The following is some general information about some of the specific card games that are played at the California Grand Casino. Also, please see the Hot Action Blackjack® page.
| Hot Action Blackjack | Texas Hold'em |
| Pai Gow Poker | Standard Ranking Chart for Poker Games |
| Seven Card Stud | General Terms Used in Many Poker Games |
| Omaha 8 |
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
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).
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:
- Players are dealt four cards as their initial hand.
- Players must use exactly two cards from their hand and three cards from the board to make their best five card poker hand.
- The California Grand plays Omaha High-Low Split.
- 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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