In hold’em, players receive two downcards as their
personal hand (holecards), after which there is a round
of betting. Three boardcards are turned simultaneously
(called the “flop”) and another round of betting
occurs. The next two boardcards are turned one at a time,
with a round of betting after each card. The boardcards
are community cards, and a player may use any five-card
combination from among the board and personal cards. A
player may even use all of the boardcards and no personal
cards to form a hand (play the board). A dealer button
is used. The usual structure is to use two blinds, but
it is possible to play the game with one blind, multiple
blinds, an ante, or combination of blinds plus an ante.
RULES
These rules deal only with irregularities. See the previous
chapter, “Button and Blind Use,” for rules
on that subject.
1. If the first holecard dealt is exposed, a misdeal
results. The dealer will retrieve the card, reshuffle,
and recut the cards. If any other holecard is exposed
due to a dealer error, the deal continues. The exposed
card may not be kept. After completing the hand, the dealer
replaces the card with the top card on the deck, and the
exposed card is then used for the burncard. If more than
one holecard is exposed, this is a misdeal and there must
be a redeal.
2. If the dealer mistakenly deals the first player an
extra card (after all players have received their starting
hands), the card will be returned to the deck and used
for the burncard. If the dealer mistakenly deals more
than one extra card, it is a misdeal.
3. If the flop contains too many cards, it must be redealt.
(This applies even if it were possible to know which card
was the extra one.)
4. If the flop needs to be redealt because the cards
were prematurely flopped before the betting was complete,
or the flop contained too many cards, the boardcards are
mixed with the remainder of the deck. The burncard remains
on the table. After shuffling, the dealer cuts the deck
and deals a new flop without burning a card. [See “Section
16 – Explanations,” discussion #2, for more
information on this rule.]
5. If more than one card has been burned before the
flop round of betting begins, and any cards have been
turned faceup, the flop is invalid if the error is discovered
before betting has started. The flop shall be redealt
as per the previous rule. If the error has been discovered
without the identity of any flop-cards being divulged,
the proper flop shall be used. If betting has started
before attention is called to the error, the flop actually
dealt must be used.
6. If the dealer turns the fourth card on the board
before the betting round is complete, the card is taken
out of play for that round, even if subsequent players
elect to fold . The betting is then completed. The dealer
burns and turns what would have been the fifth card in
the fourth card’s place. After this round of betting,
the dealer reshuffles the deck, including the card that
was taken out of play, but not including the burncards
or discards. The dealer then cuts the deck and turns the
final card without burning a card. If the fifth card is
turned up prematurely, the deck is reshuffled and dealt
in the same manner. [See “Section 16 – Explanations,”
discussion #2, for more information on this rule.]
7. If more than one card has been burned, the error
shall be rectified if the mistake is discovered before
betting starts. If the error is not discovered before
betting starts, the card dealt faceup must be used.
8. You must declare that you are playing the board before
you throw your cards away; otherwise you relinquish all
claim to the pot.
