Ok recently we have been having a debate at the casino as to who has to show their hand first when betting action is complete. Different places have different rules. The basic rules are: If there is a bet in the last round then it’s the person who made the bet (or last bettor) who must show their hand first. If the hand is called. It would then go clockwise from them. Usually, if you have a winning hand you should show it reasonably quickly (if not you could be “slow rolling”). On that rule everyone basically agrees. The debate comes in when the last round of betting is checked around. Some places say that who ever was the last person to bet, no matter what round that was, is the first to show their hand. Other places say that if there is no action then the person clockwise from the button is first to show their hand. I cant say which is really correct, but I believe very strongly in one. Some of the arguments I have had at the table were as heated as if we were talking about religion or something. So if you disagree with my opinion fee free to share your reasons for the other side.

The first person to show their hand after the last round of betting is checked is the person clockwise from the button. Even if he was not the last person to bet. My reason for this is that I believe that’s what the rules say. Every round of action starts at the button and continues around in circles until all bets are matched. Just because a person bet the turn does not mean that they are first to act on the river. Some people say that that only goes for betting. It does not say that in the rules, it says “to act” and showing your hand is an action. Another hypothetical that can help to disprove the other method is this; What if everyone called the hand and then the entire hand was checked down to the river with no betting, who would be the first to show their hand? Small blind? You would think so, but they were not the last person to bet, actually the big blind was.

Here is another argument for the last bettor to show their poker hand first. I hear people say that its not fair that a person can bet all the way and check the river then not have to show. To that I say, “not fair” are you telling me that having position in a hand is “not fair”?? Yes it is an advantage and no it should not be fair. I would love to hear more arguments on this topic, this is kind of like preparing myself for the next debate at the tables.

1. Poker is played hundreds of ways, so familiarize yourself with the rules of each game. The most popular variations are Texas Hold’em, the Five- and Seven-Card Studs, and the Five-Card Draw. Read or watch online tutorials from the likes of TruePokerDealer to learn how to play different variations.
2. The river is the last chance for players to bet, raise or fold. After the betting on the turn has been completed, the dealer will place another single card face up by the side of the turn card. Now the final round of betting begins, as before in both the flop and turn stages of the game the betting (or indeed checking) are started by the player.
3. Playing after the river Your options on the turn After the flop, there are two more community cards to play – the turn and the river, each with a round of betting in between. Before you put more money in the pot, ask yourself: is it worth your while to see these cards or not?

The River – The Rules of the Poker River The river is the final round of the hand and the last chance for players to improve and do some betting. The dealer places one last card face up, the river card, in the middle of the table. Once the fifth community card, the river, is revealed, the final round of betting begins. A card is burned and the most infamous of community cards, the river (sometimes called fifth street) is dealt. All remaining players have seven cards for selecting their best five-card Poker hand (their two hole cards combined with the five community cards). A round of betting takes place, and the best five-card hand at the table is the winner.

SLOW ROLLING

As I had said above some people, who don’t know any better, slow roll other players on the show down. Its when a person waits for a period of time long enough that the first person to show their hand begins to think they have won. You then slowly roll over your hand and surprise him that they have lost. The length of time can be different, especially with more players in the hand. Now this is not illegal, but its one of the biggest a** h*** things you can do at a table. Its not like showing a bluff, which may anger someone but it is acceptable. All poker regulars would agree that slow rolling is band by the unwritten rules of poker.

OBJECTIVE OF UP AND DOWN THE RIVER: Don’t get alcohol poisoning!

NUMBER OF PLAYERS:6+ Players

NUMBER OF CARDS: two 52 card decks

RANK OF CARDS: K (high), Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, A

OTHER MATERIALS: Beer

TYPE OF GAME: Drinking

AUDIENCE: Adult

INTRODUCTION TO UP AND DOWN THE RIVER

Up and Down the River is another name for the trick-taking card game Oh Hell!It also refers to a communal drinking game which is described below.

HOW TO PLAY

1. Players sit in a circle and pick a dealer, the dealer also participates in the game.
2. The dealer deals each player four cards, face-up. Cards are kept in front of each player.
3. The dealer keeps the remainder of the deck. The dealer starts the game by flipping over the top card of the deck. This is going ‘up the river.’ If a player has a card of the same rank, they must take a drink. Suit does not matter. If a person has more than one card in hand that matches they must take a drink per matching card.
4. The dealer flips over the next card. The same rules repeat, except if a player has a matching card they take two drinks… then three.. then four.
5. After the fourth card is flipped, the dealer begins to move ‘down the river,’ by flipping a single card ontop of the fourth. Players who have matching cards give four drinks away to other players in any combination. Four drinks to one player, two to two players, etc. Players give drinks per matching card.
6. The dealer continues on going down the river by dealing another card, in which players must give three drinks if they have a matching card. This continues until players give only one drink.
7. At the end of the game, the cards are collected by the dealer and shuffled thoroughly.
8. The dealer counts, starting from 1 to 13, where Ace=1 and King=13. The dealer flips over cards while counting. If the rank of the card matches the number the dealer announces, everyone must take that number of drinks.
9. Cards are reshuffled and re-dealt. Play the game until players are sick of the game or sick off the booze.

5 Card Poker Rules

REFERENCES:

http://www.drinksmixer.com/games/38/

The River Poker Room

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oh_Hell