Or why spades and hearts are more valuable than diamonds and clubs...
ODDBALL SITUATIONS Did you know that “card suits” themselves have a ranking of their own for certain situations? From the highest down to lowest the ranking goes: Spades, Hearts, Diamonds and Clubs. How and when is this ranking of any importance? More often than not suit ranking arises as an important factor when deciding the position of the dealer button. Players can sit down in any seat they want at the start of a “cash game”, and a card will be dealt face up to each player to decide the position of the dealer button, which can carry an obvious advantage. Assuming two Aces appear during this procedure (For example the Ace of Spades and the Ace of Diamonds) under those circumstances the Ace of Spades is awarded the button. Rather obviously suit ranking can’t be used in deciding the victor of an actual hand of poker. For example, clearly it is impossible for two Royal Flushes to come about in a single game of Texas Hold’em or Omaha as it would require there to be six community cards rather than five for this to be even a remote possibility. Therefore determining a winner by suit in a Royal Flush head to head isn’t a question.
WELL SUITED TO THE TASK However, a genuine situation where suit ranking does become necessary is acting as a deal-breaker to resolve the outcome of specific contests. Lots of clubs and sites give cash prizes for the Best Hand of the Month. This of course could result in a Royal Flush competing with another Royal Flush for the prize. Under those circumstances suit ranking would be the deciding factor.
FREQUENTLY ASKED POKER QUESTIONS Q: Am I permitted to change seats without any kind of sanction? A: The answer would usually be yes as long as the blind has not yet passed the newly chosen seat. (Also, sitting on another player’s lap, whilst sometimes appealing, tends to be frowned on)
Q: If I join a game at a seat that the blind has not yet passed what’s the situation? A: As a new player wanting to enter a game you can wait for the blind to come round to you. Alternatively you can post an amount that matches the big blind in order to enter the game right away. Beware that this sends out a signal that you are possibly a loose, impatient player (or that you are a cunning SOB sending out an image bluff)
WHAT’S THE DEAL? Q: What happens if a player “deals off” by playing the button and then immediately gets up to change seats? A: It’s okay. He can allow the blinds to pass the new seat one time and re-enter the game behind the button with no need to post either of the blinds. This would not likely be permitted more than once.
