The basic pattern of Draw Poker is as follows:
1.    The ante: a small compulsory bet is made by all the players.
2.    Deal: five face down cards are deal to each player in the normal way. Players count their cards, then look at them.
3.    First betting interval: the player to the dealer’s left has the right to bet first; if he does not bet the other players may bet in turn.
4.    Draw: each active player in turn may discard one ore more cards and receive from the dealer the same number, face down, from the undealt part of the deck. A player need not draw – he may “stand pat”
5.    Second betting interval: the player who made the first bet in the first interval has the right to bet first. If he has dropped out, the first active player to his left may bet.
6.    Showdown takes place if more than one active player is left at the end of the second betting interval.
Players

Up to 10 may play. No more than six should play in high-betting games, since with more players it may be necessary to use discards to complete the draw.

Ante

Either
1.    each player puts an equal agreed amount into the pool; or
2.    only the dealer antes (”dealers edge”)
First betting interval

There are two forms
1.    ”Jacks or better” A player may not open the betting unless he holds a pair of jacks or any better hand. (Before betting is opened, players may check) After betting has opened, a player may bet on any hand, and must bet or drop out. At the end of the play, the opener must show the cards he opened on.

2.    ”Pass and out” (or “pass out” or “bet and drop”). A player may open the betting on any hand. Each player must bet or drop out ; no-one may check. In either case, the player to the sealer’s left is the first to “speak”.
Once the betting has opened, it proceeds in the usual way. Id no one opens, all players ant again, and the next dealer deals for the next play.

Draw

The draw occurs if more than one player is still active after the first betting interval.
The dealer offers the draw to each player in turn in normal rotation, beginning with the player to his left, and ending with himself. Each player in his turn either:
1.    states the number of cards he requires and places that number from his hand face down on the table in full view – the dealer then gives him the same number from the undealt part of the deck; or
2.    says “I stand pat”, or knocks on the table, to indicate that he wishes to keep the hand that he has.
In his turn, the dealer also either states the number of cards he has drawn (exchanged), or indicates that he is “standing pat”. Normally it is ruled that a payer may draw one, two, or three cards at his discretion. With four or fewe rplayers, four and five card draws are sometimes allowed.

A player may use the draw to bluff in any way he wishes about the value of his hand.The dealer must answer truthfully how many cards he himself drew. No other question need be answered truthfully by anyone.

The bottom card of the deck is not used. If further cards are required, the bottom card and the cards discarded so far are shuffled together and cut to allow the draw to continue. The usual rules apply, but the player due to draw next cuts last.No other shuffling or cutting on the draw is allowed.

Sometimes in “jacks or better”, the opening bettor discards one of his openers (i.e. one of the cards that gave him the right to open).

If he does so, he must state this and the discarded opener is kept to one side to be inspected at the end of the play. It is not used if the discards are reshuffled.

Second betting interval

This follows the usual rules. All players may check, even if “pass and out” was enforced for the first interval. Id all the players check m the interval ends. If all players except one drop out, that player wins without showing his hand (except for showing his openers in “jacks or better”, if he opened the betting.

Showdown

Each active player in turn must place all his five cards face up on the table, to be seen by all players (active or other wise). At the same time he announces the value of of his hand – he must do this even if he sees he is beaten.

If all players checked in the second betting interval, the opener shows his hand first; but if bets were placed in the second interval, the player was called first, shows first. In either case, other active players then follow in normal rotation.

Dropping out

In draw poker a player indicates that he is dropping out by placing his cards face down on the table when his turn in the betting interval arrives.

As long as a player wished to remain in the game he must keep his cards in his hands, above table height, unless he in forced to put down the cards temporarily for some reason, in which case he must state this.

The most popular form of poker played in casino card rooms

Introduction

In the last decade, this poker game has grown in popularity to the point where it has overtaken 7-Stud as the most popular of the casino poker games. This is especially true in many of the California poker clubs, where the game is played for stakes which range from $1-$2, all the way up to $300-600 in clubs like the Bicycle club in Bell Gardens. It is the most popular form of poker in the UK and is the form of poker played on Late Night Poker.
Those who are experts at the game claim that it is the most complex of poker games. There are five community cards in Texas Hold ‘Em, all on board and seen by all the players.

Thus the complexity. If you hold a good hand, so may your opponents. And you can use both of your pocket cards originally dealt to you, or one of them, or simply use the board without making use of any pocket card to create your best hand.

Many players like the game because it is more relaxing than 7-stud. The only thing you have go concentrate on are the players’ actions and the board, whereas in 7-stud you must follow each player’s cards as they are dealt on the various streets.

This is not the case in Hold ‘Em. The board is dealt to the middle of the table, clearly visible to all players, and the players at either end don’t have to lean forward to see what the player’s hands at the other end look like.

It is also a good action game. Whereas a player in 7-stud needs only 40 times the minimum bet to stay comfortably in the game, in Hold ‘Em, it’s more like 100 times the minimum bet. There’s more betting, more action, more raises and re-raises. Thus there’s more money to be won, or if one has bad luck to lose.

How Hold ‘Em is played

Hold ‘Em can be played with only two players or theoretically, with as many as twenty-two players (this exhausts the number of cards in the deck). In practise however, it is rarely played with more than twelve players due to the size of the table, with eight to eleven players considered the optimum range.

The first betting round is structured slightly differently from draw or stud. There is usually no ante put in by every player. Instead, the two players on the dealer’s left each put in small initial bets, called ‘blinds’. These bets are called blind bets (blinds for short) because they are made at a stage before the players receive their cards. As the deal passes round the table a different two players put in (or post) the blinds. Thus over time every player will post the same number of blinds.

In the majority of casino games, there is a house dealer, and to ensure that every player has a chance of sitting in what would nominally be the dealer’s position a small disk or ‘button’ is moved around the table. The house dealer always deals the first card to the player on the left of the dealer button. The player with the dealer button is always the last to act on every round of betting for that hand, with the exception of the first one where the blinds are ‘live’, meaning that the players who posted the blinds have the option to raise.

The game starts with each player receiving two cards face down. After they have looked at their own cards, there is a round of betting. As the first two players on the dealer’s left have put in bets, it is the third player on the dealer’s left who is first to act, and because a bet (blind) has already been made he cannot check. He must call the blind, raise or fold. If the action proceeds all the way around to the players who posed the blinds, without being raised then these players have the option to raise themselves. If they do not wish to do so, they simply say ‘no raise’ or tap the table.

Once the first betting round is over, the dealer discards (or ‘burns’) the top card of the deck. It is dealt face down on to the table, this card is called a ‘burn card’ and it is not used in the play of the hand. This is to ensure that cheating is made difficult or impossible to achieve. If the top card was not burnt then players might be tempted to mark particular cards and try and spot them on top of the deck. If the cards are marked, a player who is able to read the backs will know what the top card is and this information could be very advantageous. For instance, is a player had 7-7 in hand and knew that the first card dealt would be 6 then that player could bet and raise with impunity.

After the first betting round, three cards are turned face up in the middle of the table. This is called the ‘flop’. After a further round of betting, a fourth card, called the ‘turn’ or ‘fourth street’ is turned. Another round of betting is followed by a final face-up card (called the ‘river’ of ‘fifth street’). The five cards in the centre of the able are collectively known as the ‘board’. After the last round of betting the players reveal their hole cards.

The rules of Omaha are identical to those of Hold ‘Em except that each player receives four hole cards instead of two and each player must use exactly three board cards and two hole cards to make the hand. This second difference can be confusing for beginners and players who are used to Hold ‘Em.

There are five community cards on board that can be used by all the players. They’re community cards. They are dealt in the same manner as Hold ‘Em. After the first betting round, three cards go out at once, called the flop. Then a betting round, a Fourth Street card, and another betting round.

Standard Game (5 cards)

Players
Up to ten may play.

Ante
Usually a small compulsory bet is made by all players.

Opening card

The player with the highest ranking face-up card must open or drop. A wild card is considered higher than an ace. If two players hold equal ranking cards, the player nearer the dealers left opens. After the opener, each player drops, stays in, bets, raises, or re-raises in the normal way until betting is equalised.

Continuing play

Further rounds of dealing one card face up to each player alternate with betting intervals, until the end of the fourth interval (when each of the players has one face-down and four face-up cards). On these deals, the dealer leaves the deck resting on the table and takes cards one at a time from the top. On the betting intervals, the player with the right to open is the one with the highest ranking completed hand in exposed cards – the dealer announces that player and also announces exposed hands possible flushes and straights, and the last deal. The showdown, follows the fourth betting interval ; all active players expose their hole cards..

Additional rules

1.    If all the players check, the betting interval ends and the play continues

2.    If a player drops out, he turns all his cards face down and does not reveal his hole card.

3.    If on any betting interval only one active player is left, he wins and play ends. He need not show his hole card.

4.    A “four flush” is often ruled a ranking had in stud poker, i.e. four cards of the same suit plus one other. At showdown (and in deciding the start of a betting interval) it beats a pair but loses to two pairs).
Standard Game (variants)

Six card stud

This is like five-card stud, except that after the fourth betting interval each player receives a sixth card face down. This is followed by a fifth (final) betting interval. At ethe showdown, each active player chooses five cards from his six to form his final hand.

Seven card stud
(or seven-toes Pete or down the river). This game is for 2 to eight players. The opening deal is of three cards: two hole cards, then one face up. Betting intervals and rounds of dealing face up-up cards then alternate as usual, until active players have seven cards (including the two hole cards). After a final betting interval, each active player chooses five cards from his seven to form his showdown hand.

Seven card stud: low hole card wild card

As above, but each player’s lower ranking hole card is wild – as, for him is any other card of that denomination. Sometimes players re allowed to choose either one of their hole cards (and its denominations) as wild.

Mexican stud

This is like five-cards stud except that all cards are dealt face down. After the second and each subsequent dealing round, each player turns up any one of his face-down cards, leaving one chosen card as hole card. Sometimes a player’s final hold card is rules wild, together with any other cards of that denomination that he holds.

Other five-card stud variants

1.    Last card down ; the last card is dealt face down, giving two hole cards

2.    Last card optionally down: a player may turn up his hole card before the last dealing round and receive his firth card face down.
Low-hand stud

The lowest hand wins the pool. The lowest exposed hand begins each betting interval. Other rules are as for the form of stud being played. The lowest exposed hand begins each betting interval. Other rules are as for the form of stud being played.

Poker the basics
Equipment
1.    One standard deck of 52 cards
2.    One or two jokers as “wild” cards if desired
3.    Betting chips or cash
Players   Two to eight or more. Certain forms of poker can be played by up to 14 people. No alliances are allowed; a player may play only for himself     Basic terms   The usage of some poker terms is not standard. In the following text a “hand” means the cards, or the particular combination of cards held by the player.
A single game, from one shuffle to then next, is here called a “play” (rather than a “hand”)     Objective   Each player tries to maximise his winnings. On each play all bets are put into a common pool (the “pot”).
One player wins the pool on a play if:
1.    he holds a higher ranking hand than anyone still betting at the end (the “showdown”); or
2.    all other players drop out of the betting before the showdown in the belief that they cannot win
Rank of cards   Cards rank in the normal order. Ace usually ranks high, except in the 5,4,3,2 ace sequence; in a “high-low” game it may rank either high or low. Sometimes low ranking cards (2s, 3s and even 4s and 5s) are removed from the deck to speed up the game. The suits are not ranked.     Poker Hands   In standard poker all hands must, for scoring (showdown) purpose, contain 5 cards, although fewer or more than this may be held at different stages of the game. The following hands are universally recognised. Each hand loses to the one listed before it, and defeats he one listed after it. This order derives from the mathematical probabilities involved.     Straight flush   Five cards in sequence if the same suit. (A, K, Q, J, 10 of the same suite is known as a Royal flush)     Four of a kind or “fours”   Four cards of one denomination with one unmatched card     Full house   Three cards of one denomination and two cards of another denomination     Flush   Five cards of the same suit, but not in sequence     Straight   Five cards in sequence, but not of the same suit     Three of a kind “threes”   Three cards of the same denomination and two unmatched cards     Two pairs   Two cards of one denomination, two cards of another denomination and one unmatched card     One pair   Two cards of one denomination and three unmatched cards     High card   Five unmatched cards         Other hands are sometimes accepted locally (e.g. “blaze” denotes five court cards) Their inclusion and their ranking should be agreed before the games begin.     Hands of the same rank   When poker hands are of the same rank, the winning hand is decided by the rank of the cards involved.

The following rules apply where no wild cards are used
1.    Straight flush: the highest ranking card in the sequence decides the best hand. Thus a royal flush is the highest when there are no wild cards. Note that the Ace in a 5, 4, 3, 2, ace sequence ranks low, so this hand would be beaten by a 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. The same rule applies to straights
2.    Four of a kind: the hand with the highest ranking matched card wins.
3.    Full house: the hand with the highest ranking “three of a kind” wins
4.    Flush: the hand with the highest ranking card wins. If the highest cards are the same denomination, the next highest are compared. This continues down to the lowest, until a difference is found.
5.    Straight: as for a straight flush
6.    Three of a kind: as for a four of a kind
7.    Two pairs; the hand with the highest raking pair wins. If the higher pairs in the two hands are the same, the lower pairs are compared. If both pairs in the two hands are the same, the hand with the highest unmatched card wins.
8.    One pair: the hand with the highest ranking pair wins. If the pairs in the two hands are the same, the highest unmatched cards are compared. If these are the same, the next highest are compared. If these are the same, the next highest are compared. This continues down to the lowest, until a difference is found
9.    High card: as for flush
Hands tie   Hands tie if they contain exactly the same denominations; the suits are irrelevant. Hands that tie as highest in the showdown divide the pool between them. If the pool is not exactly divisible, the amount left over goes to the player who was “called” (i.e the player who made the highest bet)

Wild cards   Sometimes at the beginning of a game the players decide to designate certain cards “wild”. A wild card is one that may represent any denomination. Any card or any group of cards may be designated, but the following are popular choices:
1.    The joker (or two jokers);
2.    The “deuce” or 2 of spades if the jokers are not available ;
3.    All the deuces
4.    All the deuces and “treys” (the 3s)
5.    Red 10s
In some forms of the game, a card that occupies a particular position in the game may count as wild, for example each players “hole” (concealed) card in some stud poker games.

Two alternative rules govern the use of a wild card. The holder may either:
1.    use it to represent any card (denomination and suit) he does not hold ; or
2.    use it to represent any card, even if he holds that card.
In either case, a wild card ranks the same as the card it represents. If a joker is used as a wild card, it may be used either like any other wild card or, alternatively as a “bug”. The bug may be used to represent only an ace or any card the player needs to complete a straight or a flush. Again, the use of the joker as the bug may or may not be limited to cards not held by the players.     Hands with wild cards   Wild cards rank exactly the same as the cards they stand for, so when comparing hands of the same rank, ties are possible between same denomination fours, full houses and threes. With fours and threes, the rank of the other cards in the hands decides the winner where possible. If hands with wild cards are identical rank, the hand with no or fewer wild cards, wins. If there are the same number of wild cards, the hands tie.

Where wild cards are used for any card (even one held by the player) two new hands are possible.
1.    Five of a kind: five cards of the same denomination. This ranks as highest hand, above a straight flush.
2.    Double ace high flush: a flush including two aces. This ranks above flush and below full house.
Sometimes a wild card my be used only to make a five of a kind- but not to make double ace high flush. This must be decided before start of play.

Prohibitions
1.    A player may not1. attempt to make a private arrangement with any other player (e.g. divide the pool without a showdown) ;
2.    waive his turn as a dealer, unless physically unable to deal;
3.    look at the discards (either before or after the showdown), at undealt cards, at another players hand, or at a hole card ( in stud poker);
4.    take chips or money from the pool during play, except as correct change for a verbally stated bet;
5.    leave the table taking his cards with him (he should ask another player, preferably a non-active one, to play his hand for him – if he fails to do so and misses his turn, his hand is dead)
Bluffing   Bluffing is allowed (i.e. trying to mislead other players by statement, actions or manner). Bluffing may include making announcements out of turn about one’s hand or plan of playing so as to make one’s hand seem weaker than it is. Sarcasm, heckling and derision are allowed – help is not!     Betting intervals   In a single play there will be at least one betting interval, and normally two or more. These always follow receipt of cards by player but the precise number and when they occur depend on the form of poker being played.
In each betting interval, a certain player will have the right to bet or not to bet first. (How he is chosen depends on the form of the game).
Thereafter players bet or do not bet in a clockwise rotation.     Principles of betting   All bets on a play are placed together near the centre of the table to form a pool. One player bets first (”opens the betting”). Thereafter, each player in turn must either “drop out”, “stay in” or “raise”.In his turn, a player announces what he is doing prior to placing any chips in the pool.For a first bet or a raise, he also announces the amount of the bet or the raise.A bet is not considered made until the bettor has removed his hand from the chips bet: until then it can be withdrawn.
1.    Drop out (or “fold”): the player discards his hand and gives up his chance of winning the pool on this play. A player may drop out at any time, even if he has previously bet on this play or in this interval; but any chips he has already bet remain in the pool and go to the pool winner. A player who has dropped out is no longer “active” and may not take further action in this play.
2.    Stay in (or “call” or “see”); the player puts in just enough chips to make the total bet he has bet so far in this play exactly equal to the total bet by the payer with the highest total bet.
3.    Raise up (or “up” or “go better”): the player puts in enough chips to stay in, plus an additional number. The additional amount is that by which he “raises the last bet”. Every other player in the game must either then stay in(by bringing his total bet up to the raises amount), drop out, or raise again (”reraise”)
Checking   Checking is allowed in many games of poker. A player who checks at the beginning of a betting interval stays in the game for the moment without making a bet. If all payers check, the betting interval ends. But if one player bets, the interval continues as usual: all other players (including those who have checked) must now stay in, drop out or raise. To stay in, a player who has checked must equal the highest bet made so far. If all players check on the first betting interval, the play is void and ends. The next player in turn deals the round

End of the betting interval   The betting interval ends when either:
1.    all players have checked;
2.    only one player is still active (and therefore wins), all the others having dropped out; or
3.    the bets of active players are equalised. This happens when all players still active have put equal amounts in the pool and the turn has come around again to the last person to raise (or, if no one raised, to the person who opened the betting): he may not then raise again. AS long as the bets are unequal any player may raise, but as soon as the bets are equal, no one may raise.

Passing Passing may mean either:
1.    To drop out; or
2.    to check (where checking is allowed)
In games where checking is allowed, a player who says “pass” is assumed to be checking, if checking is available to him. (A player shows that he is dropping out by discarding his hand). Games in which no checking is allowed are referred to as “pass and out” (or “pass out” or “bet and drop”).     Sandbagging   Sandbagging is poker slang for either:
1.    checking to disguise a good hand – this is sometimes considered unethical, but is better accepted as a regular part of bluffing; or
2.    constant raising or re-raising by two players, forcing a third along with them if he wishes to stay in the play.
Raising to force out other players is an essential part of poker, but beyond a certain point it can spoil the game’s character. Two optional rulings can keep it in check: limiting raises, and freezing raises.     A limit on raises   A limit on raises is often agreed beforehand. Possible limits are
1.    three (or sometimes two) by one player in one betting interval
2.    a total of three by all players in one betting interval.
Freezing the raise   Freezing the raise is becoming accepted procedure. If there have been two or more raises (whether by one or several players), in a single betting interval, any player who has not raised in that betting interval may “freeze the raise”. In addition to betting sufficient to stay in, he bets a previously agreed amount, usually two to five times the normal maximum bet. Other active players must then drop out or stay in by equalling his bet. This action only freezes the raise for this betting interval.

Side bets
Side bets are sometimes made between players. For example, in a “high card bet” in stud poker, players bet on who will have the highest first upcard.     Bonuses   It is sometimes agreed before play that on, showdown, a player holding a royal flush, straight flush, or four will receive a payment from each player, whether active or not. The amount agreed is usually three to five times the maximum bet.     Betting prohibitions   A player may not:
1.    bet for another player
2.    borrow money or chips from another payer during a play;
3.    take back a bet after it has been placed in the pool and the bettors hand has been removed. An inadequate bet must be added to, otherwise it is lost and the payers cards are dead.
Betting limits   The system to be used must be decided upon before play. The betting limits are also the raise limits. Note that a player forced to bet, for example, the maximum amount to stay in, may still in that turn raise by the maximum (an by any lesser amount).     Specified limits   Fixed minimum and maximum amounts are specified before play starts. Sometimes it is agreed that either
1.    any amount between the limits is acceptable as a bet or raise;
2.    only specified amounts between the limits are acceptable as a bet or raise ; or
3.    no amount between the limits is acceptable as a bet or raise.
Specified limits, varying   The minimum and maximum limits change during play ; for example limits for the final betting are always twice the earlier limits.     Last bet limit   The opening bet is agreed by agreed limits. Thereafter, the maximum bet or raise is the amount put in the pool by the previous bettor’s actions.Players must decide that either:
1.    each betting interval recommences at the original limits or ;
2.    continuous growth is allowed over a single play.
Pot limit   The opening bet is governed by agreed limits. Thereafter, the maximum bet or raise is the total amount in the pool at that time. To calculate this, a player wishing to raise may include in the pool total the sum needed for him to stay in. Agreement on an absolute maximum is still necessary.     Table stakes   Before the session, each player puts any amount of money he wishes onto the table, or buys chips to that amount. ( A minimum is agreed beforehand, and sometimes a maximum too.) Any amount a player wins is added to his table amount. He may also from his own pocket, increase the table amount – but not during a play, and only by at least the agreed minimum. During a play a player may not:
1.    Borrow from or owe money to the pool;
2.    decrease his table amount or withdraw chips from it
3.    sell chips back to the banker until he withdraws from the game.
The maximum betting limit for a player is his table amount at the time (the minimum is the amount agreed beforehand). If a players table amount is used up in a play, he has the right to remain in for the main pool showdown. Any amounts bet by other players, above the amount he has bet, are put into a side pool.

No limit   A player can bet or raise any amount. He may borrow during a play, if he can, but he may not put IOUs in the pool. To stay in, he must equal the highest bet. IN the old no limit games a player had 24 hours to raise the money for a bet. No limit games have no virtually disappeared.     Freeze out   This can be played with any limits system except table stakes. Before the session, each player puts an equal number of chips on the table in front of him. Winnings are added to this amount, but no players may add new chips, lend chips or remove chips from the game. As soon as a player has lost all his chips, he drops out. The session continues until one player has won all the chips.     Jackpot   This ruling can be played with any limits system. It applies if all other players drop out in a play, after one player has opened the betting. In the next play and before the deal the other must each “ante”(put) into the pool an amount equal to the single bet made in the previous play. The new maximum limit (for this play only) is the total amount now in the pool before play starts (providing that this is higher than the normal maximum). The minimum is as usual.     Whangdoodle   This ruling can be played with any limits system. After the appearance of any very good hand (e.g. full house or better), the usual or opening limits are doubled for the next play. Sometimes the special limits hold for the next round of play i.e. one deal by each player.

Poker RULES / Arrangement

ARRANGEMENTS

Club and casino poker
The management supplies table, chips, cards, dealer and/or inspector. It takes a cut- usually a direct charge on the winner of each pool, but sometimes an hourly charge for tables and officials.

Irregularities
Because poker can be played for very high stakes, innumerable rules govern irregularities of play, both accidental and deliberate. It is impossible to treat all these here. The reader who wishes to play poker for high stakes should consult an advances book on the subject.

Pattern of play

Rotation of play is clockwise. No player acts until the active player neares to his right has acted.
Choice of first dealer is by deal: the first jack to appear.
The deal is clockwise to active players only, beginning with the active player nearest the dealers left.
varies from one form of poker to another.
Showdown: after the final betting interval, players still active expose their hands ( in draw poker) or hole card(s) (in stud poker), beginning with the player being called, and in a clockwise direction. Each player announces the rank of hand he is claiming. In any discrepancy, the cards “speak for themselves” – this includes giving the hand a higher rating than claimed, except if there are wild cards (where the player’s announcement can not be improved on). The hand of highest rank wins. Tied hands divide the pool equally.
Change of dealer. After each play, the deal passes one player to the left of theprevious dealer.

Forms of poker

Closed and open poker are the two main forms:
1.    Closed poker, usually played in the form of draw poker. Players receive their cards face down. After a betting interval, they discard the cards they do not want, and receive cards from the deck. A second betting interval is followed by a showdown if more than one player is still active.

2.    Open poker, known as stud poker. This is a faster game than draw poker and allows for more skill. As there is no exchange of cards, the average rank of winning cards is lower than in draw poker. Players receive some cards face down and some face up. Betting intervals interrupt the deal. After the deal, players cannot receiver replacements but (in versions where more than five cards per player are dealt) each chooses only five cards to form his final hand. A final betting interval is followed by a showdown if more than one player is active.
Choice of form

The form to be played may be decided by the host or by club rules ; but if a decision has to be made, two factors should be taken into account:
1.    Number of players. The best games for a particular number of players are as follows: four or less: stud poker; five to eight: any form of poker ; nine or ten: five card stud; more then 10, any variant with fewer than five cards per player – or split into two tables.

2.    Relative experience . If some players are considerable more experienced than others, it is best to choose one of the less common variants in which the element of skill is lower.

Dealers choice

If it is agreed to play “dealers choice” the dealer chooses the game to be played: a standard form, a known variant, or any new and easily explained variant he can devise. He designates any wild cards. He may not, however, alter the betting limits, add cards to or remove them from the deck, or later basic poker rules. His game holds by agreement either:
1.    For this deal only; or

2.    for a complete round of dealing. The next dealer in turn then chooses for the next complete round. Sometimes, a play or round of dealer’s choice is played whenever a very good hand appears (e.g. full house or better)