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This helpfile explains the different rules and procedures in the various styles of poker supported by Aardwolf Hold'em.

Tournament Games

All tournament games are winner-take-all, no-limit games. To join, one must do so before the first hand is dealt, and all players pay the same buyin, which is set at the game's creation. All players in the game will start with the same amount of chips. Periodically, the blinds required to play each hand will increase. Depending on the game settings decided by the table master, players who have lost all their chips may get to 'rebuy' chips and rejoin the game. This is limited by the number of times it can be used, and for how many hands it will be available. In larger games, players will also be restricted from rebuying into the game once the table has been reduced to a specific number of players.

Tournament games have the additional option of being 'private'. While this has no effect on those wishing to observe, anyone wishing to play must be invited by the table master. Attempting to 'buyin' on a private game will notify the table master that you want an invitation to the game. Once a table master has accepted an invitation, you will be added to the game with 0 chips and you must 'buyin' to receive your starting chips. Table masters may also directly invite players, which will send them a message. If they then decide to buyin, they will be added to the game with the appropriate chips.

Non-Tournament Games

All non-tournament games are public games, where players may join and leave at will. Buying into a game requires an amount of gold you wish to buyin with. If you wish to buyin with the maximum allowed, use 'poker buyin all'. Table masters in non-tournament games can eject anyone they feel is disruptive between rounds. The ejected player will have their chips cashed-out for an appropriate refund.

In an effort to reduce players attempting to abuse the come-and-go aspect of the game, any player joining after the first hand is dealt will post a bet equal to the big blind on their first hand. If this coincides with this player's turn of being small or big blind, additional chips will NOT be charged.

Non-Tournament games may be no-limit, fixed-limit, or pot-limit.

No-Limit

A no-limit game is one with no maximum raise. At any point within the game a player may go "all-in" and risk all his or her chips on a single hand. The minimum raise allowed for any given hand will be the big blind.

Fixed-Limit

Fixed-limit games have a specific amount that any raise must equal. For the first two betting rounds, all raises will equal the big blind, while in the second two betting rounds all raises are twice the big blind. In fixed-limit games, the 'poker raise' command does not require an amount.

Pot-Limit

Pot-limit games have a varying maximum raise allowed depending on the bets placed. The minimum raise will be equal to the big blind and the maximum raise is the amount of chips in the pot plus the amount of chips the current player needs to call.

For example, in a game where the pot has 15 chips and the next player needs 10 chips to call, they can call with 10 chips, or raise by any amount between 10 (the big blind) and 25 (the 15 in pot + the 10 to call).