Web Poker Features

Here is an overview of the standard features and options that you will encounter in online cardrooms.

Seating - Empty seats at the table are indicated with a small Sit Down disk. Click your mouse once on the disk to be seated in that position. If you wish to change positions after being seated at a table, you must leave the game and come back to choose a new seat. In doing so, you have to buy back into the game as a new player. You also risk losing a seat if one or more players jump into the available seats while you are in the process of returning to the lobby.

Railbirds - You can view a game in progress from the rail (that is, without actually joining the game) while waiting to join a game, or when the table is already full. When you are viewing a game, your name appears on the spectators list.

Waiting List - Some software allows you to choose how many players must be at the table before you are summoned. This feature also allows players to start an "interest list" for a table, where they can add their name to the wait list even if there is no game in progress, and then get summoned once the specified number of players have joined the list or are playing at the table.

Heads Up Tables - While any number of players can view from the rail, only two are actually allowed to join the game.

Card Deck - Decks are a standard 52-card deck with no *wild cards. The deck is shuffled after each hand.

Chips - The small round tokens you see on the table are your chips; and represent your bets, buy-in, and so on. The following are the colors of specific denominations:

Game/Deal Numbers - Every hand of poker dealt is tagged with a unique game number and the hand history is available. Game numbers will appear somewhere on the playing screen.

Chat - Most software allows you to toggle between player chat and dealer chat or view both at the same time.

Fun Chat - Some of today's online cardrooms have chat features to add sound to your conversations. See the list below of sounds for your amusement. To use them just type the indicated abbreviation and all players with sound enabled will hear what you have to say.

Sit Out Feature - You can opt to sit out without losing your seat at the table.

All-In Protection Feature - The software automatically protects your investment in a pot that you get disconnected from. This feature is usually limited to a specific number per day. After that your hand is folded if you get disconnected or fail to respond within approximately 20 seconds (that is, you are "timed out"). This feature is there to protect your bets in the event your system reboots or locks up. The traditional "all-in" (the one that occurs as a result of your running out of chips while you are in a pot) does not affect the daily quota of protected all-ins that arise due to connectivity issues.

Timeout Feature - Online cardrooms require you to act on your hand within a specific time frame. (approximately 20 seconds is standard). If you fail to act within this time limit, and you have no money in the pot, your hand is folded. If you have money in the pot but fail to act within the time limit because you are disconnected from the game site, your hand is protected as per the all-in feature, provided you have not exceeded your daily all-in quota. If you have exceeded your all-in quota or are ascertained to be connected to the game site and you have timed out, your hand is folded.

All-In - If you cannot match the existing bet because you have insufficient funds on the table and want to bet what you have left, you can do so and are considered to be all-in. You are then eligible to win only the portion of the pot to which you contributed. Additional monies wagered by other players after an all-in bet is made are separated into a side pot. Note: An all-in that is the result of insufficient funds on the table does not affect your quota of all-in protection as described above under "All-In Protection Feature."

Betting Limits - The software enforces the betting limits, which are the maximum bet on any player's turn as determined by the stakes for the particular table. For example, at a $3-$6 hold'em table, the limit on any bet is $3 on the first two betting rounds and $6 on the final two betting rounds.

Cap On Raises - This is the maximum number of raises in a betting round. Usually a bet and three raises is allowed.

Raise/Call/Check/Fold - Once a betting round has started you must select one of these options which will appear when it is your turn. If you choose one of the automatic options, your bet is made automatically on your turn. If you select Sit Out or you close the window after a round has started, your bet will be considered a fold. If your connection is lost, your hand will be played as an all-in bet. (This feature is generally restricted to a maximum number of times per day, to prevent individuals from gaining an advantage by purposely allowing themselves to be timed out.)

Showdown - When all the betting is done, and if more than one player is still in for the pot, then the showdown determines who wins. In hold'em, the last player to open or raise is required to show cards first, and anyone else can fold his cards if he decides he has lost. Players who elect to fold will not have their cards shown at the showdown, however all players can view these mucked cards by requesting a player hand history. In all other games, the software shows all hands still in contention at the showdown.

Variable Rake - The money removed from each pot by the house is the rake. Specific rake amounts will be described for each game. The rake is used to pay the house, since the winnings go to individual players.

Pot - At the end of each betting round, the chips that are bet are moved near the center of the table. This stack of chips is called the pot.

Main Pot - The main pot is the first stack of chips created after betting occurs. Unless a player runs out of money and wants to stay in the hand, the main pot is the only pot used during a hand. The rake will be deducted from the main pot.

Side Pot - If a player runs out of money during a round, any additional bets are placed in a side pot and the player that ran out of money cannot win that side pot. If the all-in player wins the main pot, the side pot goes to the second-best hand. There can be more than one side pot if more than one player is all in. A player can win only as much as he is in contention for. (It is theoretically possible for the holder of the third-best hand to win more than either of the two better hands.)

Split Pot - If two or more players have the same hand, the pot is split between them. Any odd amounts in a split pot are kept by the Cardroom and used for special prizes.

Ante or Blind - In Hold'em and Omaha, the blinds are forced bets used to get the initial money in the pot. In Seven Card Stud, players pay an ante at the beginning of each hand. This also starts each pot with money to play for.

Raise or Reraise - Once a betting round has been started, if you increase the amount of the bet that is called a raise. A reraise is simply any raise after the first raise in a round. If one player bets, another player raises, and a third player raises (or the first player puts in one more bet), it is called a reraise.

Call - To call is to match the current bet. If there has been a bet of $6, it costs $6 to call. If there has been a bet of $6 and a raise of $6, then it costs $12 to call. Calling is the cheapest (and the most passive) way to remain in a hand.

Check - At your turn, if there has been no bet in the round and you do not want to bet but you want to stay in the hand, you can check, which moves the option to the next player. This applies for all rounds after the first. All games except Seven Card Stud and Razz have blinds. These are essentially forced bets, and you must at least match the big blind to stay in the hand. Seven Card Stud and Razz have a forced bet on the first round; similarly, and you must at least match the forced bet to stay in the hand.

Fold - If you want to exit a hand and forfeit the bets you placed, select the Fold button. When the next hand begins, you will be included.

When you are seated at a table, each play option is identified on your screen as a button. Some buttons appear only when it is your turn. Listed here are the descriptions and usage of each of them.

Sit Down - Players are seated on a first-come, first-served basis. Once a table is selected, if at least one seat is open, you can select Sit Down at any time to be seated. If more than one seat is open, click the one you want to be seated at. After you have been seated, the Sit Down label disappears from any empty seats. Until Sit Down is selected, players are listed on the View List. If no seats are open you will have the option to join a waiting list for the table you have selected.

When you sit down in a game, a box appears requesting that you enter the amount with which you wish to play. You must buy in for at least the minimum; if your balance is lower than that amount, you cannot play in that game. Except for certain no-limit games that permit a maximum buy-in, you can buy in for any amount up to your account balance.

In games with antes—Seven Card Stud and Razz—a dialog box appears when each hand is dealt requesting that you ante.Most games have an option which allows you to "auto ante", saving you from being prompted with each hand.

Also see "Automatic Betting Buttons" below. Buttons that Appear When It Is Your Turn to Bet

In all games, when it is your turn, a prompt appears offering various choices. If there has been no bet On the first round, in games with blinds—that is, any game except Seven Card Stud or Razz—if you are not one of the blinds and no one has yet acted, you are offered three choices: Fold, Call $X, Raise $X, where $X is the lower limit for the game. From that point on, the choices are: Fold, Call $Y, Raise $X, where $Y is the amount that has been bet so far. If the cap has been reached, the Raise choice does not appear. If you are the little blind, the choices are the same, but with appropriate amounts to perform each action. If you are the big blind, and someone has opened for the minimum and no one has raised the opening bet, the choices are: Fold, Check, Bet $X, where $X is the lower limit for the game. (In this case, to bet means to raise your blind. This is an option since the blind is considered a live blind.)

Fold - If you want to stop betting this hand and forfeit your current bets (if any), select this button.

Call/Check - This button changes between Call and Check depending on the circumstance.

• Call - Use Call to match the current bet of other players. As an example, "Call $3" means you are matching the bet of that amount.
• Check - If someone does not bet (on any round except the first) and you don't want to bet, you can pass (or Check) to the next player.

Bet/Raise - This button changes between Bet and Raise depending on the circumstance.

• Bet - This button appears if you are the first person to bet in the round.
• Raise - This button is available if someone has already entered a bet.

Automatic bet buttons displayed on the game screen allows you to choose your action in advance of your turn. Click a button to activate its function; click the button again to deactivate.

Auto Blind/Auto Ante - The button that appears is appropriate to the game.

• Auto Blind - This button appears in all blind games—that is, any game except Seven Card Stud or Razz. To speed up the game and not necessitate your being reminded whenever it is your turn to put in a blind, clicking this button causes the software to put your blind in for you whenever it is your turn.
• Ante - This button appears in all Seven Card Stud and Razz games. To speed up the game and not necessitate your being reminded whenever it is your turn to put in an ante, clicking this button causes the software to ante each hand for you automatically.

Fold ASAP - This button causes you to check or fold automatically—whichever is appropriate for the situation—in turn. Use this button if you intend to make no bet or to fold your hand the next time the action comes to you. Once activated, this button remains activated throughout the remainder of the hand unless the action is taken or the player toggles it off.

Check/Fold - This button causes you to check or fold automatically—whichever is appropriate for the situation—in turn. Use this button if you intend to make no bet or to fold your hand the next time the action comes to you. This button will remain activated for a single round until the action is taken or the player toggles it off.

Check/Call 1 Bet - This button causes you to check or call 1 bet automatically—whichever is appropriate for the situation—in turn. Use this button if you intend to call—but not raise—a bet or to check if there is no bet the next time the action comes to you. This button will remain activated for a single action or until toggled off. If checking or betting 1 bet is not an option the button will be automatically toggled off.

Check/Call All - This button causes you to check or call all actions for the entire round automatically—whichever is appropriate for the situation—in turn. Use this button if you intend to call—but not raise—a bet or to check if there is no bet the next time the action comes to you. This button will remain activated for the entire round or until it is toggled off.

Bet/Call 1 Bet - This button causes you to bet or call 1 bet automatically—whichever is appropriate for the situation—in turn. Use this button if you intend to bet (if there is no bet) or call 1 bet—but not raise—a bet, if there is one, the next time the action comes to you. This button remains activated for one action only.

Bet/Call All - This button causes you to bet or call all bets automatically—whichever is appropriate for the situation—in turn. Use this button if you intend to bet (if there is no bet) or call—but not raise—a bet, if there is one, the next time the action comes to you. This button remains activated for the entire round or until the player toggles it off.

Raise It - This button causes you to raise any bet automatically in turn. Use this button if you intend to bet (if there is no bet) or raise—up to the cap—any bet, the next time the action comes to you. This button remains activated for a single action or until the player toggles it off.

Keep Raising - This button causes you to raise any bet automatically in turn for the duration of the round. Use this button if you intend to bet (if there is no bet) or raise—up to the cap—any bet, the next time the action comes to you. This button remains activated for the entire round or until the player toggles it off

Check/Keep Calling - This button causes you to check or call any bet automatically in turn throughout the entire hand. Use this button if you intend to check (if there is no bet or call—but not raise—any bet, the next time the action comes to you. This button remains activated for the entire hand or until the player toggles it off.

Check Raise - This button causes you to check on the first prompt and raise all bets on the second offering in the same round. The button will be toggled off if these options are not available or when the raise action is taken.

Sit Out/Sit In - This button changes between Sit Out and Sit In, depending on the circumstance.

• Sit Out - When you are playing, click this button to sit out—without losing your seat—starting the next hand and until you click the button again. You are allowed to sit out for a specified period of time without being removed from the table. To return, click the Sit Out/Sit In button.
• Sit In - When you are sitting out, click this button to get back into the game. In a blind game, if you have not missed the blinds, you are dealt in the next hand.

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