Saturday 3 January 2009

How to Play Jacks or Better

If you’re interested in broadening your knowledge and experience in the world of poker, one variant you should take the time to learn is Jacks or Better. A number of websites offer this game and if you can effectively hone your skills for it, you can certainly look forward to winning lots of prizes from Jack or Better.

What is Jacks or Better?
The rules for Jacks or Better are mostly similar with those used in traditional poker with a few exceptions. The usual 52-card deck is used in Jacks or Better and Aces still count as high. The order of hands is still the same from royal flushes to two pairs. Other than that, single and single-pair cards don’t count unless they make use of Jacks or Better, which includes Jacks, Queens, Kings, and Aces.

Rules to Remember in Jacks or Better
Unlike most poker variants, Jacks or Better only have two betting rounds. The first is made prior to card drawing while the next takes place after the draw. Antes are also used in Jacks or Better. Lastly, betting limits for the second round are twice the amount of the first round.

Opening the Pot
Opening the pot requires a pair of jacks or better. The button will keep on moving, requiring players to ante until either they’ve reached the betting limit for the round or someone shows up with jacks or better.

Players who have passed on opening the pot will not be awarded the same right again. Players who declared false openings will be required to fold. Openers can withdraw their bet from the pot but only if the draw hasn’t been completed yet.

If no one’s able to open the pot, only the opener’s bet will remain in the pot together with all antes while everyone else’s will be returned.

Openers may be split, but a player must first declare his intention and set aside discarded cards for the dealer to reveal later on in the game.

Beating Openers
If the draw has been completed and you’ve decided to take on the opener’s bet, you immediately forfeit the right to withdrawing your bet from the pot. Information about openers, after all, don’t come for free. Such instances emphasize the crucial need of being able to read your opponents and making decisions based on what you’ve learned.

Playing Jacks or Better Online
Most online poker sites display on your screen a table including the list and order of poker hands used in Jacks or Better. Study them carefully to avoid making mistakes. There may also be tables containing the amount of payout you can expect depending on the type of hand you’re holding. Use this to calculate the odds for winning.

Consider playing the trial or demo version of Jacks or Better, honing your skills by practice, before betting real money at the table.

While Jacks and Better is truly fun to play, it is still a game that puts your money at risk. The more practice you have playing it, the better your chances are at winning.

No comments:

Post a Comment