How To Bet In Poker

How To Place Bets in Poker

As far as games at the casino go, live poker is probably the one with the most delicate and finely balanced game stages that offer players myriad ways to wager. Because it’s not a one-and-done game like roulette that follows a strict one-round gameplay, there are different points in a game that follow a completely different plan of action and that might require you to make extra bets that keep you in the game. If you’re a newcomer to something like that and are not sure how to bet in poker, it can be a little confusing the first time you’re sat at the table and see someone raising on the fourth street while another opponent folds.

In this guide, we will cover the different bets that you can expect to see in a game of poker, when you would see them, what you need to do to keep the game going, and how much to bet in poker.

Know Your Betting Options in Poker

A lot of people who are not well-versed in playing might think that poker is all one game and not realise that there are several different variants in which the betting options will be slightly different. For example, some games are played entirely against the dealer, so these will have limited betting options compared to those in which you sit at a table with as many as seven different players. Because of that, it’s key that you’re fully aware of the game you’re playing and the options open to you within it.

Bets You Can Play in Three Card Poker

First up, we have one of those games we mentioned where you are pitted against the dealer and not against fellow players. In these games, your options are limited by the fact that there are only a couple of outcomes possible and the gameplay is a simple comparison with it being a case of revealing your hand and the game ending in one fell swoop. Unlike other games of comparison such as blackjack, you don’t have the chance to hit or stick. Instead, you are dealt your cards and that’s that.

As a result, the betting options in three card poker are limited to two main ones that you will find at most casinos when working out how to bet in three card poker. The first is the ante, which refers to betting on the outcome of the player’s hand against the dealer’s. That is whether or not your hand will be higher in value than the house’s. The other is pairs plus, which means you are simply betting on your hand and not the dealer’s. In this, you’re hoping to see your hand’s value come in as a pair or higher.

Bets You Can Place in Five Card Stud Poker

Because this is a game you play against others and you are not dealt your entire hand right away, there are a few more bets that will be placed. First and foremost, you will have your ante. Unlike three card, where this is you betting your hand against the dealer, this refers to the bet you make before any cards are dealt and acts as your buy-in to play the game. After this, the player whose third card (the door - the face-up card) is lowest will place the bring-in bet.

After this within five card poker, the dealer dishes out a card that begins each betting round until either each player has five cards that they show to the table, with the highest value hand winning, or players begin to fold as they avoid paying into a pot that they don’t see themselves having a strong chance of winning. Players can choose to call (match the previous bet) or raise (increase the bet). And that’s how to bet in five card poker.

Bets You Can Place in Seven Card Stud Poker

Seven card stud poker is much the same game as the prior, just that players are dealt a couple more cards. In essence, adding another two betting rounds to the game. So, again the game begins with the ante, before three cards (two holes and one door) are dealt. At this point, you can probably guess how the rhythm of the game plays out as it is nearly identical to the previous one.

As with five card stud, this variant sees the players at the table betting on the fourth street all the way up to the sixth, followed by the river. The first round of betting on the fourth street in both versions of stud poker is double the bring-in bet and it’s at this point that you will likely see players continue to call, raise, or fold as their hands begin to take shape. And while these are the main bets that you will see in these kinds of poker, there are others that players can choose to partake in if they’re looking for side action.

Side Bets in Poker

When playing with others, poker is a game that is famous for the additional kinds of side bets that players will often engage in. These are often referred to as proposition bets and can be on anything but the overall outcome of the game - i.e. not raising in the belief that their hand will win. Instead, these bets will usually be decided between small groups at a table, including things like betting on the colour of the suit that the flop card will be or two players betting on who they think will be the first to fold.

Ante Bets in Poker

As we mentioned, in every variation of poker that you play, you have your ante. This is a latin word that translates to before, so these bets will always take place before any cards have been dealt. In three card poker, both of the standard bets are known as the ante. In other variants that are played against others, the ante is usually what determines how much to bet in poker. They are sometimes followed by the big and small blind bets where cards have been dealt, but players have yet to see them.