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Online Poker - Jacks Or Better
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Also called jackpots, draw poker - jacks or better is a closed poker variation, where all cards are dealt face down (closed) and known only by the holder of that hand. It is played with two betting rounds. The first betting round occurs before the draw, when players have an opportunity to exchange up to three unwanted cards for new ones. In some games, players are allowed to draw four cards if their remaining card is an ace, and in online casino draw poker, players may exchange up to five unwanted cards for new ones.
The second round of betting occurs after the draw. At the showdown, the highest hand wins the pot. If all other players have folded, the last remaining player is the winner.
THE PLAY OF THE GAME
Both the casino and private versions of jacks or better require antes. These must be placed into the pot before the cards are dealt. Antes usually range from 10% of the maximum bet (normal size) to 20% considered a high ante). In a $5-$ 10 game, a $1 or $2 ante would be the most common found.
Each player is dealt five face-down cards. The deal begins with the player to the immediate left of the dealer receiving the first card and continues clockwise, one card at a time, until all players have received their five cards. The first round of betting begins at this point, with the first player to have received cards, the one on the dealer’s left, making the first play.
To open betting in jacks or better, a player must have a hand with a minimum ranking of a pair of jacks. For example, a pair of queens, three deuces or a straight are hands that could open betting, while a pair of 7s or an ace-high hand could not. A player holding jacks or better does not have to open betting, however. He may check his turn.
The first player to act must check if he cannot open betting or chooses not to open. The next player, in turn, must also check if he doesn’t hold the requisite opening cards. Players continue checking until an opener, the opening bet with a hand of jacks or better, is made. 4 that he drew fell a little short of his needs. There’s not much he can do with a 10-high hand.
Big Phil raises the bet to $20 (a $10 raise) and Vicenzo calls the bet. Since Vicenzo called Big Phil’s raise, Big Phil must show his cards first. He turns over his trip 5s. Vicenzo sees that he is beat, and, mumbling something about his boss, throws his cards face down and concedes the pot.
Big Phil is the winner. He collects all the chips in the pot, giving them a new home in his private stack. A new deal is ready to begin.
Once an opening bet is placed, subsequent players, in order, may call, fold or raise the opener. Checking is no longer permitted. A bet has been made and players must call that bet to play for the pot. Play continues around the table in clockwise If all players check on the opening round of play, the hand is said to be passed out. The cards are collected and shuffled, and the next player in turn gets the dealer’s position. New antes will be required of all players. These are added to the antes already in the pot.
The draw occurs after the first betting round is completed.
Each remaining player, beginning with the first active player to the dealer’s left, can discard up to three cards (or five when allowed). The cards should be tossed face-down toward the dealer, who will issue an equivalent number of new cards from the unused portion of the deck. Players should draw in turn, waiting for the previous player to receive his new cards before making their own discards. The dealer draws last, if he is still in the pot.
Discards should be announced, so that all players are aware of the number of cards drawn. Players who do not draw any cards are said to stand pat. You can indicate your choice to stand pat verbally or by knocking on the table with your hand.
The second round of betting follows the draw. It is begun by either the opener or the last raiser if there were any raises during the round. If no raises occurred, and the opener has folded, the first active Player to the dealer’s left opens the betting: This player may check or bet as desired. Each succeed-lng player has the option of checking or betting, but once a bet is placed, active players must call that bet, raise, or go out.
The showdown occurs after this betting round is completed. At this time, the player whose last bet or raise was called (as opposed to players calling those bets) turns over his cards first. Any opponent who claims a superior hand must turn over his cards for verification. Players holding inferior hands may go out without revealing their cards. The best hand wins the pot and gets to rake in the chips.
Let’s return to our original crew and see how the betting works in a $5-$ 10 limit game of jacks or better. They’re playing with a $2 ante, a high ante for this type of betting, and one which encourages aggressive early betting to “steal the antes.” The pot holds $16 to start (eight players times $2).
These are the cards they hold after the deal:
Julian K 10 7 3 2
Eddie-boy 8 8 10 4 2
Vicenzo A A J 10 8
Fay 6 6 A 4 3
Donto A J 7 6 3
Flavian K 10 9 8 7
Uncle J. J J 5 4 2
Big Phil 5 5 5 8 7
Julian is on the dealer’s immediate left, so he opens play. Not having a hand of jacks or better, Julian checks, as does Eddie-boy, who holds only a pair of 8s. Vicenzo can open, and he does, flipping a $5 chip into the pot. Fay has nothing worth betting on, and she folds.
Donto is excited enough by his ace-high hand to call the bet, but it’s a poor play. He’s a big underdog with those cards and has little chance of winning.
Flavian’s cigar is blowing smoke like a train coming down the tracks. With two players in the action and a large ante, the $25 in the pot gives him good pot odds to go for his straight (26-5, greater than the approximately 4-1 odds he needs to make the play justifiable) and he calls the $5 bet as well.
Uncle J. knows that the opener, Vicenzo, holds jacks or better, and he figures that Vicenzo probably has at least kings or aces to have opened in such an early position. With two other players in the game, he folds his pair of jacks. He knows they’re of little value.
Big Phil tosses $10 into the pot, calling the $5 opener and bumping that bet $5 more. His three fives are strong cards. If too many players are allowed to draw out against them, they could get beat.
Julian and Eddie-boy see that their free ride is over and fold in turn. Neither sees his cards being worth a $5 bet, let alone a $5 raise on top. Vicenzo calls the raise and flips his $5 into the pot. Donto finally folds, poorer by his earlier $5 call. Flavian is playing for the draw and calls the $5 raise.
The raise has now been called by all active players, and the first betting round is over. On this first round of betting, before the draw, all bets and raises are in the lower tier of the $5-$ 10 game, and are therefore in $5 increments. After the draw, all bets will be in the upper tier, or in $10 increments.
Three players remain for the draw: Vicenzo, Flavian, and Big Phil. Vicenzo throws his discards toward the dealer and draws three cards to his aces. Flavian calls for one card. After he receives his draw, Big Phil takes one card as well. Though Big Phil theoretically has better chances of improving his hand with a two-card draw, his one-card draw is a clever play, since opponents must figure him for two pair. Meanwhile, he’s sitting pretty with his three 5s, a favorite against his two opponents.
Here’s how the hands look after the draw:
Vicenzo A A 9 9 2
Flavian 10 9 8 7 4
Big Phil 5 5 5 K 6
The opener, Vicenzo, acts first and bets $10. His aces over 9s is a strong hand, and he figures it’s a stronger hand than Big Phil’s probable two pair. Flavian’s train has slowed down, and he folds. The 4 that he drew fell a little short of his needs. There’s not much he can do with a 10-high hand.
Big Phil raises the bet to $20 (a $10 raise) and Vicenzo calls the bet. Since Vicenzo called Big Phil’s raise, Big Phil must show his cards first. He turns over his trip 5s. Vicenzo sees that he is beat, and, mumbling something about his boss, throws his cards face down and concedes the pot.
Big Phil is the winner. He collects all the chips in the pot, giving them a new home in his private stack. A new deal is ready to begin.
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