# How to Play

Now that you're set up and familiar with the lobby, it's time to dive into the action. RACE Poker offers two primary ways to play: classic Cash Games and exciting Multi-Table Tournaments (MTTs). This section will guide you through both, and then give you a full tour of the gameplay screen.

### 💵 **Cash Games**

Cash games are the classic, "sit down and play" style of poker. You can join or leave at any time, and the chips in front of you have a direct cash value.

1. From the lobby, ensure you have the **"Cash Games"** tab selected.
2. You will see a list of all active tables. You can use the filters at the top of the list to narrow your search, for example, by showing only tables that use USDC or hiding tables that are already full.

Each row in the game list gives you crucial information at a glance:

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* **Table Name:** The unique name of the table. (e.g. RICHMOND)
* **Blinds:** Shown as SB / BB (e.g., 0.05 / 0.10 RRR). This indicates the size of the Small Blind and Big Blind, which are forced bets that drive the action, and token used to play. These stakes determine the general size of the game.
* **Buy-in:** Shown as min buy-in (e.g. 5 RRR) and max buy-in (e.g. 50 RRR). This is the minimum and maximum amount of tokens you can bring to the table when you first sit down.
* **Players:** Shows how many players are currently seated out of the maximum allowed (e.g., 4/6).
* **Rake:** A small percentage of the pot taken by the house as a fee for running the game. This is the primary mechanism for funding the platform and rewarding community. You can see the specific rake percentage in the Game Details Panel.

1. **Hover over** any table in the list to see its full details in the side panel.
2. Once you've found a table you like, click the **"Open"** or **"Join"** button.
3. Your wallet will ask you to approve the transaction for your buy-in amount. After you approve, the game table will launch in a new window or tab.
4. To leave a cash game, simply look for the "Cashout" or "Leave Table" button within the game interface. Your remaining chip stack will be sent directly back to your wallet.

***

### 🏆 **MTT - Multi-Table Tournaments**

Tournaments offer the chance to turn a small entry fee into a massive prize. All players start with the same number of chips, and the blinds increase at regular intervals. The goal is to be the last player standing!

Unlike cash games, your tournament chips have no direct cash value. You play until you either win all the chips or are eliminated. The last remaining players receive a payout from the prize pool based on their finishing rank.

Select the **"Tourneys"** tab in the lobby to see a list of upcoming and ongoing events. You'll see key info like the start time, the entry fee (called a "Ticket"), the number of registered players, and the current prize pool.

Click on a tournament to view its Lobby. Here you'll find all the details:

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* **Registering:** If a tournament is open for registration, simply click the **"Register"** button and approve the transaction for the ticket price in your wallet.
* **Late Registration:** Most tournaments have a "late registration" period, usually lasting for the first hour or so. The countdown timer in the tournament lobby will show you exactly how much time is left to join.
* **Re-buys & Add-ons:** Some tournaments may allow you to "re-buy" your stack if you are eliminated during the late registration period. Check the tournament details for specific rules.

The total prize pool is funded by the players' ticket fees. As more players register, the prize pool grows! You can view the full payout structure in the "Prizes" tab of the tournament lobby to see how many places get paid and what each position wins.

***

### 🕹️ **The Gameplay Interface**

Once you join a table, you'll be taken to our game screen. Your seat is always positioned at the bottom center for easy viewing.

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1. **Your Hole Cards:** Your two private cards are dealt face down here.
2. **Player Avatars:** Everyone at the table, including you. It shows their nickname, PFP, and current chip stack. The player whose turn it is to act will be highlighted.
3. **The Board (Community Cards):** The five cards dealt face-up in the middle of the table for everyone to use (the Flop, Turn, and River).
4. **The Pot:** The total amount of chips in the current pot.
5. **Dealer Button (D):** A small button that indicates the "dealer" for the current hand. It moves one position to the left after each hand.
6. **Action Buttons:** When it's your turn, these buttons will appear.
   * **Fold:** Give up your hand and forfeit any chips you've put in the pot.
   * **Check:** Pass the action to the next player without betting (only available if no one has bet yet in the current round).
   * **Call:** Match the current highest bet.
   * **Bet / Raise:** Increase the amount of the current bet. Use the **Bet Slider (7)** to easily select your amount, or use the preset buttons for common bet sizes (e.g., 1/2 Pot, Pot).
7. **The Bet Slider:** Your primary tool for choosing the exact amount you wish to bet or raise.
8. **The Action Timer & Time Bank:** A visual timer shows you how much time you have left to act. If you need more time for a tough decision, you can activate your **Time Bank** for extra seconds.
9. **In-Game Chat:** Click here to open the chat window and talk with your fellow players at the table.
