Hot Action Blackjack	Omaha 8
Rules for Three Card Poker	Texas Hold'em
Rules for Buster Blackjack	Standard Ranking Chart for Poker Games
Pai Gow Poker	General Terms Used in Many Poker Games
Seven Card Stud

1. The game is played with one standard 52 card deck.
2. Players must make an Ante wager and pay a collection to be dealt in.
3. Each player receives three cards face down. The Player/dealer receives three cards, two face-down and one face-up.
4. Once players inspect their hands, they have two options:
1. Fold the hand and forfeit the Ante; or
2. Stay in the game by making a Play bet; this bet must equal the Ante.
5. The Player/Dealer must qualify to play with a minimum Queen-high.
1. If the Player/Dealer does NOT qualify, the play bets receive no action. The dealer shall immediately refund these bets to players
2. If the Player/Dealer does NOT qualify, the Ante Bet (the ones not surrendered by folding) shall automatically be paid even money.
3. If the Player/Dealer's hand qualifies:
1. If the player's hand beats the Player/Dealer's, the player wins even money.
2. If the Player/Dealer's hand beats the player's, the player loses.
3. If the Player/Dealer's hand and the player's hand are identical it is a push and no wagers are paid or taken.
6. All bets receive action to the extent that the Player/dealer wager covers.
7. The round of play ends when the Player/dealer exhausts his bankroll, or when all player wagers receive full action, whichever occurs first.
8. The Player/dealer position will be rotated or offered to all positions after every two hands.
9. If you do not or cannot put up the entire play bet, you surrender your bonus and ante bets.
10. A player must occupy a seated position in order to make a decision on how that hand will be played. All other bets will be played "House Way."
11. Players betting more than one hand must bet the second, third, etc. hands "House Way."
12. House Way means: Before any cards are dealt, players must put up a Play Bet for each Ante Bet placed on hands to be played "House Way." If the Player/dealer's hand shows an Ace, a King, or a Queen as it's up card, the player's hand must possess the same ranked card (Ace against an Ace, King against a King, etc.) plus a nine kicker or a higher ranked hand or the Play Bet will be returned to the player and the ante and bonus bets will be surrendered. If not, the Play Bet plays as usual.

BONUS BETS

The Bonus Bet is an optional bet for players who placed an ante bet. The rules are as follows:

1. Bonus Bets must be placed prior to the initial deal.
2. Bonus Bets must be less than or equal to the Ante to qualify for a Bonus Bet payoff.
3. Bonus bets must be within the posted limits of the table to qualify for a Bonus Bet payoff.
4. The Player/dealer will pay all winning Bonus Bets and will collect all losing Bonus Bets to the extent that the Player/dealer’s money covers.
5. The Action Button designates which player receives first action on their wager. The sum of the Player/dealer's cards will determine where the action button is placed by counting around the table clockwise beginning with the seated position after the Player/dealer position. Additionally, each player's wagers receive action in the following order: Ante Bet, Play Bet and Bonus Bet.
6. Once the Player/dealer's wager has been exhausted, the wagers not covered by the Player/dealer will be returned to the players.
7. Bonus Bets pay as follows:

Hand	Payoff
Royal Flush	200:1
Straight Flush	40:1
Three of a Kind	30.1
Straight	6:1
Flush	3:1
One Pair	1:1

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Rules for Buster Blackjack

The Buster Blackjack wager is an exciting addition to the normal play of Hot Action Blackjack.

As a player, you may place a “Bonus” wager that the Player/dealer’s hand will “Bust!” If the Player/dealer hits and exceeds 21, regardless of the outcome of any other hand, all Buster Blackjack wagers will be paid according to the following Pay Table:

# of Cards in Player/dealer’s Busted Hand		Table A
8 or more		200:1
7		40:1
6		15:1
5		4:1
4		3:1
3		1:1

Rules:

1. Players may ONLY place a Buster Blackjack wager if they have a regular bet on the current hand.
2. The Buster Blackjack wager limit on any seated position is $5 - $100.
3. A player’s Buster Blackjack wager may not exceed his/her regular wager.
4. Only one Buster Blackjack wager per seated position.
5. Players may combine Buster Blackjack wagers but are responsible for following wagering limits and making sure that all parties receive their proper winnings.
6. The Player/dealer may only win or lose to the extent that the Player/dealer’s Buster Blackjack wager covers. The Player/dealer cannot win or lose more than he/she puts in the Buster Blackjack Player/dealer position.
7. Wagers must conform to all betting limits. Portions of wagers made in violation of the betting limits will not be paid.
8. No Soft Hands over 21 (Soft Hands = hands where an ace is counted as 11).
9. If the Player/dealer gets two suited aces in the first two cards, all Buster Blackjack wagers lose.

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Pai Gow Poker

Pai Gow poker is a simple game to play. It is played with a standard 52 card deck with a joker added to it. The joker can be used as an ace or as any card that completes a straight, a flush, or a straight flush. Hands are valued according to a traditional poker ranking chart (see poker ranking chart). Players do not deal the cards. The "House" provides a dealer that deals the cards and runs the game. The dealer does not have a hand or an interest in the outcome of the hand. The players compete against another player or players acting as the player/dealer.

The cards are dealt into seven hands of seven cards. Six of the hands go to players and one hand goes to the player/dealer. These hands are given out randomly. To do this, the player/dealer chooses which pile will be given out first (the action pile). The player/dealer then shakes a dice cup, which contains three dice. The total on these dice determines which player will receive the first set of cards and where the action begins. The player/dealer position corresponds to a total of 8 and 15 on the dice. The position of action is then determined by counting backwards or forwards from the player/dealer position. Out of each seven card hand, each player creates a two card hand (often called the front hand) and a five card hand (the back hand). The only requirement for setting the hands is that the back hand must rank higher than the front hand.

The object of the game is to make two hands that both rank higher than the player/dealerís two hands. Players win if both of their hands rank higher than those of the player/dealer. A tie (push) occurs if one hand is higher and the other is lower; no money changes hands. The player/dealer wins if both of the playerís hands are lower than the player/dealerís hands. Also, the player/dealer wins if one of a playerís hands is equal to that of the player/dealer (copy) and the other is lower than or equal to that of the player/dealer. The player/dealer pushes if one of a playerís hands is identical to that of the player/dealer and the other hand is higher than the player/dealerís other hand.

The designated dealer button rotates, and any player may take a turn being the player/dealer for two consecutive hands.

The house dealer makes all payoffs, at even money, from the player/dealerís wager.

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Standard Ranking Chart for Poker Games

At the California Grand Casino, poker is played with a standard deck of 52 cards, except in Pai Gow Poker a joker is also added (which is used as an ace or to complete a straight, a flush or a straight flush). The deck consists of four suits; spades (s), hearts (h), diamonds (d), and clubs (c). For the purpose of ranking poker hands, no suit is of any higher value than another. They are just used to determine the existence of flushes and straight flushes.

Within each suit there are 13 cards;

Lowest - Deuce (two), Trey (three), Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Jack (J), Queen (Q), King(K), and Ace (A) - Highest.

Aces can also be low when being used to complete a five high straight or straight flush.

Ranking chart (to determine the winning hand in a poker game where only the highest ranked hand wins the pot or for determining the winner of the high portion of a pot in high-low split games): (Highest on top Lowest on bottom).

	Hand	Example
High	Five Aces	Ah - Ad - Ac - As - Joker	Pai Gow Poker only.
	Royal Flush	Ah - Kh - Qh - Jh - 10h	All of the same suit.
	Straight Flush	9s - 8s - 7s - 6s - 5s	All of the same suit.
	Four-of-a-Kind	As - Ah- Ad- Ac- Ks	Four of the same card.
	Full house	Js - Jd - Jc - 10s - 10h	Three of a kind and a pair.
	Flush	2s - 4s - 8s - 9s - Ks	All the same suit.
	Straight	3s - 4d - 5c - 6c - 7h	5 cards in a row.
	Three-of-a-kind	4s - 4d - 4h - 6s - Qs	Three of the same card.
	Two Pair	5s - 5h - 3c - 3s - Ad	Two pair of the same cards.
	A Pair	As - Ah - Jd - 3h- 2c	Any two of the same card.
Low	High Hand

Five-of-a-kinds are ranked as follows:

Highest - A A A A A to 2 2 2 2 2 - Lowest
* This is only possible in a game using wild cards or a joker.

Straight flushes are ranked as follows:

Highest - A K Q J 10 to 5 4 3 2 A - Lowest. Aces can be used as high or low for purposes of making a straight flush.

Four-of-a-kinds are ranked as follows:

Highest - A A A A K to 2 2 2 2 3 - Lowest

If the remaining players in a hand have the same four of a kind, the kicker may determine the winner (e.g. one player has A A A A K and another player has A A A A Q, the player with A A A A K would win).

Full Houses are ranked as follows:

Highest - A A A K K to 2 2 2 3 3 - Lowest
If the remaining players in a hand have full houses, the player with the larger three of a kind would win. If more than one player had the same highest three of a kind, then the highest pair would win.

Flushes are ranked as follows: (Given that there is no straight flush)

Highest - A K Q J 9 all suited to 7 5 4 3 2 all suited - Lowest

If the remaining players in a hand have flushes, the player with the highest card or cards would win.

Straights are ranked as follows:

Highest - A K Q J 10 to 5 4 3 2 A - Lowest.

Aces can be used as high or low for purposes of making straights.

Three-of-a-kinds are ranked as follows:

Highest - A A A K Q to 2 2 2 3 4 - Lowest

If the remaining players in a hand have the same three of a kind, the kicker or kickers will determine the winner (e.g. one player has A A A K Q and another player has A A A Q J, the player with A A A K Q would win).

Two Pairs are ranked as follows:

Highest - A A K K Q to 3 3 2 2 4 - Lowest

Two pair is ranked first by the highest pair. If the remaining players in a hand have the same highest pair, then the second pair is considered. If players have the same two pair, then the unpaired card (kicker) will determine the winner.

Pairs are ranked as follows:

Highest - A A K Q J to 2 2 3 4 5 - Lowest

If the remaining players in a hand have the same pair, then the unpaired card (kicker) will determine the winner.

For the high portion of a pot, if two or more players have equally ranked hands, the amount that the players are in for will be split among them equally.

Ranking chart (to determine the winner of the low portion of a pot in an 8 or better high-low split games): {lowest (best hand) on top and highest on bottom}.

Flushes and straights are ignored when determining the low hand.


LOWEST

A2345	A2346	A2347	A2348	A3478
	A2356	A2357	A2358	23478
	A2456	A2457	A2458	A2578
	A3456	A3457	A3458	A3578
	23456	23457	23458	23578
		A2367	A2368	A4578
		A2467	A2468	24578
		A3467	A3468	34578
		A3467	A3468	34578
		23467	23468	A2678
		A2567	A2568	A3678
		A3567	A3568	23678
		23567	23568	A4678
		A4567	A4568	24678
		24567	24568	34678
		34567	34568	A5678
			A2378	25678
			A2478	35678
				45678

HIGHEST

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Seven Card Stud

7-Card Stud is a form of poker. It is played with a standard 52 card deck. Hands are valued according to a traditional poker ranking chart (see poker ranking chart). Players do not deal the cards. The "House" provides a dealer that deals the cards and runs the game. The dealer does not have a hand or an interest in the pot. Players compete against each other for a pot. Before the hand begins, players put up Antes (in 4-8 limit stud the ante is $1). The antes serve to ìseedî the pot. This gives the players an incentive to play the hand and something to win initially.

Once all the players have put up an ante, the house dealer delivers two cards dealt face-down and one card dealt face up, to each player, as their initial hand. After these cards have been delivered, the player with the lowest card (determined by value and suit - clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades - lowest to highest) showing must bet at least the opening minimum ($1 in a 4-8 limit stud game) but also has the option to bring it in for the lower betting limit ($4 in a 4-8 limit game). Each player after that must either: call, complete the opening bet to the lower betting limit, raise, or throw their hand away (fold). Betting on the first two rounds of betting will be at the lower limit ($4 in a 4-8 game). Betting on the last three rounds will be at the higher limit. A maximum of three raises are allowed in any betting round.

Once all players remaining have called all the bets, the dealer will give each player an additional up card. Players may now either check or bet. The action starts with the player showing the highest hand. If a player is showing an open pair at this point, any player may, at any point, bet at the higher limit ($8 in a 4-8 limit game). The action continues as it did in the first round of betting until all remaining players have called all the bets.

The dealer will give each player another card dealt face-up and another round of betting will occur at the higher limit. This process is repeated for the sixth card.

The seventh and final card is delivered to each player face-down. After the last round of betting is completed, the players will show their hands face-up to determine the winner. The player with the best five card poker hand (of his/her seven total cards) will win the pot (suit does not matter when ranking hands).

The minimum buy-in for 7-Card Stud is 10 times the lower limit of the game ($40 in a 4-8 stud game).

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Texas Hold'em

Hold'em is a form of poker. It is played with a standard 52 card deck. Hands are valued according to a traditional poker ranking chart (see poker ranking chart). Players do not deal the cards. The "House" provides a dealer that deals the cards and runs the game. The dealer does not have a hand or an interest in the pot. Players compete against each other for a pot. A dealer button is used to designate which player is acting as the dealer each hand. The designated dealer is the last to receive his/her cards and the last to act on all betting rounds except the first.

Before the hand begins, certain players put up "Blinds". Players do not ante. Blinds are bets made before any cards are dealt. The player that is designated to be the dealer and the player to his/her left put up a blind (which is a portion of the amount required to bet). The second player to the designated dealerís left puts up the Big Blind. The Big Blind is equal to the amount of the lower limit of the betting structure ($3 in a 3-6 game). The Big Blind is considered a bet. Therefore, in order to remain in the hand on the initial round of betting, players have to call at least the Big Blind (and any subsequent raises) in order to stay in the hand. Blinds are considered to be live and if there are no raises, may raise themselves when the action comes to them.

To begin the hand, each player receives two cards dealt face down, as their initial hand. After both of these cards have been delivered, there is a round of betting at the lower limit ($3 in a 3-6 game). Players must call any bets and raises to continue in the hand. The player to the left of the "Big Blind" is the first to act. On all subsequent betting rounds the action is initiated by the first active player clockwise from the dealer button. If players do not wish to continue in the hand they must fold when it is their turn to act.

Once the first round of betting is complete, three community cards (called "the Flop") are turned face up in the center of the table (all players at the table use the same ìcommunity cardsî along with their two individual cards to make a five card poker hand). There is then a second round of betting at the lower limit. Players now have the option to check, if nobody has bet yet, or bet. Checking allows a player to give his/her option to bet to the next player without folding. Once there is a bet, players must either fold or call the bet plus any raises.

Once all remaining players have called all bets and raises, the dealer turns a fourth community card (the "Turn" card) face up in the center of the table, and another round of betting, at the higher limit occurs ($6 in a 3-6 game). Once the round of betting is complete, the dealer turns up a fifth and final community card (the "River" card), after which a final round of betting occurs, at the higher limit.

At the completion of each hand, each active player will have 7 cards - 2 personal cards dealt face down and 5 community cards (the board) face up in the center of the table. A player may use any combination of five cards (e.g. one in their hand and four from the community cards, etc.) to determine their highest hand. A player may also play just the five community cards (play the board).

The buy-in for Texas Holdíem is generally 10 times the lower limit of the game ($30 in a $3 - $6 Holdíem game).

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Omaha 8 or better High-Low Split(with a 1/2 Kill) Description

Omaha is like Hold'em, except:

1. Players are dealt four cards as their initial hand.
2. Players must use exactly two cards from their hand and three cards from the board to make their best five card poker hand.
3. The California Grand plays Omaha High-Low Split.
4. California Grand plays Omaha with a half-kill.

In Omaha High-Low Split, the high hand splits the pot if there is a qualifying low hand. To qualify for the low players must have an 8 or better (lowest possible low hand is A 2 3 4 5). Players may use any two cards, from their hand, for the high and any two cards for the low. If there is no qualifying low hand, the high wins the entire pot. If two or more players have the same high hands they will split the high hand's portion of the pot equally. If two or more players have the same low hands they will split the low hand's portion of the pot equally.

In a game with a half kill, if a player "scoops" the main pot and that pot is $60 or more, the player posts a blind bet ($6 in a 4 - 8 game) and the limit goes up (to 6 - 12 in a 4 - 8 game) for the next hand only.

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General Terms Used in Many Poker Games

Action	When a player, in any way; checks, bets, calls, raises, reraises, or folds.
Active	Any player who has not folded yet.
Aggressive Action	A wager that could enable a player to win a pot without a showdown; a bet or a raise.
All-in	A player is All-in when he has put all the chips he has on the table into the pot. All-in players can win what is proportionately in the pot at the point in the betting that they go all-in. All-in players do not need to call any additional bets for the hand.
Ante	A predetermined amount put into the pot, before any cards are dealt, by each player wishing to be dealt-in. This acts as an incentive to get players to play.
A Bicycle or Wheel	A five high straight.
Big Blind	The largest blind in a game (not counting the kill if there is one).
Blind	A bet made before any cards are dealt.
Blind Bet or Raise	A wager made prior to looking at any cards. This is done to induce action not because it is a forced bet.
Blind Game	A game which utilizes a blind.
Bluff	Betting an inferior hand in order to eliminate other players.
Boxed Card	A card which has been turned face up in the deck.
Bring-in	A predetermined amount that the pot can be opened for. It may be a minimum and a maximum, a minimum only, or a maximum only.
Broken Game	A game which is no longer in action.
Bug	Slang term for the Joker.
Burn	Any cards taken out of play by the dealer. Usually the top card before further cards are dealt after the initial deal.
Button	An object which rotates around the tabel and designates the player who is the dealer position.
Button Games	Games which utilize a dealer button.
Buy-in	The minimum amount of chips a player must purchase when initially entering a game.
Cage	A cashierís window located in a casino where chips or money transactions take place.
Call	To match the amount bet by another player.
Cap or Capped	Describes a situation in limit pokerin which the maximum number of raises on the betting round have been reached.
Check	Choosing not to bet while reserving the right to fold, call, or raise if another player bets.
Check Raise	When a player checks first then raises another player's bet in the same betting round.
Chips or Checks	Objects used for gaming which are individually valued at different dollar amounts.
Collection	Money that is paid by players to the house for the priviledge of playing.
Community Cards	Cards dealt face up on the table to be used by all players at the table to make a poker hand.
Dead Hand	A hand that is no longer in play. (e.g. A player's hand is dead when it is placed in the muck, face down, either by the dealer or a player).
Dealer Button	Same as button.
Draw Out	When a player starts with an inferior hand but after the draw is over has a better hand.
Fixed Limit Game	Generally - Any game in which the bets in any round are limited to a specific predetermined amount.
Fold	When a player forfeits his hand and any rights to the pot in play.
Forced Bet	A bet that must be put up in order to start the action for a hand.
Forced Blind	A blind that must be put up by a player in order for that player to play the hand.
Gut Shot	A draw to a straight where only four cards can complete it.
Hand	1) The cards held by any individual player. 2) The play which occurs between the time the dealer cuts the deck until the all hands are mucked and the pot is awarded.
Head-up	When there are only two players involved in a hand.
Hole Cards	A player's cards which are kept face down.
Kicker	The card that gives one player a better hand when two or more players have the same pair, three of a kind, or four of a kind.
Kill	A blind bet which increases the betting limits for the next hand. An action which forfeits a hands rights to a pot.
Kill-it	Putting up a blind bet which increases the betting limits the next hand.
Killing a Hand	The act of the dealer putting a player's hand in the muck forfeiting its rights to the pot.
Muck(n)	The pile of discards.
No Limit Game	Any game in which the maximum a player can bet at any time is only limited to the amount of chips he has on the table.
Nuts	An unbeatable hand; a lock.
Open	The initial bet made after any blinds or antes are put up and the initial cards are dealt.
Open Blind	A game in which the first player or players to the left of the dealer button bet before any cards are dealt.
Open End	A draw to a straight where eight cards can complete the straight.
Out Kicked	When one player's kicker is the determining factor between him winning or losing a hand.
Outrun	To start with the best hand and another player draws out.
Outs	Cards that will give a player a winning hand.
Pass	Folding when their is a bet or checking when their is no bet.
Post	When a player who has missed the blind or is just entering the game puts up a blind bet. Part or all of the amount plays for the player on the first round of betting.
Pot	The sum of all the antes, blinds, and other action for a particular hand.
Pot Limit Game	Any game in which the maximum a player can bet or raise is limited to the size of the pot.
Rabbit Hunting	Looking through the muck.
Raise	To simultaneously call a player's bet while making an additional bet.
Raise Blind	A game in which the first player bets to open the pot and the second player raises before any cards are dealt.
Reraise	To simultaneously call the bet and all subsequent raises while making an additional bet.
Short Bet	Any bet that is less than half the required amount to bet or call.
Showdown	The point at which all action ceases for that hand and remaining players expose their hands in order to have an opportunity to win the pot.
Spread Limit Game	Any game in which the bets are limited to a predetermined minimum and maximum on each round of betting.
Straight Limit	Any game in which bets are made in the same predetermined incrimants throughout the entire hand.
Stub	The remainder of the deck held by the dealer during a hand.
Table Stakes	During any hand, players may only bet, call, etc. using chips that were on the table prior to the dealing of the cards.
Time	A request made by a player wishing to stop the action in order to review his options. Can also be a collecion payed to the house for the priviledge of playing in the game (usually paid at a predetermined incriment of time - every half hour).
Trips	Three of a kind.
Winner Blind	A game in which the winner of the last pot posts a blind before any cards are dealt

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