Board -
1. The community cards in a flop game.
2. The up cards in a non-flop game.
3. It
is where players ♣ sign up to play a game in a casino.
In flop games, a portion of every
player’s hand is made up ♣ of cards which are spread face up in the middle of the table,
for all players to share. These cards ♣ are called community cards, and are usually
divided into a three card flop, a one card turn, and a one ♣ card river. As these cards
are turned face up and put in play, they are called, collectively, “the board.” Players
♣ must combine their hole cards, which are privately held cards delivered face down at
the start of the hand, with ♣ the cards on the board, to make their best five card poker
hand. Sometimes, in a Hold’em or Crazy Pineapple ♣ game, a player may not be able to use
any of their hole cards because they do not play. When ♣ this happens, they must play the
five community cards that are on the board. This is called “playing the board.” ♣ You
usually have a very weak hand when you play the board, because if any player can play
either of ♣ their hole cards to make a better five card hand, they have automatically
beaten you. Occasionally, the board will be ♣ the nut hand, in which case all active
players must play the board and will receive an equal portion of ♣ the pot regardless of
what their hole cards are, so long as they turn their hand up at showdown. Here ♣ are two
examples of hands that are nut hands when they are on the board: AhKsQdJcTs and
6h6c6s6dAs. As you ♣ can see, neither one of these hands can possibly be improved upon by
any two hole cards.
In a jackpot Hold’em ♣ game, having three Aces on the board
represents a possible jackpot situation. Many clubs have a policy that management must
♣ be present to watch the action for the remainder of the hand once three Aces appear.
When a third Ace ♣ hits the board, the dealer will stop the action and call out “Three on
board!” This will prompt a floorperson ♣ or other manager to come and monitor the action
for the rest of the hand. The purpose of this is ♣ to ensure that there is no cheating or
collusion happening on jackpot hands.
In a flop game there is only one ♣ board, and it
spread out in the middle of the table for all players to see. In a stud game, ♣ where
there are no community cards (except on rare occasions), each individual player has
their own board. Each player’s board ♣ is made up of that player’s up cards. In most stud
games a player will end up with only four ♣ cards on their board, while a flop game board
will ultimately have five cards.
The term is also used to describe ♣ where a player signs
up to play a game. If a player enters a casino and wants to play in ♣ aR$5-10 Holdem
game, but the game is full, then he would go up to the board and put his initials ♣ or
name on it. The board person (sometimes called runners) will call the players in order
when a seat is ♣ available.
Usage: Play The Board, Board Plays, Three On Board, Dangerous
Board
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Next Poker Term: Bottom Pair
