOW play – Players doesn’t bet a very strong hand til River• SLOW play only when extremely strong hand.

o AA will lose to 72 25% of time.o AA/KK you only want 1 or 2 callers pre-flopo Raise Premium Hands to get the “rubbish” to fold

• First raiser pre-flop will likely do “continuation bet” to maintain control, representing an improved hand • Odds - Need 4:1 to chase flush • Flop – 33% chance you hit, 33% chance opponent hits, 33% no one hits• Don’t let your emotions get the better of you (Well that was unfortunate)

Pre-Flop – What to enter a hand with

• Premium hands - Raise even if already raised • Any paired Picture card AA/KK/QQ/JJ or AK AQ

• If Dealer(on the button) to 1 behind then extend range • Any pair or Suited connectors ( two in a row – same suit e.g. 9-10 hearts)

• Also worth considering if in position or blind is not raised • Suited As (A with card in same suit) • Suited cards within 5 (i.e. could make straight or flush) • Even try your favourite numbers

• Worst Hand • 7 & 2 not suited • All Cards greater than 5 apart (i.e. K and 4 not suited)

Common Mistakes • Playing too many hands

• Chasing AK/AQ/AJ to the river when it does NOT “hit” the flop / turn

• Not raising with premium hand i.e AA/KK/QQ

• Always Calling Pre-Flop, especially in early position. (called Limping)

• Going “On Tilt” after a bad beat (i.e. AA loses to 99)

• Not considering what your opponent could have• Tight players raises out of position and picture cards are flop then it is likely the player has hit the flop.• PreFlop rasier doesn’t bet after a “high Cards“ flop ?? • PreFlop rasier doesn’t bet after a “low cards unconnect flop” ??