Instructions for Hold'em
These instructions are a quick guide to help you get started with Hold'em on Blind Adrenaline. The keyboard reference later on this page includes the most important commands for playing, reviewing action, and handling common table tasks.
To play on the BA site, you will need to register an account first at Blind Adrenaline. Once that is done, you can log into the site to see the list of active tables or create your own.
Creating and joining games
From the games page, you will find a heading for all active games. Simply click the join button to join one of these.
To create a table, click the create link, select Hold'em as the game, then name the table, choose whether you want a sit and go or cash game, set your buy in and timer, and away you go.
Important things to keep in mind
The interface is now constantly on the BA web site, so you can no longer use alt+f4 to leave a table. In fact, we do not use the function keys for table play, outside of normal browser functions such as F5 to refresh or F1 for browser help.
If you press alt+f4, it will close your browser, and you will need to launch the web site again.
To test whether you are in the right mode after joining a game, hit the Z key. The game should read the blind information. If your screen reader jumps between elements on the web page instead, you still need to turn your virtual cursor off.
Instead of alt+f4, once you finish a game, press shift+x to leave the table and return to the main BA page.
Playing in tournaments
One of the coolest features of BA is the ability to play in tournaments against dozens of other players.
Depending on the tournament setup, you will be awarded chips based on how well you do in the tournament. For instance, if the tournament splits chips based on the top three, then 1st place will receive 50 percent of the total entry fee, 2nd place will get 30 percent, and 3rd place will get 20 percent.
For example, if the entry fee is 10000 and 20 players sign up, the total purse available is 200000, so if the top 3 split, then 1st place would get 100000.
This profit goes into your BA account, and in this way, you accumulate chips as you play and win.
There are other payout methods as well, such as the Final 9, where all 9 players receive chips depending on how high they place on the final table.
How to join a tournament
- We have regularly scheduled tournaments each week, and you can see the list of upcoming tournaments from the Hold'em tournaments link on the main BA page.
- Click on the tournament you wish to join, and from that tournament page, hit the register button.
- Once you register, a seat will be saved for you.
- You can take your seat at the given start time for the tournament by clicking the take your seat button.
- The first hand of the tournament will be dealt at five minutes past the hour of the start time.
- For example, if the tournament start time is 8 PM eastern, you can go to the tournament page at 8 and click the take your seat button. At five past the hour, you will hear the first hand being dealt.
- You can also join the observation room by clicking join for the table you wish to watch.
- The tournament keeps the number of players at each table as even as possible, so you will be moved from time to time to another table.
- As players bust out, the tables will be consolidated until there is one final table.
- When the tournament reaches the final nine, there will be a five minute break before play continues.
Setting up your own sit and go mini tournament
- From the main Blind Adrenaline page, activate create.
- This will bring up choices for the type of game you want to create.
- Select the parameters for the game, including the table name, turn timeout, and blind amount.
- Choose the game type, either cash or sit and go.
- Activate the create button and you will take your seat at the table.
- When you are ready to start the sit and go, press shift+s.
Using the chip machine to get more chips
If you go broke, you can use the chip machine to replenish your account.
To use it, you need to be under 20,000 chips. If you are under that amount, you will see a link to the chip machine at the bottom of the main page.
You will not see the link if you have over 20,000 chips in your account. Once you activate that link, you will be taken to the chip machine where you can press S to spin the wheel.
It works like a slot machine and generates five random poker cards. You will receive chips in varying amounts depending on the hand you generate.
Once you have generated over 20,000 chips, you will no longer be able to spin. Whatever amount you have generated at that point stays in your account.
To check how much is in your account at any time, simply press AA at a Hold'em table, or use the controls on the page where available.
Just as on the tables, you will need to have the virtual cursor off to use the chip machine commands.
Note that if you bust out on a lottery table, just leave the table and come back, and you will be given 20k in chips.
Setting the maximum amount of chips to bring to a cash table
If you do not have a ton of chips, you may not want to risk all of them on a high roller cash table.
To set a cap for how many chips you sit down with, go to your profile page by activating the button labeled with your name.
Under customizations is a combo box that allows you to set the chip limit. With most screen readers, you can get to the combo box with the C key.
Be sure to activate save after setting the limit. After that, when you join a cash table, this is the maximum you will bring.
Be warned: high rollers may try to isolate you on a table and take your entire stack, since your chip cap limits their risk.
Subscribing to the Hold'em email list
The Hold'em list is where announcements are made about upcoming games and tournaments. You can announce your own cash and sit and go games there as well.
To subscribe, send a blank email to BAHoldem+subscribe@groups.io.
You will immediately receive a confirmation email back. Reply to that email and you will be subscribed. No subject or message body is needed.
Once subscribed, send messages to BAHoldem@groups.io and everyone else on the list will see what you post.
The BA Beta list
There is also a list for discussing upcoming features and overall ideas for improving the site called the BA Beta list.
To subscribe, send an email to BABeta+subscribe@groups.io.
Stats for Hold'em hands
| Hand type | Probability | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| High Card | 17.4% | 4.74 to 1 |
| One Pair | 43.8% | 1.28 to 1 |
| Two Pair | 23.5% | 3.26 to 1 |
| Three of a Kind | 4.83% | 19.7 to 1 |
| Straight | 4.62% | 20.6 to 1 |
| Flush | 3.03% | 32.1 to 1 |
| Full House | 2.60% | 37.5 to 1 |
| Four of a Kind | 0.168% | 594 to 1 |
| Straight Flush | 0.0279% | 3,589 to 1 |
| Royal Flush | 0.0032% | 30,940 to 1 |
Info mode and keyboard help
Shift+I turns info mode on or off. While info mode is active, you can press keys and key combinations to hear what they do without having to remember every command first. This makes it easier to learn the table interface and get comfortable with the keyboard controls.
Info mode will time out automatically after 10 seconds with no input. You can also press Shift+I again at any time to close it manually.
Press ? to open a separate web page or window that contains the Hold'em keyboard quick reference. This gives you a fast way to review the current command list without leaving the table interface.
Keyboard commands for Hold'em
| Command | Result |
|---|---|
| T | Read whose turn it is. |
| H or S | Read your current best hand, such as two pair or a flush. |
| P or X | Read the pot and the current amount to call. |
| B or D | Read the current amount to call. |
| C | Call or check. |
| F | Fold. Press twice quickly to toggle auto fold before your turn. |
| Number keys 1 through 0 | Type in a bet amount when it is your turn. |
| Enter | Submit the current bet. |
| Spacebar | Open the chat window. Type a message and press enter to send. Tap twice quickly to send an action message instead. |
| Escape or backtick/tilde key | Clear the current bet or chat input. |
| Q | Read your hole cards. |
| W | Read the flop cards. |
| E | Read the turn card. |
| R | Read the river card. |
| A | Read your current chip total at this table. |
| Z | Read the blind information. Press twice quickly to hear your position from the button. |
| V | Check the current blind level and timing information. |
| M | Set the minimum raise. |
| G | Read the active players in the current hand. |
| N | List viewers or observers at the table. |
| Backspace | Remove the last digit from the current bet. |
| Shift+S | Start the game when that option is available. |
| Shift+Q | Open the leave tournament confirmation when applicable. |
| Shift+V | Open the current tournament leaderboard window. |
| Shift+B | Reset chips from your account if you are a supporter and the option is available. |
| Shift+X | Leave the table and return to the main BA page. |
| Alt+A | Toggle away status. |
| Shift+M | Toggle chat mute. |
| Control plus number row | Read players by chip rank, including name, position, and chip amount. |
| Shift plus number row | Review previous chat messages by position. |
| Control plus Shift plus number row | Review previous game output by position. |
| L | Read the leaderboard summary. |
| Shift+R | Review the cards shown by players who completed the last hand. |
| Shift+T | Review the board cards from the last hand. |
| Control+Shift+C | Copy the last ten chat messages to your clipboard. |
Double-key commands
Some commands are entered by pressing a key twice quickly. For instance, to hear all of the community cards on the board, press the W key twice quickly.
| Key | Command |
|---|---|
| WW | Show all board or community cards. |
| MM | Set the maximum possible raise, usually all in. |
| GG | Show all players on the table with chip counts. |
| AA | Show the amount of total chips in your BA account. |
| LL | Show live table standings. |
| Double space | Send an action message instead of a chat message. |