| Before a poker
game is even started, players need to put money in the pot. In this
manner, there will be something to look for when the first card is
dealt.
Building the pot is done in two ways:
Antes
In an ante, players agree to put in a certain, predetermined amount
as the pot money. Antes do not count as a bet but a simple way
of getting the ball rolling.
Blinds
A forced bet called a “blind” is made by each player.
The term was coined because the players do not actually know the
cards they are getting.
By practice, the two players on the left side of the dealer is
chosen as the blinds. The player on the immediate left of the dealer
puts in a smaller amount called “the little blind.” The
player located a couple of places from the little blind gives a
slightly higher amount called the “big blind.”
Prior to the start of the game, the blinds are agreed upon and
determined. The “big blind” is amounts to the lowest
possible bet, while the little blind is about half or a third of
the big blind.
While antes are not considered as a bet, blinds do count as a
player’s initial bet. So that, during the early betting rounds,
no “checks” will be called and everyone has to place
a bet.
Being a betting game, poker is played by requiring players to decide
before a game regarding acceptable amounts for betting (called
limits), and the utilization and cost of forced bets. Collectively,
they are referred to as the betting structure of poker.
Spread Limit
In spread-limit, any amount within some range can
be considered as a bet. The lowest amount is the minimum while
the biggest amount is the ceiling bet. This betting structure
is common in most home games.
Fixed Limit
Played in most casinos, this type of betting
structure sets a pre-designed amount of money for each
betting round. Bets
or raise must be within the agreed upon amount.
Pot Limit
So called because, bets or raise is determined
by the amount of the pot. This betting structure may become
costly
especially
if a player bets or raises twice the amount of the pot.
No Limit
In betting, there is absolutely no boundaries.
A player can put in as much as he wants to. The stakes
can be
made higher
and risks can be taken.
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