Poker Basics: Antes

Stud games (Seven-Card and variants) start the action each hand by way of an ante, a small, forced contribution by each player. After the players ante and receive their initial cards, the player with the lowest door card must post the bring-in (usually equal to one-half of the lower betting stake), but has the option of betting the full lower limit.

Antes also appear in Hold'Em and Omaha tournaments on GamesGrid, once the game has reached higher blind levels. This helps to increase the action and to put pressure on the lower stacked players to "move it or lose it." For example, all players in a $2/$4 game will ante $.25 before receiving their cards. The lowest door card must bring in the action for $1, but has the option of betting $2.

On subsequent rounds, the current high hand on board starts the action with a bet or check.