Down The River Poker Rules
Down The River Poker Rules 2020
In Draw Poker, all the cards are dealt face down to the players. In Stud Poker, some of the cards are dealt face up as the betting progresses, so that all of the other players get to see a part of each player's hands.
- Each successive hand is played with one card fewer, down to a hand of just one card each, then one card more per hand back up to the starting level. Example: With 7 players, the hands are: 7 cards, then 6,5,4,3,2,1, then 2,3,4,5,6,7, for a total of 13 hands to the game.
- If poker-style betting is used, players who fold discard their cards face down in front of them but retain the cards for use in later rounds. Some deal seven cards each, and each player makes the best possible five-card poker hand from these. The players then keep seven cards for the bingo and put and take phases. Phase 2 - Bingo.
- The poker phrase means to check (or flat-call) your hand as the last player to act before a winner is decided, while being in possession of the best possible hand on the table. If you are the last to act on the river holding the best hand, you have to bet. While he claims ignorance of the rule, unfortunately ignorance of the law is not a defence.
Here, because Darvin held the Ace of Spades, he had a hand regarded as the ‘exclusive nuts’ – one which can’t be beaten in any scenario in accordance with the five community cards. Tournament rules state the player who holds an undisputed winning hand on the final round of betting, is last to act, and either checks or flat-calls (calling after one bet), will receive a penalty. This rule refers only to undisputed winning hands as opposed to a nut-straight which is a tied hand.
Why is Checking the Nuts Disallowed?
The disallowing of checking or flat-calling with the nuts is a rule usually only implemented in tournaments, and not cash games. The main reason behind ruling against this practice is to avoid any potential collusion between two or more players – in this sense, collusion would be a prior agreement between players to obtain an unfair advantage within the competition by deceiving or misleading other players.
In a tournament, if players sitting on the same table work together, then they can theoretically increase their chances of winning as they are no longer playing against each other, and using previously agreed upon tactics to garner information about other players, and attempt to both remain in the competition as long as possible.
An example of collusion when not betting with the best hand:
- Player A and player C are working in tandem.
- The turn comes and gives player C (acting last) the nut flush, obviously unbeknownst to his/her partner.
- Players A, B and C remain in the round.
- Player A lays down a relatively large bet with two-pair and Player B folds.
- Player C calls.
- The river comes, Player A checks followed by a check from Player C.
Down The River Poker Rules 2019
Player A and Player C have no reason to bet against each other on the final round because neither wants to kick the other out of the tournament. There can be many scenarios where if people have arranged beforehand to work together, that checking or flat-calling a nut hand would work to their benefit.
However, most cases where checking the nuts occurs is a result of a player misreading their hand or is unaware of the rule and wants to see what the other player had (as seen above), knowing their opponent would most likely fold to any potential bet and muck their hand. Sometimes, a player mightn’t want to eliminate another player for tactical reasons (not collusion) such as gaining more information about other players’ style.
Poker Rules To Print
Obviously, we do not condone collusion. If you find yourself in a position where it is you to act last and you hold the nuts, it is advisable to bet anyway, as you could end up winning a whole lot more than if you were to flat-call or do nothing.
Why does the rule not apply in cash games?
Sunnybrook Poker
In cash games, if a player remains in the game after being checked to by someone with the nuts, it doesn’t really impact anyone else at the table. However, in a tournament, if that same player remains in the game courtesy of some slow-play from their opponent with the nuts, it can have a significant impact.