The game is managed in rounds wherein each player has a turn to act.

1) The first person to sit at a table becomes the dealer for the first hand.

2) A new game on an active table starts when the dealer button rotates clockwise to the next player.

3) The player to the left of the dealer button starts by placing the small blind. The small blind is equal to half the lower stake. For example, if the stake is $10/20, the small blind will be $5. This is more of a guideline rather than a strict rule.

4) The next player, to the left of the small blind, then posts the big blind, equal to the lower stake limit ($10 in a $10/$20 game). Sometimes more than one player posts a big blind in a hand, for instance when a new player joins a game that is in process.

The new player may either be able to place a Big Blind at the start of the next hand or may have to wait for his/her turn (depending on how the dealer button moves).

5) In Holdem poker all blinds are considered live bets, which means that a player posting these will be able to check, call, raise or fold when the betting comes round to his/her turn.

6) When all blinds are placed, 2 down/hole cards are dealt to each active player and the first betting round commences.

7) The first bet for this round is placed by the player to the left of the player who placed the big blind.

8) Each player may now place his/her first-round bet, which is equal to the lower limit of the stake structure. For example, in a $10/$20 game, the value of each bet is $10 for the first round.

9) Bets limited to $10 refer to placed (single) bets of the value of $10. Therefore a player bets $10 and raises $20, which includes an additional bet and a call on the bet placed by the previous player.

Bets may be placed in any of the following ways: - Bet, Call and Raise .These options are subjected to the action taken by the previous player.

The first player to bet in the first round (left of the Big Blind) would get the Bet, Call and Raise option. All subsequent players in the round get the Call and Raise options only.

"Call" - to bet the same amount as the previous player.

"Raise" - means raising the bet/call amount of the previous player and can be calculated according to the value of the previous bet.

Each participant is required to place a betting amount equal to that of the previous players (including bets, calls and raises) and the betting continues until all players have placed equal amounts in the pot.

The number of bets a player may place during a betting round is limited and is taken into consideration during the hand. See "Standard Rules" section for the limits on the number of bets per round.

When the first round of betting is over, the Flop (the first three community cards) is dealt, face-up.

Following the Flop and in each subsequent betting round, the player to the left of the button acts first.
In the second betting round, the value of Bets and Raises are also limited to the lower limit of the stake structure. Therefore the value of each Bet in a $10/$20 game is $10 for the second round.
Bets limited to $10 refer to placed (single) bets to the value of $10. Therefore a player bets $10 and raises $20, which includes an additional bet and a call on the bet placed by the previous player.
Bets may be placed in any of the following ways: - Bet, Call and Raise. These options are subject to the action taken by the previous player.
The first player (to the left of the Big Blind) to bid (in the first round) gets the Bet option. Subsequent players get the Call and Raise options only.
When the second betting round is over, the Turn (the fourth community card) is dealt.

The third betting round again starts with the player to the left of the button.
Bets and Raises are limited to the upper limit of the stake structure ($20 in a $10/$20 game). Bets limited to $20 refer to placed (single) bets to the value of $20. Therefore a player bets $20 and raises $40, including an additional bet and a call on the bet placed by the previous player.
Bets may be placed in any of the following ways: - Bet, Call and Raise. All participants may use any or all of these options subject to the action taken by the previous player.
The first player (to the left of the dealer button) to bid gets the Bet option.
When the third betting round is over, the River (the fifth community card) is dealt.

The fourth and final betting round also starts with the player to the left of the button.
Here too bets and raises are limited to the upper limit of the stake structure ($20 in a $10/$20 game).
Bets limited to $20 refer to placed (single) bets to the value of $20 . Therefore a player bets $20 and raises $40, including an additional bet and a call on the bet placed by the previous player.
Bets may be placed in any of the following ways: - Bet, Call and Raise. - - All players may use any or all of these options subject to the action taken by the previous player.
The first player (to the left of the dealer button) to bid gets the Bet option.

1) Each betting round allows for a maximum of four bets per player, in the form of one bet and three raises.
2) "Cap" - refers to the final permitted raise in a round, after which no further raises are allowed. Once betting is capped, players may only call or fold.
3) "Folding" - may be implemented at any stage of the game. Folding is when a player declines to call a bet and drops out of a hand. When this happens the player no longer has any rights over any pot created on the table.
4) In addition, the player may also use the "Check" option whereby he/she passes a turn without placing a bet. This is equivalent to betting zero dollars. This option is not always available to the player and is subject to the action taken by the previous player in the hand.
The player MUST match the betting amount placed by any other players for each round in the hand.
5) Poker is a "table stakes" game which means that during any hand, players may only use the chips on the table when betting. The player may not go into his pocket or obtain additional funds from the cashier while the current game is in progress.
This rule includes the "All-In" rule, a provision that states that a player may still call a bet even if he/she runs out of chips.

All-In
A player with insufficient chips to call a bet is declared All-In.
The pot in the center of the table, which also contains chips put in by the All-In player, now becomes the main pot in which the All-In player is entitled to win up to his final wager.
All new bets placed by other players are placed in a "side pot", which is not available to the All-In player.
The side pot is then given to the next winning combination.
Showdown -
Showdown - refers to the point at the end of the hand where all active players reveal their cards and the pot is awarded to the winner(s).
Showdown occurs after the final betting round.
Five cards out of the total number of hole and community cards are used for deciding the winning hands. A combination of the following may be used:
. Both hole cards + three community cards
. One hole card + four community cards
. All five community cards (playing the board) - In the final betting round the player who bets/checks is first to show his/her cards.
If this is the best hand, the remaining players may show their cards (optional).
The aggressor shows his hand first only if he was the last to take action on the river.

How long is each turn?
As this is a multi-player game, 24poker.com provides players with approximately 22 seconds for each turn.
The player initially has 7 seconds after which a 15-second countdown timer appears on the screen.
The player goes All-In if he has already contributed money to the pot.
If the player does not respond in time, his/her hand is folded. - The system is able to detect whether the player has been disconnected.
See the "Disconnect" section (click here).
Who is the winner?
The winning combination is determined according to a set rank of cards.
To view the various rank options, click here.
The suit order of the cards is not relevant in deciding on the winning cards.
If two or more hands are of equal ranking, the player with the higher cards is the winner. For example, a Flush with an Ace high beats a Flush with a King high.
If a tie occurs between two or more hands, the winning hand is determined by the kicker - the highest card not held in common OR an unpaired card used to decide which of two equal hands is the winning hand.
In 24poker.com:
If there are two or more poker hands with identical ranks, the pot is split evenly between the winners.
Should there be an odd chip, this will go to the winning player to the left of the button/dealer.
This rule applies to both play money (free) and real money games.
The House collects a rake (commission) for all four rounds of betting according to set rules. 24poker.com's advanced application allows for dynamic commissions. This means that different commission rules regarding the average pot played apply in every table, thereby ensuring fair commissions.
See commission rules (click here).