Royal Vegas Poker

How To Play 5-Card Stud Poker

5-Card Stud is also an easy game to learn. The game however, requires skill and awareness in  order to play well. The number of visible cards that each player sees makes it easier to judge potential strength of your hand compared to the other players. 

Like 7-Card Stud, in 5-Card Stud it pays to remember the cards that other players were displaying before they folded. This will also assist in being able to estimate the chances of getting the card you need in the later rounds.

There are four rounds of betting. There is a round after each card is dealt. As such, large pots can accumulate. As with most forms of online poker, the key to winning is patience.

Each player antes. The ante is set by the card room, and does not apply where increments are $0.50/$1.00. Players are dealt one pocket card and one visible card. The player with the lowest value card "brings-in" the betting and the round of betting continues

In the second round all Players are dealt their 2nd visible card and the second round of betting commences. In the third round all Players are dealt their 3rd visible card and the third round of betting commences.  In the fourth round all Players are dealt their 4th visible card and the fourth and final  round of betting commences. 

During the showdown, all remaining players display their hand and the highest hand wins the pot.

Poker Betting Rules

• Playing and betting follows in a clockwise direction.

• Except the $0.50/$1 game which has no ante, all Players must ante before they receive their first cards

• Not including the ante, there are four betting rounds in a complete game of 5 card stud.

• On the first round of betting, the player with the lowest value door card "brings-in" and starts the betting. 

• The player that "brings-in" bets an amount equal to at least half the minimum bet for the game. 

• In the following rounds, the player with the highest hand initiates the betting. 

• If hands are tied, the player to the left of the dealer acts first.

• Betting increments in the game determine the bets. 

• In a game of $2 and $4 betting increments, the first two rounds of betting and raising are set at the lower level of $2. The other three rounds of betting and raising are set at the higher level of $4.

• The maximum number of bets per player during any betting round is four. This includes a bet, a raise, a re-raise and the cap.

• Cap is used to describe the 3rd raise in a round. This is because betting is then capped and can't be raised further. Once capped, players have only the choice to call or fold.

• In betting rounds where players have folded, the first active player to the left of the dealer acts first.

5-Card Stud Tips

• Be aware of your opponents' visible cards. This will give you a clue as to how your hand compares at any point in the game. 

• If the cards you need to help improve your hand are visible in another  players hands, then they are dead to you, Adjust your strategy accordingly and fold if need be.

• There are 13 cards in a suit and you'll need five of them to make a flush. If the card you need in another players hands you certainly have no possibility of them being dealt to you. 

• Likewise, if you can't see the cards you need, the possibility still exists that they are available.

More Royal Vegas Poker Information

There are about $1,000,000 in tournaments every week. Get your share of these fantastic winnings at the Royal Vegas Poker site. It's easy to play with the "instant no-download play" or the free "software download" options. Try the instant games if you're away from home and still want to play poker online.

Downloading the free poker and casino software is also easy and free. You'll be guided every step of the way. You'll even see a little counter in the bottom right on your task bar that shows the percentage completion for your download. This handy counter gives you instant feedback on the status of your software download so that you can be assured that it is proceeding smoothly. Once the software has downloaded, you simply select "OK" when asked if you want to install the software download is complete, you may opt to install the poker software. Then all you have to do is click "Next" and follow the instructions as they appear. It's that easy!!

Whether you've got Windows 2000 or Windows XP you'll have easy online screens to guide you along the way. After the installation is complete you simply need to enter your registration details. Thereafter you'll receive a confirmation email along with your account number and password information.

Also, if this is your first time on the MicroGaming Poker Network, you will also need to register an Alias. This is also easily done by following the simple online instructions. Once those basic steps are done you are ready to play poker. At this point you can also choose to with either the software download or the no-download options.

You'll also want to install the "Personal Messenger". It's a great little tool that goes onto your desktop. At the end of the above software installation process you'll be asked if you also want to try the personal messenger. We suggest you do give it a try. With this tool you won't be left out when tournaments or new promotional offers are started. It could give you an edge on leveraging your money further - for free. It is also a secure method of communication that will reduce the number of emails that receive.

For an informative virtual tour of the Royal Vegas Poker room go to the getting started section and click on the FAQ link. The tour will show you the various parts of the lobby interface, explain a little about the different games available, show some sample table games and provide an overview of the game and playing sequence. This is great feature to use if you've never been to a poker site before and wish to look around before you install any software.

Even if you are a professional player, the virtual guide is an indispensable tool that you should use to remind yourself of particular options or find features that you did know existed. This area is a highly recommended place for everyone!!

If you ever forget your password you can get it by following some easy steps located in the getting started section. You do need to remember the email address you used when you registered with the poker site. Enter this email address in the area provided and you'll get a validation email. This email will include all of your  Fortune Lounge gaming accounts. Next, you simply choose the applicable casino account password you would like to reset. Then you just enter and confirm your new password. Very simple.

Playing For Fun - Many potential players do not realize that they can also play a the casino without using any money. This "play for fun" option is available as soon as you have register at the Royal Vegas Poker site. You don't have to put any of your money in to do so. 

To start out with you'll get 2,000 free chips. With these free chips you can play the top game of Texas Hold'em. You can also play the other poker games including Omaha, 7-Card Stud and 5-Card Stud. As with the real games there are a number of betting limits and rules allowable.

To get to the free games you go to the game lobby and you'll see list for the free poker games. You can also get a list for each poker games type. Choose the game you want to play above the table list and the games table list will be displayed. Free tables are shown in a different color and they say "Play" next to the stakes. Just double-click the table name and click on the "Go To Table" button. If you use up all your free chips you can wait  until the next day. You'll be credited with 2,000 new free chips to play poker.

If you want to play for real, all you need is a minimum of $20 of your own money.

The Rake - The rake is the amount of money taken out of each pot for the poker operator. In the Royal Vegas Poker "any player that is dealt cards in a hand and the pot is raked at a minimum of 25c". The rake is varialbe and dependent upon the table limits. However, the amount is fixed and gets tagged onto pots that reach a pre-determined size. Every hand that has a total pot of at least $5 is raked.

For all tables with blinds $0.05/$0.10 and up with 2 players the rake per pot is $0.01 per $0.20 with a maximum rake of $1. For a table with blinds of $0.05/$0.10 and up with 3 to 10 players the rake per pot is $0.01 per $0.20 with a maximum rake of $3. 

Only players who contribute to the pot are subject to the rake. As such, those players who post a blind, bet, raise or re-raise are subject to the rake. Likewise, players who sit out a hand do not have their rake allocations credited for that hand.

Software Used - The Royal Vegas Poker uses Microgaming software. Microgaming software was the first online software developed. It is used by most oldest and biggest names in online gaming.

Microgaming software is always constantly upgraded and refined to assure reliability optimum suitability. No matter how many  players are playing games, the software process remains viable and playable. Microgaming is steadfast in it's adherence to an ethical industry code of conduct.

The software is regularly reviewed by an independent audit firm. The software is made to be totally fair. The software processes conform to the highest standards of gaming software possible.  The shuffling process is  random and conforms to a normal shuffle in land based poker room.

Extraordinary means are taken to make certain that cards are dealt completely randomly. The algorithms for shuffling and the random number generator are designed to create an variable shuffle. Also, your down cards are  known only to you. The game server deals them only to your computer. This process makes it impossible for any player to know what cards you have when the hand is being played.

Poker Strategy - What is the reason that so many people all over the world are attracted by online poker play? There are as many reasons people like to play poker as there are people. However, many of these reasons can be grouped into some basic categories. By understanding these rationales you can better understand the people behind the computer and the ways they might react to poker situations.

People like online poker because of an atmosphere of friendship, social setting, love of the game, craving for action, game challenge and because of personal player ego.

In order to learn to play poker effectively you'll need to understand the game components. You'll need to know about hand rankings and other poker basics. Obviously, there is only one winner per hand. Unlike games like blackjack, only the player with the best hand wins.

The most important basic to know are the hand rankings. If you don't have a solid grasp on the rankings you'll never prosper. No matter which version of the game you play, the hand rankings always is the same. However, depending on the game you play, the individual card values may change. In case of a tie, the winner is the player with the highest card in the rank.

Hand Rankings

• Royal Flush - Straight flush with the high card being an ace

• Straight Flush - Five sequential cards of the same suite with the high card being less than an ace

• Four-of-a-kind - Four cards of the same value

• Full House - Three cards of the same value and a separate pair of cards of the same value

• Flush Five cards of the same suite

• Straight - Five cards with sequential values

• Three-of-a-kind - Three cards with the same value

• Two Pair - Two separate pairs of cards with the same value

• Pair - Two cards of the same value

• High Card - No other combination, the value of the highest card wins

Poker Basics

Poker is a game where players bet against other players. The winner of the pot of money is the one who has the highest ranked hand at the end of the betting rounds. Players bet against each other by adding money to the pot until no one wants to add another bet believing that they do not have the highest ranked hand. By betting larger amounts of money the players are risking ever increasing amounts up to the point that belief that they have the largest hand is not as solid as the risk of continued bets and losses.

All poker games includes two bets that all players are required to make. In Texas Hold'em and Omaha, the two bets are a small blind and a big blind while in Seven Card Stud the two bets are the ante and the bring-in. The types of bet that can be made include a check, bet, fold, call or a raise.