The Ante And Poker Betting Structure
I rarely play in a game with limits as low as $100 and $200. But. . .since most of you probably won't be playing in games with limits that "high", I'm going to use that game as the standard around which the discussion in this section will be based. As such, it'll be simple to make an arithmetical adjustment from that game to any other game you may play that has a different limit and ante structure.
Generally, the ante's about 15% of the lower limit. Sometimes it's a little less (10%). . .and occasionally it's higher (25%). But, usually, it's $15 in the $100 and $200 High-Low Split game played in Vegas.
In that game, in order to force the action, the first high card brings it in for (a compulsory bet of) $25. (This is the only time the high card must aet first. After this, the low hand is considered "High" and must aet first — check or bet.) The first raiser (optionally) makes it $75 to go. From then on, all other bets and raises are in increments of $100 up to and including Fourth Street (the fourth card). Starting with Fifth Street (until all the cards are out), all bets and raises are $200. As long as there are more than two players in the pot there's a limit of one bet and (usually) three raises on each round of betting. (The limit on the number of raises prevents partners from putting another player in the middle.) However, when the action's head-up, there's no limit on raises —the two players involved can continue raising each other until one of them is all-in.
Tags: games, online poker