Poker Betting Structures and Betting Rules

In no-limit, a player may bet or raise any amount from the minimum up to all the chips they have in play, at any time it is their turn.

The minimum opening bet on any round is the size of the big blind.

A raise must increase the current bet by at least the size of the largest previous bet or raise in the same round.

1.3(a) Blinds 50/100. A player raises to 300, a raise of 200. The next raise must be to at least 500.

1.3(b) If a player then raises to 1,000 (a raise of 700), any further raise must be to at least 1,700.

There is no limit on the number of raises in a no-limit betting round.

No-limit is the standard structure for Texas Hold'em and is common in Short Deck.

In pot-limit, the maximum bet is the amount in the pot. The maximum raise is the amount in the pot after the raiser has first called the current bet.

2.1(a) All bets on the table from the current round, including the bet being called, count as part of the pot.

The maximum raise is calculated in three steps:

A shortcut: the maximum total wager is three times the last bet, plus everything else in the pot, including any calls of that bet.

Where the small blind is not exactly half the big blind (for example, blinds of 2/5), venues differ on whether the pot is calculated from the actual blinds or rounded for convenience. The dealer's count, as confirmed by the floor, shall apply.

The minimum bet and minimum raise are the same as in no-limit (1.2 and 1.3).

A player may ask the dealer to count the pot. In pot-limit, a player who declares "pot" is bound to wager the correct pot-sized amount once it has been calculated.

Pot-limit is the standard structure for Omaha and is common in Omaha Hi-Lo, which is also widely played fixed-limit.

In fixed-limit (often just limit), every bet and raise is a set amount. A game is described by its two bet sizes, such as 4/8: the small bet is 4 and the big bet is 8.

The small bet is used on the early rounds and the big bet on the later rounds:

3.2(a) In Hold'em and Omaha: small bet before the flop and on the flop; big bet on the turn and river.

3.2(b) In Seven Card Stud, Stud Hi-Lo and Razz: small bet on third and fourth street; big bet on fifth, sixth and seventh street. In most venues, when a player shows an open pair on fourth street in high stud, any player may choose to bet the big bet on that round.

3.2(c) In draw games such as 2-7 Triple Draw and Badugi: small bet on the first two rounds, big bet on the last two.

The number of raises on each betting round is capped. The usual cap is one bet and three raises; some venues allow four raises. Once the cap is reached, players may only call or fold.

In many venues the cap does not apply when only two players are contesting the pot (heads-up), and raising is unlimited between them. Some venues apply this only if the pot was heads-up when the betting round began. The venue's rule shall be checked.

Fixed-limit is standard for stud and draw games and for the limit rounds of mixed games.

In spread limit, a player may bet or raise any amount within a stated range, such as 1-5. A raise must be at least the size of the previous bet or raise and not more than the maximum.

Spread limit is now uncommon in cardrooms, though it is still found in some home games and low-stakes rooms.

Blinds are live bets posted before the deal. The big blind normally sets the minimum bet. A blind has the option to raise when the action returns to them.

Antes are dead money: they go straight into the pot and do not count toward any player's bet on the first round.

The bring-in is a forced opening bet in stud games, smaller than the small bet. The bring-in player may instead choose to complete to the full small bet. The next player may call the bring-in or complete; once the bet is completed, later players call, raise or fold as normal.

5.3(a) Where two upcards tie for the bring-in, suit decides. The usual order, from lowest, is clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades. See hand rankings.

A straddle is a voluntary blind raise, usually twice the big blind, posted by the player to the left of the big blind before the cards are dealt. The straddler acts last before the flop and has the option to raise. Some venues permit a straddle from other positions (such as the button); many prohibit straddles entirely. Straddles are not permitted in most tournaments.

No-limit and pot-limit. An all-in wager of less than a full raise does not reopen the betting to a player who has already acted and is not facing at least a full raise when the action returns to them. That player may call or fold, but not raise.

6.1(a) A player who has not yet acted on the round may call, fold or raise in full, with the minimum raise measured from the size of the last full bet or raise.

6.1(b) Under the Poker TDA rules, several short all-ins that together amount to a full raise do reopen the betting for a player who has already acted. Not every venue follows this.

Fixed-limit. An all-in of at least half a full bet or raise is treated as a full bet or raise and reopens the betting. An all-in of less than half does not.

6.2(a) In a 10/20 game on a 10 round, a player who goes all in for 6 as an opening bet has made at least half a bet. The next player may call 6, or raise to 20 as if the bet were a full 10.

6.2(b) If the all-in opening bet is 4 (less than half), the next player may call 4 or complete the bet to 10. Completing is not a raise.

An all-in player may win only as much from each opponent as they themselves contributed. Further betting between other players forms a side pot. See the side pot example in Texas Hold'em rules.

Verbal declarations. A clear verbal declaration made in turn is binding. A player who says "raise to 500" must wager 500. A player who says only "raise" must make at least the minimum raise.

String bets. A player who puts chips into the pot shall do so in one continuous forward motion, unless they have first declared the amount. Returning to the stack for more chips, or announcing a raise after first putting out a call, is a string bet, and only the first amount stands.

Single oversized chip. When facing a bet, putting in a single chip larger than the amount needed to call, without declaring a raise, is a call. When not facing a bet, a single oversized chip without a declaration is a bet of the full value of the chip.

Multiple chips. When facing a bet, putting in several chips of the same denomination without a declaration is a call if removing one chip would leave less than the amount needed to call. Otherwise, the amount beyond the call is treated as a raise under 7.5.

Short raises. In no-limit and pot-limit, a player who puts in a raise of at least half the minimum raise, but less than the full minimum, without declaring an amount, shall be required to complete a full minimum raise. A raise of less than half is a call. This is the Poker TDA 50% standard.

Conditional statements about future action, such as "if you bet, I'll raise", are strongly discouraged and may be binding at the discretion of the floor.

Chips put in the pot in turn stay in the pot. A player who acts out of turn may be bound by that action if the action to them has not changed when it is their turn.

Only the chips a player has on the table at the start of a hand may be wagered in that hand. A player may not add chips, cash or anything else from their pocket during a hand, and may not be forced out of a pot for lack of chips.

In a cash game, a player may add chips between hands, up to the table maximum. Removing chips from the table while remaining in the game (known as going south) is not permitted.

Cash on the table may play only where the venue allows it, and only if it was on the table before the hand began.