Table Games

Poker

Poker is the king of card games. It’s easy to learn and fun to play no matter what your skill level.

Getting started

To play Poker you will need to play with chips. Chips can be purchased from the Poker Booth. Simply place your cash on the table for the dealer to exchange. When you’ve finished playing, just take your chips to one of our friendly cashiers who will exchange them for cash.

What is the aim of the game?

The object of the game is to win the chips bet by the other players (the pot) by forming the highest ranked five-card Poker hand or have all the other players surrender the pot to you by folding to your bet (bluff).

How it works

SKYCITY offers two variations of Poker, Texas Hold’em and Omaha. Unlike other casino games, players of Poker play against each other - SKYCITY provides the dealers and equipment to conduct the games for a small fee, usually in the form of commission.
1. To join a game, a minimum amount of chips (table stake) is required to buy-in as specified on the sign at the relevant table.
2. After any blind betting required for the variation of Poker being played (see Variations of Poker), players are dealt their hole cards.
3. A set sequence of betting and dealing of community cards follows specific to the Poker variety.
4. Players decide through the betting rounds whether to bet, check, call, raise or fold.
5. The winner is determined by the player with the highest-ranking hand at the showdown, or when all other players have folded their hands.

How do I get a seat in a Poker game?

Simply go to the Poker Booth at the entrance to SKYCITY Poker and our Poker Supervisor will assist.

Variations of Poker

Hold’em

1. The two players to the immediate left of the ‘dealer button’ place a small blind bet and a big blind bet respectively.
2. Two cards are then dealt face down to each player, the first betting round takes place. All players may call, raise, bet or fold in turn after these hole cards are dealt.
3. The first three community cards (flop) are opened simultaneously after the first round of betting is complete. Another betting round follows.
4. The fourth and fifth community cards are opened (dealt) one at a time with a round of betting between each.
5. Players make their best five card Poker hand using any combination of their two hole cards and the five community cards.
6. At the showdown, the winning hand is the highest ranking five card Poker hand.

Omaha

Omaha is similar to Hold’em, except each player receives four hole cards.

1. The two players to the immediate left of the ‘dealer button’ place a small blind bet and a big blind bet respectively.
2. Four cards are then dealt face down to each player, the first betting round takes place. All players may call, raise, bet or fold in turn after these hole cards are dealt.
3. The first three community cards (flop) are opened simultaneously after the first round of betting is complete. Another betting round follows.
4. The fourth and fifth community cards are opened one at a time with a round of betting between each.
5. Players make their best five card Poker hand using any two of their hole cards with any three of the five community cards in the centre of the table.
6. At the showdown, the winning hand is the highest ranking five card Poker hand using any 2 hole cards in conjunction with any 3 community cards.

Folding

A player may choose to withdraw from any round of play in Poker if you don’t think your cards are good enough. When that happens this is known as ‘folding’ and no further betting is required. By doing so you forfeit all claim to the pot

Terminology

All-in: A wager of all one’s chips. A player cannot be forced out of a pot because they have run out of chips. A separate pot will be created for the remaining players’ wagers.
Betting round: A single cycle of players’ checking/betting/calling/raising/folding. During a betting round each player acts on their hand in turn, in a clockwise direction.
Blind: A bet made by a player or players without seeing their cards. Two players in Omaha and Hold’em place blind bets prior to each hand being dealt.
Call: To match the previous bet and/or raises made in a betting round. A player may call with all their chips even if it is insufficient to
meet a bet/raise. This player is said to be ‘going all-in’.
Check: To refrain from betting - without folding. A player may not check if a bet (including blind bets) has been made.
Community Cards face up in the middle of the table by cards: all players to make their best five card Poker hand.
Dealer button: A marker used to indicate who is last to receive cards and last to act in a betting round. Ordinarily this player would have been dealing the cards.
Flop: The first three of the five community cards in Omaha and Hold’em. These cards are dealt simultaneously.
Fold: To discard one’s cards and take no further part in that hand.
Hole cards: A player’s cards - dealt face down.
Pot: The sum of all antes, blinds and bets wageredin a round.
Raise: To increase the amount already wagered in a betting round.
Showdown: The exposing of players’ hands and the determining of the winning hand prior to
the pot being awarded.
Wager: The placing of chips into a pot by a player in any betting round.

Code of conduct

SKYCITY has established a Code of Conduct to facilitate a pleasant gaming atmosphere for all Poker players. Management reserves the right to refuse any person from playing and may ask players to leave if their conduct is deemed unacceptable.

 

Please note the following points from the Code of Conduct Guidelines:

• Play at a reasonable speed, don’t cause unreasonable delays and follow the game.
• Protect your hand.
• Don’t comment on other players’ tactics.
• If a player notices an error they must point it out.
• Colluding/cheating is not tolerated.
• Only English must be spoken at the table with an appropriate vocabulary/tone.
• Clearly announce your intentions, bet in one hand motion.

Good Luck … and Remember

As with all Table Games, if you are not sure about a bet or the rules of the game, just ask one of our friendly Table Games staff for assistance. They will be happy to explain anything about the game that you may not understand or provide you with further information in relation to the rules.

Play responsibly and be in to win.

SKYCITY prides itself on being a responsible host. As such, we would encourage you to play only at levels you can afford. Remember - you must be aged 20 years or older to enter the gaming areas of SKYCITY.

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