17.4.8 POKER
To play poker in Achaea, find a table (there are two in the Ace of Spades
Casino in New Thera), and then simply buy in (POKER BUYIN FOR <amount>) when
there isn't an active game. At least two players and no more than six are
required to play.
There are two different types of poker: Draw Poker and Lost Luck Hold 'Em (or
simply "Hold 'Em"). To find out which sort of game the table is playing,
amongst other details, use POKER VIEW TABLE. This will show you what type of
game is being played, the minimum and maximum buy-in amounts, and the minimum
bet amount. If a game is presently in progress at the table, this will also
tell you the status of the game and who is currently playing.
On your turn, you have a number of options (which can all be referenced by
using the POKER command with no arguments):
POKER CALL To call is to match a bet or match a raise.
POKER CHECK Checking is the equivalent of betting zero. If
a subsequent player bets in the same round,
you will still be able to bet/raise/call.
POKER RAISE TO|BY <amount> Raise the current max bet by or to a given
amount.
POKER FOLD Give up on this hand. You will not win any of
the pot/sidepots.
POKER ALLIN If you do not have enough funds in your stack
to call a bet/raise, you can go "all in." If
you win the hand, you are only eligible to win
as much of the pot as your allin bet covered.
Any remainder in the pot goes to the second
highest hand, then the third highest, and so
on, depending who went all in.
POKER DISCARD <cards>|NONE For draw poker only. You may specify up to five
cards to discard, based on the order in which
they are displayed in your hand. For example,
to discard the first, second, and fourth cards
in your hand, use POKER DISCARD 1 2 4.
PLAYING DRAW POKER
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All players automatically contribute 10% of the minimum bet amount to the pot
(this is the "ante"). In addition, two starting bets will be made: the big
blind pays the minimum bet amount, and the small blind pays half the
minimum bet amount. The big and small blinds are rotated throughout the game.
Each player is then dealt five cards, followed by a round of betting. Next,
players may choose to discard any, all, or none of their cards and are dealt
replacements. There is one more betting round, followed by the showdown. The
winner is determined by the best hand possible from the five cards each player
individually holds.
PLAYING LOST LUCK HOLD 'EM
--------------------------
All players automatically contribute 10% of the minimum bet amount to the pot
(this is the "ante"). In addition, two starting bets will be made: the big
blind pays the minimum bet amount, and the small blind pays half the
minimum bet amount. The big and small blinds are rotated throughout the game.
Each player is dealt two cards, followed by a round of betting. Then, three
community cards are dealt to the table (this is referred to as "the flop"),
followed by another round of betting. Next, a fourth community card is dealt
(this is referred to as "the turn"), followed by another round of betting. A
fifth community card is dealt (this is referred to as "the river"), followed by
a final round of betting, and then the showdown. The winner is determined by
the best five card hand each player can form from any combination of their own
two cards and the five community cards on the table.
In the case of matching hands, the pot will be shared equally amongst the
winners. If there is a remainder (e.g. sharing 50 gold between 3 people), it is
paid to the dealer.
THE HANDS
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In order of highest to lowest, the hands rank as follows:
Royal Flush A, K, Q, J, 10 of the same suit.
Straight Flush Five consecutive cards of the same suit.
Four of a Kind Four cards of the same rank.
Full House Three of a Kind and a pair.
Flush Five non-consecutive cards of the same suit.
Straight Five consecutive cards of any suit.
Three of a Kind Three cards of the same rank.
Two Pair Two pairs of cards of the same rank.
One Pair Two cards of the same rank.
OTHER COMMANDS
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At any time during the game, you may also use the following commands:
POKER VIEW HAND Show the cards currently in your hand.
POKER VIEW TABLE Show the current state of the table and
any cards on it.
POKER VIEW POT Show the current value of the pot and what
the current max bet is.
POKER VIEW STACK Show how much you bought in for and how
much you have left.
POKER SHOWCARDS ON|OFF Choose whether to display the picture
of the card as well as the name. You will need
to set this each time you buy-in to a table.
POKER LEAVE TABLE Collect your remaining stack and leave the
table. If you leave the table after the ante
and before the hand is finished, you forfeit
any ante or bets you have made.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
-------------------
There is no scoring value applied to the suit of the cards (i.e. hearts are no
different to diamonds).
Aces can count for either low or high.
There are no jokers or other "wild" cards.
As with blackjack, poker is implemented so that counting cards will be of no
use to you.
