I have 2 very important questions!!!

[Justin3592]

I'd just like to start by saying this is a really great site and a useful tool to gain more knowledge into the game of texas hold'em poker.

1st question- say the Big Blind is 40$ in a no-limit game. I'm the person who has big blind. So is it the person that is after the big blind that makes the first bet?, and if so does that mean i would be the last one who gets a chance to bet, before there's the possibility of more betting? Also say it's my turn to bet and it's 100$ to call. Now i put in 40$ for the big blind, does that mean i only have to put in at the very least 60$ to call, and if so does that apply through out the hand and everytime i'm big blind?. Or do i have to with the addition of my 40$ placed in for the big blind. Aleast put down 100$ to call?....Also if it is in fact true that i would only have to put in 60$ because i was big blind, does that apply for small blind?.......Bare with me people i have one more question, i just love texas hold'em and want to be the best player i can be.


2nd question- I understand, calls, raises and re-raises. What i don't understand is Checks. Is that like a free round where no one has to place a bet and if so, does the big blind have to be the one who starts the check?, also can you check in the 1st round of betting?........If someone could help me out with these questions i would be so thankful.

[Muck]

Q1.

Think of it this way. The betting round ends when everyone has put in the same amount (ignoring people who can’t cover this and create side pots).

E.g.
The SB and BB put in their forced bets of 10 and 20 respectively. The next guy folds and everyone else calls the current bet of 20, until it reaches the SB. Since the SB has already put in 10 he only needs to put in another 10 to cover the current bet of 20. The BB has already put in 20 so he doesn’t need to put in anything extra to cover the current bet of 20.

Q2.

On the next round the SB and BB players don’t have to make a forced bet. So they are free to check. A check is a bet of zero. You can only check if the bet on you is zero. So if there are 4 players and the first 3 check but the last one decides to bet 20 everyone has to put in 20 or fold. If that last man chose to check as well the next card would be free, since no one has to pay anything.

Back to point one, because it’s the key to betting rounds:

The betting round ends when everyone has put in the same amount.*

*Allowing for player who fold or move all-in.

If I were you I’d google, there should be a lot of examples out there.

[Justin3592]

Thanks for the reply.

So in response to question #1 Does this apply to every round?....say it's like the last betting round and it's my turn to stay in it's 100$. Because i am still Big blind can i still get away with only putting in 80$ because i put in 20$ in the beginning for the big blind, or does that only apply to the first round?

In response to question #2 only BB and SB can start the check and that's in round 2 of betting and on?

[UrAteUp]

1st question- say the Big Blind is 40$ in a no-limit game. I'm the person who has big blind. So is it the person that is after the big blind that makes the first bet?,

Yes, this position is referred to as under the gun or UTG.

if so does that mean i would be the last one who gets a chance to bet, before there's the possibility of more betting?

You are last to act. However, raises and reraises can occur before you even get a chance to act. But this is a benefit to you for several reasons. First it gives you an idea of what everyone around you could possibly have. Second, you can play hands you should throw away when in an early table position.

Also say it's my turn to bet and it's 100$ to call. Now i put in 40$ for the big blind, does that mean i only have to put in at the very least 60$ to call

Before a hand is delt both the small blind and big blind are posted. If your the big blind and the blind is $40 then you only have to put in another $60 to call.

and if so does that apply through out the hand and everytime i'm big blind?.

Not sure exactly what you mean here. If you were not on the blind but in this hand then you would have to match the BB of $40 to be in the hand. Unless someone raised then you would have to match the BB + the raise.

Or do i have to with the addition of my 40$ placed in for the big blind. Aleast put down 100$ to call?

No you only have to put in the amount equal to any raises. So if the BB is $40 and someone raised it TO $100 you only need to put in another $60. If you were say in early position and it was raised to $100 then you would have to put in $100 ($40 for the big blind and $60 for the raise).

....Also if it is in fact true that i would only have to put in 60$ because i was big blind, does that apply for small blind?.......Bare with me people i have one more question, i just love texas hold'em and want to be the best player i can be.

The small blind refered to in the forum as the SB, is half of the big blind (BB). The SB has to put in what is needed to match the BB plus any raises previous to his turn. So in this instance the BB is $40, the SB is $20. Someone had raised it to $100. The SB would have to put in $80 ($20 to complete the BB and $60 for the raise).

If you truely want to learn about betting and blinds this forum has a great resource area attached with it. Also you might want to look into some books on the subject. Dan Harrington has 2 great books on called Harrington on Holdem Vol. 1 and 2. Both of these are great for learning NLTH.

2nd question- I understand, calls, raises and re-raises. What i don't understand is Checks. Is that like a free round where no one has to place a bet and if so, does the big blind have to be the one who starts the check?, also can you check in the 1st round of betting?........If someone could help me out with these questions i would be so thankful.

A check can only occur after someone has entered the pot. Say player a is UTG. He calls the BB of $40. Everyone else folds till it gets to the SB. He calls adding $20 in the pot ($20 is already there from when he posted the SB and he adds $20 to complete the BB). Now the betting is up to the BB. If he does not wish to raise then he can check. This is basically saying I do not wish to fold and I do not wish to raise. So the BB checks. Out comes the flop. After the flop UTG is first to act. He can decide here to bet or check. If he checks then the SB can check or bet. If he bets then BB can call or raise but no one can check after a bet is made. So lets say the BB calls and so does UTG. Now the turn card comes. Lets say UTG bets. SB and BB must call or fold. They can not check as a bet hasd been made. So both call. Out comes the river card. Now lets say UTG does not want to bet, so he checks. SB doesn't want to bet so he can check as well. Then action comes onto the BB. He can either check or bet. Lets say he checks. Everyone would flip their cards here and best hand win the pot.

I hope this helps to answer your questions.... .

[UrAteUp]

Thanks for the reply.

So in response to question #1 Does this apply to every round?....say it's like the last betting round and it's my turn to stay in it's 100$. Because i am still Big blind can i still get away with only putting in 80$ because i put in 20$ in the beginning for the big blind, or does that only apply to the first round?

That blind only refers to the opening round or first round. After that all bets and raises must be matched.

In response to question #2 only BB and SB can start the check and that's in round 2 of betting and on?

After the flop, the second betting round, if no one has bet and it comes to the SB and BB both can elect to check.

[Muck]

You can think of all betting rounds as starting on zero, with the first round as the exception rather than the norm. After the first round you can forget about the SB and BB.

After the first round there are no forced bets. So the first player has the option to check (a bet of zero). The option to check is only available if:
1) Your first to act on a new betteing round (you’re on the dealers immediate left). In effect you’re betting zero.
2) The player to your immediate left has just checked. In effect you’re calling for zero.

[Justin3592]

Thank you guys for the information. So in closing the 2nd and later rounds the first person with the option of calling or raising can opt to check if there is a zero bet which there would be if they were the first person betting in the second round . Then of course if a guy checks then the guys to his left raises then the next guy must match that raise (call) or raise the bet. Also if the first guy checks.....can the next guy call?, or are his only options to check, raise or fold?

[Justin3592]

One more follow up question. I understand now that if i'm the BB which is say $40 and it's my turn to bet and someone just raised to 100$ i only have to put in 60$ because i put in the BB of 40$. So let's say comes to me again and it's 200$ to stay in. It's still the 1st round so i'd only have to put in 160$ to call right? now do the BB/SB apply for the 2nd and later rounds? or is it whatever the bet is you have to match it or raise it, and of course fold if need be? So what i'm saying is in the 2nd and later rounds you don't depend on your BB/SB anymore. Like if the bet is 300$ you have to match 300$ not 260$

[galderon]

One more follow up question. I understand now that if i'm the BB which is say $40 and it's my turn to bet and someone just raised to 100$ i only have to put in 60$ because i put in the BB of 40$. So let's say comes to me again and it's 200$ to stay in. It's still the 1st round so i'd only have to put in 160$ to call right? now do the BB/SB apply for the 2nd and later rounds? or is it whatever the bet is you have to match it or raise it, and of course fold if need be? So what i'm saying is in the 2nd and later rounds you don't depend on your BB/SB anymore. Like if the bet is 300$ you have to match 300$ not 260$

Betting round 1:
Player 1 (SB): Posts $20 small blind.
Player 2 [You] (BB): Post $40 big blind.
Player 3 (Dealer): Raises $60 for a total bet of $100.
Player 1: Raises $100 for a total bet of $200 (he puts in $180 more).
Player 2 [You]: You can call, raise or fold. You call, putting in $160 more.
Player 3: Can call, raise or fold. He calls, putting in $100 more.
All money ($200 from each player) is swept into the middle. This money is now ignored when it comes to how much you can bet in later rounds.

Betting round 2:
Player 1: Can check, bet or fold. He checks (betting $0).
Player 2: [You]: You can check, bet or fold. You check (betting $0).
Player 3: Can check bet or fold. He bets $100. He puts in $100.
Player 1: Can call, raise or fold. He raises $200 for a total bet of $300. He hasn't put any money in yet, so he puts in $300.
Player 2 [You]: You can call, raise or fold. You haven't put any money in yet, so you need to put in $300 to call, or at least $600 to raise. Folding costs you nothing more.

So I think you had it right. My recommendation would be to sign up for a poker site and play some fake money games. They won't teach you much about how to play, but it will demostrate the betting for you.

[supafrey]

Muck gave a very good tip to help understand it.

Basically, the rule is that all players have to put in the same amount of money each round to get to see the next card... Nobody EVER gets to pay a cheaper amount (unless they're all in and that's all they have).

Similar on this idea is your asking about 'checking'. A check is the equivalent of saying "pass.. I don't want to put any money in". So since he doesn't put anything in, the next person doesn't have to either, if they don't wish.

Just make sure everyone's equally risking money and it's A-OKAY.

[Gunslinger]

After the first round there are no forced bets. So the first player has the option to check (a bet of zero). The option to check is only available if:
1) Your first to act on a new betteing round (you’re on the dealers immediate left). In effect you’re betting zero.
2) The player to your immediate left has just checked. In effect you’re calling for zero.

For number 2), I think you mean if the player on your right has just checked.

[Muck]

After the first round there are no forced bets. So the first player has the option to check (a bet of zero). The option to check is only available if:
1) Your first to act on a new betteing round (you’re on the dealers immediate left). In effect you’re betting zero.
2) The player to your immediate left has just checked. In effect you’re calling for zero.

For number 2), I think you mean if the player on your right has just checked.

Indeed. Nice catch gun.

Justin3592, why not install a poker game client (all those listed in the adverts around this forum are free), sit down at a play money table and just watch how it works.
You might find that watching the concept of betting graphically illustrated makes it easier to understand.

[Justin3592]

Ok thank you i will do that......The place i play online poker at right now is gamedesire.com...it's free but i'm not sure if it's a acturate depliction of texas hold'em.