BamBets Ring Games General Rules

Last Updated: 7/28/2025

1. Texas Hold’em

a. Game Description

i. Texas Hold'em is the most popular poker variant, with three main formats: Fixed Limit, Pot Limit, and No Limit. While betting structure varies, all share the same basic rules and hand rankings.
ii. The goal is to create the best five-card hand using traditional poker rankings. Each player receives two face-down hole cards, and up to five community cards are dealt face-up in the center.
iii. The five community cards come out in three stages: the Flop (3 cards), the Turn (1 card), and the River (1 card).
iv. Players can make their best five-card hand using:

  • Both hole cards + 3 community cards

  • One hole card + 4 community cards

  • Or even all 5 community cards (playing the board)

The player with the best hand at showdown—or the last player left after folds—wins the pot.

b. Deck

Standard 52-card deck. No jokers.

c. Table

Texas Hold’em is played on a traditional poker table with 2 to 8 players. BamBets tables have predefined betting limits and buy-ins.

d. Hold’em Game Rules

i. Your goal is to win the pot by having the best five-card hand or getting your opponents to fold.
ii. Three betting structures:

  • Fixed Limit: Bet amounts are fixed.

  • No Limit: Bet any amount up to your full stack.

  • Pot Limit: Max raise is the current size of the pot.
    iii. Hole cards are private and only revealed at showdown.
    iv. You can use any combo of your hole cards and community cards.
    v. The Flop, Turn, and River reveal up to five shared cards.
    vi. You can use both, one, or none of your hole cards. For example, if the board is five diamonds, every player has at least a flush—so kicker strength matters.
    vii. Bluffing and semi-bluffing are core strategies. You don’t always need the best hand to win.

e. Pre-Game Setup

i. To determine the first dealer, every player draws a card. Highest card wins. Ties are broken by suit: Spades > Hearts > Diamonds > Clubs.
ii. The Dealer Button moves clockwise after each hand.
iii. The player left of the dealer posts the Small Blind (SB); the next posts the Big Blind (BB).
iv. Some BamBets tournaments include an ante—a small forced bet from all players.

f. Starting the Game

i. Cards are dealt clockwise starting with SB. Each player gets two hole cards.
ii. After the hand, the dealer button shifts one seat clockwise.
iii. The hand ends when everyone folds except one player or a showdown occurs.

g. First Betting Round (Pre-Flop)

i. Begins with the player left of the BB.
ii. Players can:

  • Fold

  • Call the BB amount

  • Raise within table limits
    iii. Betting continues clockwise. Once all bets are matched, the flop is dealt.

h. Second Betting Round (Flop)

i. The flop reveals 3 community cards.
ii. First active player to the left of the dealer acts first.
iii. Options:

  • Bet

  • Check (if no bet yet)

  • Call

  • Raise

  • Fold

i. Third Betting Round (Turn)

i. The turn (4th community card) is revealed.
ii. Another round of betting, same options as above.

j. Final Betting Round (River)

i. The river (5th community card) is dealt.
ii. Final betting round.
iii. If multiple players remain, a showdown determines the winner. If hands are equal, the pot is split.

2. Omaha

a. Game Description

i. Similar to Hold'em, but each player gets 4 hole cards, and must use exactly 2 of them with 3 community cards to make their hand.
ii. In 5-Card Omaha, players receive 5 hole cards but still use only 2 + 3 community cards.
iii. Omaha supports Fixed Limit, No Limit, and Pot Limit formats.
iv. Players aim to create the best 5-card hand using the above rule.
v. Community cards are dealt in 3 stages: Flop, Turn, River.
vi. Player with the best 5-card hand at showdown wins the pot.

b. Deck

Standard 52-card deck. No jokers.

c. Table

2 to 10 players at a standard BamBets poker table.

d. Game Rules

i. Goal is to make the best 5-card hand or bluff opponents into folding.
ii. Three betting types:

  • Fixed Limit

  • Pot Limit

  • No Limit
    iii. Each player gets 4 hole cards face-down.
    iv. You must use 2 of your hole cards + 3 of the 5 community cards to make your hand.
    v. Same betting rounds as Hold’em. Bluffing still in play.

3. Omaha Hi/Lo ("O8", "Omaha 8 or Better")

a. Game Description

i. The pot is split: half to the best high hand, half to the best qualifying low hand.
ii. To qualify for a low hand, you must:

  • Use 2 hole cards + 3 community cards

  • No card higher than 8

  • No pairs or trips

  • Aces count as low

  • Flushes/straights don’t matter for the low
    iii. Best possible low hand: 5-4-3-2-A
    iv. Worst qualifying low: 8-7-6-5-4

b. Pre-Game Setup

Same as other games—SB and BB post blinds before cards are dealt.

c. Starting the Game

i. Dealer deals one card at a time clockwise until every player has four hole cards.
ii. The dealer button rotates one seat clockwise after each hand.
iii. The hand ends with a fold or a showdown.

d. First Betting Round (Pre-Flop)

i. Starts with player left of BB.
ii. Options: Fold, Call, Raise (within limits).
iii. Continues clockwise until bets are matched.

e. Second Betting Round (Flop)

i. Flop reveals 3 community cards.
ii. First active player left of dealer acts.
iii. Options:

  • Bet

  • Check

  • Call

  • Raise

  • Fold

f. Third Betting Round (Turn)

i. 4th community card is dealt.
ii. Another round of betting.

g. Final Betting Round (River)

i. 5th community card is dealt.
ii. Final betting round occurs.
iii. If multiple players remain:

  • Showdown decides the winner.

  • Pot is split if a qualifying low hand exists.