[UsIreland]

No.1 It depends on where your playing.

No. 2 It depends on where your playing.

I've seen and played in card rooms where the minimum raise is twice the previous bet i.e. Blinds 1-2 raise to 6 min raise is to 12. I've also played in places where the minimum raise is the difference between the last two bets i.e. Blinds 1-2 raise to 6 min raise is to 10. The third one and most bizare one of the lot is the rule that our local casino tried and quickly abandoned, the minimum raise is the difference between the smallest and biggest bets i.e. Blinds 1-2 raise to 6 min raise is to 11 (6-1 = 5 + 6 =11).

No 2 is a much tougher one. I personally would go by the world series rule, I'm too lazy to look up the rule but basically it says that if you throw out the amount to call and atleast half the chips to raise then you must make a full raise. i.e. Blinds 1-2 raise to 6 you throw out 9, you must make the minimum raise which is to 12(assume twice the previous bet rule), however if you throw out 8 chips the rule is call.

This is the perfect example of where house rules really should be made 100% clear before the game starts even in a friendly game.

Regards
Ian