Q1. What platforms does the game run on?

A1. Windows 98/2000/Me/XP, Mac OS X and Linux.

Q2. Where can I purchase the game?

A2. You can purchase a download or boxed version through our Online store.

Q3. Is the game written in Java?

A3. Yes, we are using JDK1.4.1 as the primary platform for the game.

MacOS Note:

MacOS 10.2/Jaguar users will need to install the Jaguar Java 1.4.1 update.

MacOS 10.3/Panther users should not need to upgrade because Java 1.4.1 is part of Panther. However, some Panther users may have an incomplete install and should install the Panther Java 1.4.1 update.

Q4. Is it to be distributed as a standalone executable or require an external VM (virtual machine) to run?

A4. On the PC and Linux, the game is distributed as a standalone, complete executable and will not require an external VM. It is installed with a typical installer and launched from the Start menu or desktop. The normal game player will not be aware or need to know about the use of Java or a particular JVM.

On the Mac, the game is installed using a typical installer and launched from the Applications folder like any other Mac application (see note in Q3 about Java 1.4.1 update requirement).

Q5. How do I get support for Donohoe Digital Poker?

A5. Please click here.

Tournament FAQ

The Tournament Directors Association (TDA) is a group of poker room managers, tournament directors and players from around the country who's objective is to draft a standardized set of rules for poker tournaments around the world. The TDA meets once a year to discuss the addition of new rules and to amend or eliminate current rules. The TDA was founded by Matt Savage, David Lamb, Linda Johnson and Jan Fisher in 2001.

The current TDA rules are below and are courtesy of well known tournament manager Matt Savage (based at Bay 101 in San Jose, California as well as tournament director of the World Series of Poker®).

Founding Rule set

1. Chip race rule: When it is time to color-up chips, they will be raced off with a maximum of one chip going to any player. The chip race will always start in the No.1 seat.

2. Odd chips: The odd chip(s) will go to the high hand. In flop games, when there are two or more high hands or two or more low hands, the odd chip(s) will go to the left of the button. In stud-type games, the odd chip will go to the high card by suit.

3. Side pots: Each side pot will be split as a separate pot. They will not be mixed together before they are split.

4. Calling for the clock procedures: Once a reasonable amount of time has passed and a clock is called for, a player will be given one minute to make a decision. If action has not been taken by the time the minute is over, there will be a 10-second countdown. If a player has not acted on his hand by the time the countdown is over, the hand will be dead.

5. Dead Button: Tournament play will use a dead button.

6. Penalties: A penalty MAY be invoked if a player exposes any card with action pending, if a card(s) goes off the table, if soft-play occurs, or similar incidents take place. Penalties WILL be invoked in cases of abuse, disruptive behavior, or similar incidents.

7. Players must be at the table to call time. In flop games, the big blind’s hand will be dead if he is not there to act on it before the flop. In stud-type games, the forced low hand will be immediately dead if the player is not there to act on his hand at the time he is required to put money in the pot (the minimum bring-in will be posted and the hand will be killed).

8. Half-bet rule: If a player puts in a raise of 50 percent or more of the previous bet, he will be required to make a full raise. The raise will be exactly the minimum raise allowed.

9. All in: All cards will be turned face up once a player is all in and all action is complete.

10. Oversized Chip: In limit games, an oversized chip will be constituted to be a call if the player does not announce a raise. In no-limit, an oversized chip before the flop is a call; after the flop, an oversized chip put in the pot will constitute the size of the bet.

11. Help: The one-player-to-a-hand rule will be enforced.

12. Deal for button: A draw for the button will be held at the beginning of each flop-type event.

13. Seat Assignment: Tournament and satellite seats will be randomly assigned.

14. English-only: The English-only rule will be enforced in the United States during the play of hands.

Accepted 2002 TDA Rules

15. Cell Phones: A player who wants to use a cellular phone must step away from the table.

16. Foreign Chips: There will be no foreign chips on the table except for a maximum of one card cap.

17. Deck Changes: Deck changes will be on the dealer push or limit changes or as prescribed by the house. Players may not ask for deck changes.

18. Time Expiration: When time has elapsed in a round and a new round is announced, the new limits apply to the next hand. A hand has begun with the first riffle.

19. Missing Hands: A player may not miss a hand. If a player announces the intent to rebuy before the first card is dealt, that player is playing behind and is obligated to make the rebuy.

20. Big Chips: Players must keep their highest denomination chips visible at all times.

21 Verbal Declarations: Verbal declarations as to the content of a player’s hand are not binding; however at management’s discretion, any player deliberately miscalling his hand may be penalized.

22. No rabbit hunting is allowed.

23. Blind Dodging: A player who intentionally dodges his blind(s) when moving from a broken table may forfeit the blind(s) and/or incur a penalty. The money will be put into the next pot and may be considered dead money

24. Visible Chips: All chips must be visibly displayed at all times. Players may not have tournament chips in their pockets at any time. A player who has chips in his pocket will forfeit the chips. The forfeited chips will be taken out of play from the tournament.

25. Moving players: In flop games, players will be moved from the big blind to the worst position.

26. Raises: In limit events, there will be a limit to raises, even when heads-up. (The limit will be the house limit.) Once the tournament becomes head-up the rule does not apply.

27. Stud Games Misdeal: In stud-type games, if any of the players’ two down cards are exposed due to dealer error, it is a misdeal.

28. Dealer Kill: If a dealer kills an unprotected hand, the player will have no redress and will not be entitled to his money back. An exception would be if a player raised and his raise had not been called yet, he would be entitled to receive his raise back.

29. Face Up Hands: Dealers cannot kill a winning hand that was turned face up and was obviously the winning hand.

30. Verbal declarations in turn are binding. Action out of turn may be binding.

31. Floor People: Floor people are to consider the best interest of the game and fairness as the top priority in the decision-making process. Unusual circumstances can, on occasion, dictate that the technical interpretation of the rules be ignored in the interest of fairness. The floor person’s decision is final.

32. Cancellation: Management reserves the right to cancel or alter any event at its sole discretion in the best interest of the casino or its players.

33. Moving Tables: Players going from a broken table to fill in seats assume the rights and responsibilities of the seat. They can get the big blind, the small blind, or the button. The only place they cannot get a hand is between the small blind and the button.

34. Away Penalties: Penalties available for use by the TD are verbal warnings, 10, 20, 30, and 40 minutes away from the table and may be used with discretion. These may be utilized up to and including disqualification. A player who is disqualified shall have his chips removed from play.

35. Hand Discussion: Players, whether in the hand or not, may not discuss the hands until the action is complete. Players are obligated to protect the other players in the tournament at all times. Discussing cards discarded or hand possibilities is not allowed. A penalty may be given for discussion of hands during the play.

36. Hand Exposure: A player who exposes his cards during the play may incur a penalty, but will not have his hand killed. Subsequent infractions may have hands killed.

37. No Limit/Pot Limit Raising: In NL or PL, when raising, you either put the amount of the raise out in one motion or state your raise amount. If you state the amount, you may make more than one motion.

No Limit Hold'em Poker FAQ

No Limit Texas Hold'em is known as the "Cadillac of Poker." It is played to determine the champion of the poker world at the "Big Dance": the final event of the World Series of Poker® which takes place each May and is shown on ESPN.

No LImit Texas Hold'em has gone prime-time, appearing on two new television shows: the World Poker Tour and Celebrity Poker. Card rooms are experiencing a surge in new players and all they want to play is No Limit Hold'em.

How much do you know about no limit hold'em poker?

Q1. How do you play Texas Hold’em?

Texas Hold’em is a game of poker where each player receives two cards face-down and then combines them with five community (face-up) cards to make the best possible five-card hand.

Texas Hold’em gets the betting started by forcing bets before the hole cards are dealt. These are called ‘blinds’. There are two blinds; the Small Blind and the Big Blind. The two players immediately to the left of the dealer make the blind bets before they receive their hole cards. Thus a ‘blind’ bet. Two cards are then dealt face down to each player; these are called the ‘hole cards’. Play proceeds clockwise from the blinds. Each player then chooses to call the Big Blind, raise, or fold. The player placing the Big Blind may raise, check the bet, or fold.

Three cards are then dealt face up on the table; this is called the ‘Flop’. A round of betting takes place, with the action starting to the dealer’s immediate left; players again choose to check, bet, raise, or fold. Another card is dealt face up; this is called the ‘Turn’ or ‘4th street’. Another round of betting takes place. The fifth and final card, called the ‘River’ or ‘5th Street’, is dealt face up and followed by the final round of betting.

The remaining players make the best five-card hand possible using any of their two cards and the five community cards. The winner is either the player with the best hand or the player that is left after having every other player fold.

Q2. What is No Limit Hold’em?

‘No limit’ means that there is no limit to the amount a player may bet in any given round; up to the amount the player has in his stack. A player can choose to go ‘All In’ and bet everything they have forcing the other players to either match a very large bet or to fold.

Q3. What are the Flop, Turn and River?

The Flop refers to the first three community cards dealt in a game of hold'em. The fourth community card is called The Turn or Fourth Street. The fifth community card is called The River or Fifth Street. If you are ahead in a hand and your opponent sucks out on you with the turn of card five, you have been rivered.

Q4. What are the Small Blind and Big Blind?

A blind bet is a mandatory forced bet before any cards are dealt. The Small Blind is the first bet placed by the player immediately to the left of the dealer. It is generally half the Big Blind. The Big Blind is the next bet, placed by the player immediately to the left of the Small Blind. For example the starting blinds in a tournament might be $20 and $40.

The primary purpose of blinds are to "seed" the pot and make it worth fighting over. During tournaments the blinds are increased on a regular basis. This increases the pressure on the players and raises the chance of elimination.

Q5. What does it mean to go ‘All In’?

A player goes ‘All In’ when they choose to bet all of their chips in a betting round.

Q6. What does it mean to check, call, raise, and fold?

Check: to pass on betting keeping yourself in the hand to call, raise or fold after other players act.
Call: to match a player’s bet with even money.
Raise: to place a bet larger than a bet already placed on the table. A raise must be greater than or equal to the bet being called.
Fold: to throw your hand away.

Q7. What is the Button?

The button is a white disc that is passed around the table in clockwise order. The button is used in games where there is a single or casino dealer. The button identifies the player as the ‘dealer’. It is still important that play continues as if each player is dealing cards.

Cards are dealt beginning with the player to the left of the button, and ending with the player who has the button in front of him. When the hand is over, the button is moved one spot clockwise for the start of the next hand.

Q8. What is ‘playing the board’?

A player can choose to ‘play the board’ and use only community cards. If the best hand is from the community cards, the pot is split between the players still in the hand.

Q9. What are Overcards?

If you hold a pocket pair (a pair in your face-down cards) then overcards are any higher card. For example, you are dealt a pair of 5’s in your face down cards and the Flop is 2, 9, Jack. The overcards are 9 and J.

Q10. What does it mean to ‘Play Loose’ or ‘Play Tight’?

A player that is ‘loose’ plays lots of hands and stays in lots of pots. They tend to bluff a lot. A player that is tight plays few hands that are carefully selected; they’ll fold easily. They tend to only play strong hands.

Q11. What is ‘Tilt Mode’?

A player in tilt mode or "on-tilt" is playing reckless because of a recent loss.

Q12. What is ‘burning a card’?

When dealing the Flop, The Turn, and the River the dealer should take the top card off the deck and remove it from play without any player seeing it. Burning a card protects against cheating or accidentally seeing the cards.

Q13. What is Big Slick?

Ace-King hole cards.

Q14. What is Presto?

Pocket 5s.

Q15. What are The Nuts?

In a hold'em hand, the nuts refers the two hole cards that make the best possible hand. For example, if the board shows A Q J 5 4 (different suits), then the nuts are K 10, to make a straight.

Q16. What are Gut Shot and Belly Busters?

This refers to a inside straight draw where only only one card will complete the straight. For example, if your best hand is 9 8 6 5, then you are on a Gut Shot draw for a 7.

Q17. What are Overcards?

If you hold a pocket pair (say Presto) then overcards are any higher card (in this example, 6 and above).

Q18. What is American Airlines?

A pair of Aces.

Q19. Where can I get poker advice?

There are many good poker sites on the web. For poker strategy try Play Winning Poker.

More to come!