When you make a raise, you want to make sure that you do not say things like ‘I call your bet and raise you $X.”, this is actually considered your final action and if you want to do anymore … you can not usually.  You want to say that you want to call and raise, then state the amount that you want to raise.

When you do not follow some of these simple rules, it can really annoy a lot of the other players and that is not usually what you want to do.

Players get two cards dealt face down; the third card is dealt face up, and whoever has the highest one bets first. A betting round follows each newly dealt card, until each player has seven. Naturally, the highest poker hand will win.

However. If any player receives a queen during play, then the player who goes after him or her is in luck. Whatever card is dealt next to that player, it is wild. This counts for face up cards and face down cards. Sadly, however, if another queen is dealt during the next round, the previous wild card is considered null and void.

A little complicated, to be sure, but this game nonetheless has the potential to be great fun — and very frustrating, I would imagine! It may not be Go Broke Poker, but it will likely make you go crazy!

First we have Spit in the Ocean, which can also be called Split in the Ocean. In this game, every player gets four cards. One card gets place face down, right in the middle of the card table. It is a wild card, and it will be shared by all the players — but at the end of the game, where it will be used to create the best hand possible.

The players begin by tossing in their antes, and the player to the left of the dealer starts the betting. After the initial betting session, each of the players can choose to discard. They can discard one card, all of them, or any amount in between. The discards go in front of the individual players, facing down. After the replacement cards are dealt, there is another betting session. Following that, the wild card is turned face up; the discards are as well.

Here is the tricky bit: if there is a discard matching the wild card, the owner of that card must pay up the ante again before doing anything else. Then, based on the wild card, another betting session occurs, after which the hands are compared and the winner is selected.

But why not keep it casual when you get bitten by the poker bug?  The current state of the economy makes it difficult for a lot of us to even think about going on the road and playing the big tournaments.  For us, there’s variations of Nickle and Dime poker instead.  Think about it: you can have some fun, most of all; you can win some money, also good; and you can hone your skills so that, who knows?  Maybe one of these days you will be ready to take it on the road.

Now, don’t start groaning.  The games we’ll be discussing in the coming weeks are not lame, it’s not kiddie poker.  Have an open mind — you might surprise yourself and find a new favorite game.

We made a simple list for you to browse:

Playing Any Hand You Have

Play and enjoy the game but you need to learn what is the acceptable starting hand for you. Do you think it will be wise to play a 3 Spade with a 4 Diamond?

Jumping Over Your Bankroll

Anything that is too much is not good for you. If you play greedy poker or play way above your budget can afford, count a few months and you will be declaring a bankrupt. Know your limits and stick to what you can afford.

Declare and Change

Like chess, poker is a game of integrity. Declare “raise” and you should raise. Say “call” and you mean call. Your first action is your final action. Play by the etiquette and you will win more than chips while on the poker table.

Mimicking Other Players

Imitate professional players you see on the television and you may end up getting their bad habits as well. Poker is a game where your own decision and habits will count. Your call will win you games and your behavior will be your wall against the other players.

Loving too much the Suited Cards

Suited cards are nice but you need to know how to value your cards. An Ace and a King of different suits are far more valuable than a ten and two of hearts. Remember there is a very low probability for flush.