Online Multi-Player Poker Rules

General Poker Rules

There are special rules that govern Internet Poker. These rules are in addition to the General Rules of Poker adopted by the House.

All Actions Stand

To determine the action you want to perform in a game, click the appropriate Action button. Once you have selected an action, it is final - so please ensure that you select the correct action!

Coffeehousing

Any inter-player chat carried out with the intention of misleading or manipulating other Players, falls under the "Coffeehousing" rule and is not permitted. Likewise, any chat that could influence the play, or outcome of the game, is not allowed.

Slow Play

If you are connected to the system but do not respond when it is your turn, the following rules apply: If you have not placed a bet in the hand, you have ten seconds to respond. Failing this, your hand automatically folds. If you have placed a bet in the hand, you have twenty seconds to respond. Failing this, your hand automatically folds or is considered all-in. Note: Repeated instances of slow play may be grounds for a Player to be removed from the table. This decision is at the discretion of the House.

Disconnections

If you are disconnected from the system during play, the following rules apply:
If you are disconnected during play, the table is notified via the Game History box. For information on leaving and returning to a game, see the section Leaving and Returning to a Game. If you are disconnected during the play of a hand and have not placed a bet, your hand will automatically fold after ten seconds. If you are disconnected during the play of a hand and have placed a bet, you have thirty seconds to reconnect. If you do not reconnect within 30 seconds, you cannot rejoin the table, and are considered all-in. Note: There is a limit to the number of times that a Player can call all-in in a 24-hour period. When this limit is exceeded, the Player's hand folds and any money the Player has contributed to the pot is forfeited. Make sure that you are aware of your all-in status. When you have reached the all-in limit, you must request that the limit be reset. To request that the limit be reset, do the following: Right-click the game table graphic. A pop-up menu is displayed. Select the "Request all-in" reset option. Your all-in limit will then be reset to the default limit.

Language

Communication between Players at the table is in English only. No foul, abusive or insulting language is permitted. The use of such language may result in your removal, suspension or banning from the Poker Room. If you use such language, your hand folds and all your contributions to the pot are forfeited. Note: These decisions are at the discretion of the House.

Playing at More than One Poker Table

You may play at more than one table simultaneously.

The following rules apply:
The House monitors Players who are playing at more than one table simultaneously. This is to ensure that multiple-table play is not causing slow play. If the House determines that slow play is a result of playing at multiple tables, the Player is forced to play at one table only.
The Player may not allege distraction or confusion as an excuse for errors made when playing at more than one table simultaneously. Players are therefore urged to consider the risks involved in multiple-table play, as errors that occur are strictly the Player's responsibility.

Individual Poker Play

Poker is a game where Players play for their own interest. Partnerships or any kind of co-operation between Players is not permitted.

Minimum Poker Buy-in

The minimum buy-in for any game is ten times the amount of the small bet. For example: the minimum buy-in in a £3/£6 game is £30.

Poker Table Stakes

There are low and high bets in each game. For example, in a £5/£10 game, the low bet is £5 and the high bet is £10. Note: You cannot increase your bet while a hand is in play.

Leaving and Returning to a Poker Game

If you leave a game and return to that game in less than sixty minutes, you will start the new game with the same stakes as when you left. Note: If you leave one game to play in another game and lose, you may return to the first game and play at a lower limit bet. For more information on playing at a lower limit bet, see the section All-in below.

All-in

If you do not have enough chips to bet during a hand, you are not forced to place the full bet amount. You must put all of your chips into the pot - this is calling all-in. All-in indicates that all your remaining chips are put into the pot. You then contend for the pot in an amount proportional to the chips you put in. The game play that continues among other Players is put into a side pot. The all-in Player has no share in this side pot.

Checks and Raises

Checking and raising is permitted in all games.

Poker Bets and Raises

No raises are permitted once the betting is capped. Players may only call or fold. When playing 1-on-1, or if only two Players remain in a game, the maximum number of bets permitted per betting round is eight.

Blinds and Posts

Blind bets are used to start the game play. The Player to the immediate left of the Dealer posts the small blind. The next Player to the left posts the big blind. The small blind is half of the lower betting limit. The big blind is a full bet at the lower betting limit. For example, in a £10/£20 game, the small blind is £5 and the big blind is £10.

When new Players enter a game they can choose to either post now or wait for the big blind. If a Player decides to wait, they will receive no cards until it is their turn to play the big blind. If they decide to post, they bet the equivalent of one big blind, and receive cards immediately.

Both the big blind and post are considered live blinds. Thus the Player who posted the small blind must equalize the betting once the new Player has posted the equivalent of one big blind. Players who sit out and then sit in again must wait either for the big blind to reach them again before receiving cards, or post both a big blind and a small blind to begin receiving cards immediately. Note: When posting both blinds, only the big blind portion of the post is live. The small blind portion of the post is placed in the pot. The Player is penalized the equivalent of a small blind.

Exposing Hands at Showdown

All active hands are automatically displayed at the showdown unless a Player has previously clicked the Muck Losing Hands option. All called hands at the showdown are available for viewing to any Player in the PlayCheck readout of a hand. Players who win a pot without a showdown are given the option to show or muck their hand. Uncalled winning hands that are mucked are not available for viewing in the PlayCheck readout.

Sitting Out

Clicking the Sit Out button allows you to leave the table for a short period of time. You will be removed from a table if you sit out for more than fifteen minutes or have missed two rounds of blinds.

Poker Limits and Rake

This is the amount that the casino takes for facilitating the game between Players on its service. This is only applicable to games where an ante is not used.