Online poker is increasingly becoming popular, and it has never been easier to play poker in online casinos. However, for beginners, playing online poker can seem more complicated than playing regular poker at a land-based casino.
In this post, we’ll be discussing the most important things you need to know to get started. This includes the history of the game, the different types of poker, how to find the best poker sites, the most frequently asked questions, and more.
We’ll equip you with all the tools you need to enjoy the game, and hopefully, you’ll be successful at it.
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The History of Poker
Although poker’s exact origin remains unclear, it is believed to have originated from As Nas, a Persian card game, in the 16th Century. It was then passed to French sailors by Persian sailors in New Orleans.
The game of poker is reported to have been played for the first time in 1829. It had a deck of 20 cards, and the players would bet on the most valuable hands.
The development of transport and communication systems in the United States, particularly through the Mississippi River, played a critical role in the spread of poker.
The thrill of the game was appealing to a large number of people in the western frontier, which led to the introduction of the fifty-two card deck. Five more additions were made to the game during the American Civil war.
Generally, the worldwide spread of poker is credited to the American military, who taught the rules of the games to other military ranks.
Terminologies Used In Poker
The most common poker terminologies include:
Ante – Small bet placed by each player before the deal begins
Bankroll – The amount of money that is specifically allocated to gambling (playing online poker).
Dealer – Someone employed by the casino to assist in distributing the cards
Blind – A forced bet made by players sitting to the left of the dealer button
Fold – Giving up on a hand. Usually done in cases where a player cannot deal with the other players for that particular round.
Call – Matching the bet amount made previously
Check – A player can “check” when it’s his turn to act, and no one has bet before
Draw – Play a hand that could be improved with the right cards
All-in – When a player puts all his remaining chips in the pot. This means he doesn’t have to do anything else.
Poker Hand Rankings
To play poker, you must understand the different hand rankings. Basically, individual cards are ranked from the highest to the lowest. If two players have the same hand, the tiebreaker is often decided by the rank of a card. The Ace is the best card in the deck, followed by King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2.
Here are the rankings from the worst to the best:
High card – A hand that is not straight and has no pairs. It’s the lowest winning hand
One pair – A par is usually formed whenever there are two of the same cards
Two pairs – When two (or more) players have two pairs, the player with the best pair wins
Straight – A hand consisting of five cards of sequential rank, regardless of the suit. If two or more players have a straight, the straight with the best card wins
Four of a kind – A hand containing four cards of the same rank and one of a different rank
Straight flush – A hand containing five consecutive cards from the same suit
Royal Flush – The most valuable hand-formed from a straight flush that includes an ace, king, jack, queen, and ten all from the same suit.
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How to play Poker | Video Tutorial
In this video you have all the information you need to know how to play Poker online and with friends. Rules of Poker.
Watch our tutorial video and learn how to play poker. In this short video, you can find all the information you need to know about Poker so you can start playing at casinos and with friends. You will also find useful tips to help you win real money.
Types of Poker
Generally, there are two main types of poker (Stud Poker and Draw Poker), and the rules are basically the same for both.
In Stud Poker, each player receives five cards. The players would then try to determine the strongest hand and bet on it. The player who wagers the most bids wins the round unless another player matches their bet. In that case, the two remaining players show their cards and the player with the best hand wins.
In Draw Poker, each player receives five cards before the dealing begins. The players can draw new cards to improve their hands by trading up to three cards from the deck.
There are also different variations of poker. They include:
Texas Hold ‘Em
Texas hold’em is the most popular type of poker and is mostly played at a six or nine-handed table.
The main task of the player is to make the most profitable combination when matching five cards out of seven: five of them are on the table, and two are in the hands of the participant.
Omaha
In Omaha, each player is dealt four cards and have to make the best hand from exactly two of them, in addition to five community cards.
Razz
Players are dealt with sevens cards and have to make the best five-card low hand. Requires 2 to 8 players.
7-card stud
Players are dealt with three cards facing down and four cards facing up. To win, the players have to get the best 5-card hand.
5-card stud
In this type of poker, players try to get the best five ranked cards. Each player is dealt five cards and can trade up to a maximum of three.
There are a lot more variations of poker, especially online versions, and the number is growing, there are: Omaha Hi-Lo, 5-Card Omaha, Caribbean Stud Poker, Razz, 2-7 Triple Draw, Pai Gow Poker, 3 Card Poker, and more
The Difference between Live Poker and Online Poker
The pace of the game – When compared to live poker, online casino poker is more fast-paced. Online poker allows you to play more hands than live poker. This is because you don’t have someone dealing with the cards.
Multi-table – Online poker allows you to play multiple tables at once, unlike live poker.
Understanding players – Live poker gives you the chance to read other players and get to know them better. You could learn your opponents by observing their game style, but it’s not easy and requires a lot of practice. This is not possible with online poker.
The Difference between Real Money and Free To Play Poker
Real money
With real money poker, you stand a chance to win significant amounts of cash if you’re lucky. This is usually aided with the availability of the welcome bonus and other offers such as loyalty points, which increase your play-time and chances of winnings at real money casinos.
In addition, most players will only reveal their true colors, for example, by bluffing, in real money games.
Free poker
Free poker provides a risk-free environment to try out different variants and hone your skills. However, you cannot win any real-cash prizes, which can be demoralizing.
Quick Poker Strategies to Boost Your Skills
Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
Don’t play too many hands – It is important to play fewer hands; otherwise, you will bleed away your money or chips within a short time. Play a small range of strong hands and play them aggressively.
Fold when you are not sure – When you are not sure whether to call or fold vs. raise or bet, do yourself a favor and fold.
Read other players and attack when they show weakness – Take advantage whenever other players show weakness in a head-up pot by applying a bluffing strategy.
Be patient – Like other areas in life, always be patient when playing poker.
Avoid Danger Hands – Learn what Danger Hands are and how to avoid them.
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How to Find the Best Online Poker Sites
Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
Find the best bonus offers – Welcome bonuses increase your playtime and chances of winning.
Licensing – It is also important to choose a poker site that has been licensed in a recognized jurisdiction
Fast payouts – A reliable site will be able to offer fast payouts
Wide range of payment method – Also, choose a poker site that offers a wide range of payment methods
Video Poker
Video poker is a five-card draw casino game played on a console that looks more like a slot machine. It has an easy-to-use interface that requires no interaction with other players or dealers.
Like slot reels, card combination in video slots is run but the RNG (Random Number Generator). However, unlike slot machines, video poker adds an element of skill.
The house edge in video poker ranges from 5% to 0.5%. In some games, it could be zero or negative. The most common variants of video include:
- Double down stud poker
- Double play poker
- Multiple play poker
- Spin poker
Online Poker Software Providers
There are many poker software providers, but there are a few that have remained the most reliable in the online gambling industry.
Microgaming is one of the key players in the gaming software industry. The Microgaming Poker Network includes 32Red Poker, Wild Jack Poker, Ladbrokes Poker, BetWay Poker, etc. Playtech has not been left behind either. The provider is known for its user-friendly poker software. Their collection includes Speed Poker Cash Games, and other variants such as Texas Hold’em, Omaha High-Low, and others.
Playing Poker on Your Mobile Device
You can play poker on your mobile device. Nearly every site today has some kind of mobile option you can use. You can play poker on your Android or iPhone device. Some operators have dedicated apps, whereas others have mobile sites.
Easy Online Poker Tips for Beginners
These are some useful tips for poker players:
Ditch your favorite hand – Many people have a favorite hand, which is accepted. However, don’t give it that preferential treatment.
Have a consistent strategy – You also need to apply a winning strategy consistently. Don’t adopt a different strategy suddenly because you’re bored.
Avoid playing in bad games – Don’t play against players who are very good at poker, unless you’re playing for fun. Play against players who make mistakes so you can profit.
Conclusion
Online poker is one of the most popular casino games. It has a number of variants, but the most popular of them all is Texas Hold ’em. To boost your chances of winning, you need to learn the rules and apply the right strategy consistently. Most importantly, you must choose the right poker casino.
FAQ
The objective of poker is to win as much money or chips as possible in real money poker, which is achieved by winning hands.
True! However, if you continue in a hand that has a small chance of winning, you stand to lose even more. In that scenario, you need to reduce your losses and save the best for situations that are more favorable.
There are three main variations of poker: draw poker, stud poker, and community card poker.
The most popular type of poker is Texas Hold 'em.
Play aggressively. Yes, the only way to win a lot in poker is to bet a lot.
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