I’m not a gambler, but I’d like to understand this once and for all. When you play 5-card draw, how does the betting work? First, I ante up, then I decide how many cards I want, then I raise the bet, or what???
Also, how does the betting stop…When do I “call”?
Very confusing to an outsider!
um you talking casino betting or normal friends in the kitchen betting?
I’ll assume you mean the latter
You ante up to buy into the game. This is fixed and is usually a small amount
then the cards are dealt.
The first person bets an amount.
Everyone else must at least match that amount or ‘call’ to stay in the game. They can also raise by putting in more then just calling. Or you can put in nothing and fold.
If someone raises everyone then must match the raise as well as the orginal bet.
You once again can fold raise or call.
The first round usually isn’t that complicated just some easy calls and raises. Then you choose how many new cards you want.
After this the betting starts again and is usually much more agressive as people with good hands attempt to raise the pot to the point they’ll get a large amount of money where people with bad hands either fold or try to ‘buy’ the pot by raising so much everyone else quits (aka bluffing)
then everyone shows their cards (unless there’s only one left he doesn’t have ot show because he wins by default) and the winner takes the money.
Then it’s time to ante in again. rise repeat.
All players ante, throwing in a small fixed amount.
Cards are dealt.
First player (typically the one sitting to the immediate left of the dealer) must open with a bet. He can choose to bet zero (or “check”). Assume he bets an amount (or “opens”) of $5.
The second player now has three options:
[ul][li]He can fold, or withdraw from the hand. He puts his cards face-down on the table and has no more involvement in the hand.[/li][li]He can call, or match the previous bets. In this case, he throws $5 into the pot.[/li][li]He can raise, in which case he throws in $5 to match the bet of the first player and (for example) an additional $10.[/ul][/li]
The third player, if he wishes to stay in the hand, must put at least $15 into the pot. If there are raises from multiple players, sometimes it can get confusing. It’s the dealer’s responsibility to keep track, and he should tell the third player “$15 to you”, announcing the amount. If the third player decides to raise (for example) another $10, he will put $25 in the pot and it will be “$25 to” the next player. When it finally gets around the table and back to the first player, he must throw in an amount sufficient to match all the other players. In fact, all players must do this on their turn. In a simplified example with three players:
Player 1: Opens with $5
Player 2: “Sees” P1’s $5 and raises $10, putting $15 in pot
Player 3: Throws in $5 to match P1’s bet, “Sees” P2’s $10, and raises another $10, putting $25 in pot
Player 1: Notes that P3 has put $25 in pot, but P1 has only put in $5 (on first round). If P1 wishes to stay in the hand, he must put in at least $20 so his total contribution to the pot matches P3. He can “call” P3 with exactly $20, meaning he matches but does not raise the stakes. Let’s say he calls.
Player 2: Notes that P1 and P3 have each put $25 into pot, while P2 has only put in $15. He must now put in at least $10 or fold.
The round of betting ends when each player (not counting those who fold) has made an equal contribution to the pot and none wish to raise the stakes any further. Typically, there will be a limit on the number of raises a player can make in a given betting round.
At this point, the player may exchange some of their cards. Once this has been done, a new round of betting starts with the first active player to the dealer’s left. This follows the same rules as before. There are complications like “going all-in” which need not concern you. Suffice it to say, each player must match the bets made by the others or fold. The remaining players at the end of this round of betting reveal their hands and winner takes the pot.