The Games
The Poker Lobby
The lobby contains the lists of players, games and tournaments, enabling you to navigate to the location of your choice. It also contains links to the Poker Cashier, Help, My account and Contact information. The central area of the Lobby displays lists of tables, games and tournaments.
The lobby can display a wide range of information, and can be easily navigated using the tree branches. The branches divide the lobby into the various options. Within each list, you can sort the information alphabetically or numerically by clicking on the heading of any column. You can also use our filters and quick searching options, to get you to your game!
For example, in the Players List, clicking on the head of the "Names" column will sort the list by Player's Name alphabetically. Clicking again will re-sort the list in reverse alphabetical order.
Players
The list of players currently logged on; their name; their status (eg watching, in lobby, playing etc) and their location. You can use the player search tool to look for your buddies by ticking the "buddies" checkbox.
Cash games & tournament branches
The lobby is divided into two main tree branches: Cash Tables & Tournaments. The sub branches divide the games into catagories (such as game type, betting type, stakes).
The columns of the room list table are explained below:Stakes - The stakes used at this table (the stakes and betting rules are explained here).
Players - The number of players currently playing at this table (not including the dealer).
Avg. Pot - The average pot per game at this table for the last 50 hands.
Plrs/flop - What percent of players, who started the hand, stayed in until the flop card (Game Rules). This figure is an average calculated for the last 50 hands.
Hnds/Hr - This number of dealt hands per hour on that table.
Tournaments
This tab lists the scheduled tournaments, giving basic information and indicating the status - whether "upcoming", "finished" or open for "registration". Clicking on a tournament provides further information and, if applicable, the registration screen.
Games
A range of additional games including Blackjack, Poker Three, Aces & Faces and Deuces Wild can be selected by clicking on one of the icons here.
To start playing
To join a table, select one from the game list and double-click on it. Alternatively, highlight the table of your choice and then click the Join Table button.
To watch a game at a table without participating, select a table and click Watch Table.
If you wish to join a table, chose one of the available positions (marked with a yellow "Select" button) and press the button of your choice. You will immediately be asked to choose the amount you want to take to the table. The amount will be displayed on your Table Balance miniscreen in the lower left corner of the screen. As the game progresses, this amount will increase and decrease accordingly. Once you exit the game table and return to the lobby, your total balance will be displayed again.
When you sit down, there is probably a game round in progress. Wait for it to finish. Then you will be asked to post the Big Blind, as you are the latest joiner.
Use the following buttons and boxes during the game:
Sit out - Check this box to withdraw from the game. You will stay seated at the table. When you uncheck this box, you will return to the game at the start of the next game round. If you missed a round, where you should have posted a blind, then you have to post it when you return to the game.
Auto muck - Fold your card automatically during Showdown, if a previous player has a better hand than you.
Auto post - Check this box to post blinds automatically, as required.
Get more Chips - To buy chips, using the money on your balance, click here.
Chat - To chat with other players, type your text into the chat bar and press enter, or click the Chat button.
Help - Click this button to open the help file.
Options - Click here to open the Options window, where you can adjust various game settings. See the Options section of the help file for more information.
Lobby - Click here to exit the Poker Room and go back to the Lobby.
Multiple Tables* - It is possible to join several games & tournaments simultaneously. When you have joined a table, return to the lobby and select and join another table. For playing multi tables, you can use the mini-view mode, which allows you to play up to 4 tables simultaneously (using regular screen resolution).
House Rules
The following rules apply when playing at GoldenPalacePoker.
Buying Chips
A facility to purchase chips will be offered automatically when a seat is selected at any table.
The minimum or maximum buy in for any cash game will be shown when purchasing your chips.
Buy-in amounts are based on the size of the game or the blinds for that table.
Chips purchased, while seated at a table, will be subject to any limits for the table, and any top ups will have to bring your balance up to at least the minimum amount, but will not be allowed to take your balance over the maximum should there be one.
At the completion of any hand should your table balance be less than the big blind you will need to purchase more chips to continue playing.
Dumping/Passing Chips
Deliberately losing chips to other players for whatever reason will not be tolerated and WILL be picked up by our collusion monitoring team and dealt with accordingly.
Betting and Raising (including the "under raise")
In LIMIT play, an all-in wager of LESS than half the bet for that round, is considered an "under raise" and will be treated as a call for betting purposes. It does not reopen the action for any subsequent player who has already acted on their hand that round.
A player who has already acted and is now facing less than half a bet can fold or call the wager. They may not raise.
An all-in wager of HALF THE BET OR MORE, but still below the full amount, is treated as a full bet and therefore considered a raise for betting purposes. A subsequent player can fold, call or make a full raise and any player, who had already acted prior to the "all in" bet, also has the full range of options open to him.
In NO-LIMIT or POT-LIMIT poker, an "all-in" raise that is less than the bet or raise of the previous player does not reopen the action for players who have already acted on their hands. Any raise that is below the amount needed for a legitimate raise will be considered a call for betting purposes. Only players still to act in the round will receive a full set of options.
Any wager must be at least the size of the previous bet or raise in any round UNLESS a player is going "all in".
Playing Multiple Tables
Players may play more than one table at once with a maximum of three tables open at any one time. Any combination of cash or tournament tables may be used.
Show/Muck
The show/muck option is designed to give players a chance to show any hand that would not normally be seen. This feature will remain on screen for a few moments to enable a player, who has not checked 'auto muck', to display his hole cards when appropriate. If not used within the time allowed, the cards will be mucked automatically.
Pre-select Options box
A set of PRE-SELECT options will appear at times and can be used when so desired. Any option chosen will only be implemented if still available when it is your turn to act; otherwise your new game options will be shown. For example if you agree to a call of $5 then that is the maximum you will have to pay to call. If the call is now more expensive you will be shown a new set of available choices. The PRE-SELECT option box is designed to speed up play and save you time, should you wish to act before it is your turn.
Sitting Out
When seated at a table a player has the option to "Sit Out". To do this simply check the "Sit Out" box. Once selected you will continue sitting at the table but will not be dealt in.
You will remain sat out until you un-check the "Sit Out" box. Once un-checked you will be dealt back in.
If you remain in Sit Out mode for longer than 15 minutes you will be removed from the table and returned to the lobby.
We prevent players from entering and leaving (sitting out) games where the position relative to the dealer can bring advantage by requesting they post the equivalent of the blind (known as a dead blind).
No financial advantage will be gained by missing the rotation of the blind.
Chat Rules
We like to maintain a friendly and pleasant atmosphere for all our players and visitors. Although we cannot be held responsible for any player conduct, we do reserve the right to refuse use of the poker room to anyone who violates our rules and we will act quickly against offenders.
The following subjects are strictly prohibited.
- Threatening or insulting any player, visitor, or employee
- Using obscene language or profanity
- Racist remarks
- Revealing any cards held or passed
- Discussing any context of a hand in progress
- Agreeing to check a hand down when a third player is all-in
- Needlessly slowing down the game
- Making any statements to induce a player to act in a certain way
- Speaking any other language than English during a hand
- Collusion with any other player or cheating via text
- Bullying a player into leaving the table
Violation of any of the above will result in either a warning, suspension of chat facilities, permanent removal of chat facilities, suspension of playing privileges, or permanent removal of playing privileges.
Disconnection Protection
Disconnection protection is in place to protect players should their Internet connection be lost whilst involved in a pot. In the event that a player is disconnected, they will be able to continue in the hand and contest the amount of the pot that they were financially involved in, up to the point of disconnection.
Disconnection protection is in place for genuine disconnections only.
Any player who misuses this protection by intentionally disconnecting, may:
- forfeit any monies won
- lose Disconnection Protection privileges
- face expulsion from the site.
Players must accept the risk of disconnections. They can and do occur.
Etiquette
Game etiquette is very important to us in order to ensure a friendly and pleasant playing atmosphere. When playing, you are part of a community and, as in any community, there are certain rules about behavior and general conduct that we'd players to observe. Any breach of these rules will result in the player being contacted and will carry the risk suspension or ban from the poker room.
Keep your Chat Polite - Under no circumstances should you use vulgar or profane language whilst using our chat facility, this includes abusing or harassing other players.
Sitting Out - The sit-out function should only be used when wishing to miss a hand or hands for a genuine reason. Players should not abuse this function.
