Speed poker Speed Poker. Game play, hand rankings, etc., are identical to standard Texas hold 'em. The differences in rules mostly relate to the time players have to act on their hands. Each player has 15 seconds to act before his or her hand is ruled dead (or checked if there has been no previous action). Players are given one or more 30 second time extensions which they may use on any turn. In the Mansionpoker.net Poker Dome Challenge, pre-flop play is pot limit; post-flop play is no limit. In the World Speed Poker Open all play was no limit. Speed poker
Starting hand Starting hand In poker, a starting hand is the initial set of cards dealt to a player before any voluntary betting takes place. For example, in seven-card stud this is two downcards and one upcard, in Texas hold 'em it is two downcards, and in five-card draw it is five cards. The one decision made by every poker player on every deal of every game is whether to continue playing that hand after seeing that first set of cards. Since making this decision correctly will lead to the most long-run profit for a skilled player, players often put considerable study