Instructions Royal Hold’em

Objective of the Game

Royal Hold’em is a variant of the classic Texas Hold’em Poker, played with a reduced deck. The goal of the game is to form the highest poker hand with the best five cards to win the pot.

Game Materials

• Card Deck: A standard poker deck, but only using the cards Ace through Ten of each suit (20 cards in total).
• Chips: Used for placing bets and raising stakes.

Setup

1. Determine the Dealer: At the beginning of each round, one player is designated as the dealer. The dealer button rotates clockwise after each round.
2. Place the Blinds: To begin the game, players to the left of the dealer post the small blind and the big blind, the minimum bets for the pot.

Gameplay

1. Initial Deal: Each player receives two face-down cards, known as "hole cards."
2. First Betting Round: Players take turns deciding whether to call, raise, or fold.
3. The Flop: Three community cards are dealt face up on the table.
4. Second Betting Round: Another round of betting occurs among the remaining players.
5. The Turn: A fourth community card is revealed.
6. Third Betting Round: Players still in the game bet once more.
7. The River: The fifth and final community card is placed on the table.
8. Final Betting Round: Betting happens for the last time.
9. Showdown: Players reveal their cards. The highest 5-card combination from the two hole cards and the five community cards wins the pot.

Poker Hand Rankings

• High Card: Highest single card when no other combinations are made.
• Pair: Two cards of the same rank.
• Two Pair: Two different pairs.
• Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank.
• Straight: Five consecutive cards of different suits.
• Flush: Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence.
• Full House: Three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank.
• Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank.
• Straight Flush: Five consecutive cards of the same suit.
• Royal Flush: A straight flush from ten to ace.

Strategic Tips

• Card Analysis: Since the deck is limited to high cards, decisions should be based on the likelihood that others hold high combinations.
• Aggressive Play: The reduced card count results in generally stronger hands, which might require more aggressive betting.
• Bluffing: The limited card pool can affect bluffing strategies, as players may be more inclined to bet on strong hands.

Understanding these rules and strategies will help new players get started with Royal Hold’em and increase their chances of winning.