Our poker guide will teach everything you need to know about online poker, including basic rules, advanced strategies, terminology, free poker games, and expert reviews of the best online casinos for playing real money poker.
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Online poker played against the casino, also known as casino poker is second in popularity only to the game played among people. However, it is immensely popular in both brick-and-mortar and online casinos and it comes in many flavors. Texas Hold’em, Caribbean Stud and Three Card Poker are some of the most popular versions of the game, but you can find many more at licensed casinos.
In casino poker, players place bets on their hands and then receive a set of cards. The goal is to create the best possible hands, using five cards. In some versions of the game, you need to use all the cards in your hand, while others allow you to make use of community cards. The race between the player and the casino dealer, which can be a real person or software.
Depending on the strength of the hand you make, you will be paid more or less, so there are many things to consider. Strategy comes in handy and poker is a game that rewards perseverance and the use of mathematics, instead of relying blindly on luck. Online casinos offer a range of betting limits to cater to players of all skill levels and bankrolls. You can even play for free to hone your skills, so you don’t have to jump straight into the shark-infested waters.
One of the main advantages of playing this game is the chance of claiming a big payout while competing against a low house edge. This can be further decreased by using optimal strategy every single time so that lack eventually plays a lower role. Compared to traditional poker, you can’t expect to read opponents, so you can get your advantages by simply playing the numbers every time.
Most modern-day poker players know Texas Hold’em and little else, but the truth is that there have been many variations of poker going as far back as ancient China and Persia. Poker burst onto the European scene in France in the 17th century with a game called Poque, and it is from here that the eventual name was probably derived.
Like most modern casino games, poker was brought to the New World by French colonists. It was originally played in New Orleans, but spread to the Wild West with the expanding population before exploding in popularity during the US Civil War in the 1860s. It was during the Civil War era that many of the current rules and versions of poker were established, including Draw Poker, Stud Poker and the straight.
Texas Hold’em was invented in the southern Texas town of Robstown in the early 20th century, but it only received its big break when it was introduced at a small Las Vegas casino called the Golden Nugger in 1967. Two years later the Dune Casino held a Texas Hold’em tournament, and it was around this time the game started to attract attention.
In 1970, the Binion brothers acquired the struggling Gambling Fraternity Convention and turned it into the World Series of Poker, which of course is now the world’s biggest poker tournament. Their decision to use Texas Hold’em in the Main Event was one that would have ramifications for the entire online gambling industry.
Thanks to WSOP and its exposure on television, Texas Hold’em became the most popular form of poker in the world. This position was cemented with the arrival of the Internet in the late 20th century, which ensured that Texas Hold’em and online poker could be enjoyed by hundreds of millions from around the world.
The following dictionary includes terms that are part of basic poker terminology and others that are specifically used in Texas Hold’em.
Blinds: Forced bets that are made by the two players to the left of the dealer (person immediately to left places small blind, person two to left places big blind).
Bluff: Tactic in which player bets on a weak hand in order to push those with stronger hands out of the game.
Buy-in: Value of chips player must purchase to participate in a poker game.
Community Cards: In Texas Hold’em, five cards dealt face-up for use by all players.
Flop: First round, in which three community cards are dealt face-up.
Flush: Five cards of the same suit.
Hole Cards: Two cards dealt to the player.
Pair: Two cards of the same value, e.g., pair of 4s or pair of Aces.
Pot: Total value of bets placed on any given hand.
Rake: House commission from every pot. This is how the House makes money from poker games.
River: Fifth and final community card that is dealt.
Round of Betting: Players make choose one of four options at each betting round: check, call, raise or fold.
Royal Flush: Ace-high straight of matching suit – i.e., Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten of Spades. This is the best (albeit, rarely seen) possible hand in poker.
Straight: Five consecutive cards of any suit, e.g. Jack, 10, 9, 8 and 7.
Trips: Three-of-a-king, e.g. three Jacks or three 4s.
Turn: Fourth community card to be dealt.
A game of Texas Hold’em begins with the dealer (or a player) shuffling a standard 52-card deck. The player to the left of the “dealer” button posts a small blind (half of minimum bet) and the player two to the left posts a big blind (minimum bet). The dealer deals two “hole-cards” to each player, starting with the player to his left.
The first round of betting is held, starting with the player to the left of the big blind and continuing in a clockwise direction. Players may either check (if they have already matched the maximum bet on the table), call (add money to the pot to match the max bet), raise (bet more than max bet) or fold (quit the hand and forfeit all standing bets).
The flop comes out: the dealer burns the top card on the deck and flips three community cards. Another round of betting takes place, starting with the player to the left of the dealer button. Then comes the turn, (fourth community card), another round of betting, river (fifth community card) and final round of betting before players turn over their cards.
If two or more players remain in the game after the river, the dealer reveals the five community cards and the winner is determined. The winner is the player with the best five-card hand (using their two hole cards and five community cards).
The best hands, in order, are:
Royal Flush: Ace-high straight Flush
Straight Flush: Hand containing five consecutive cards of same suit.
Four of a kind: Hand containing four cards of same rank and one other card.
Full House: Hand containing three cards of one rank and two of another rank.
Flush: Hand containing five unmatched cards of the same suit.
Straight: Five cards of sequential rank of various suits.
Three of a kind: Hand in which three cards have same rank and two do not.
Two pair: Hand in which there are two pairs of cards with same rank and one other card.
Pair: Hand in which two of the cards have same rank as each other.
High Card: If nobody wins with Pair or better, the game is won by the player with the highest single card (beginning with Ace).
Like all forms of poker, Texas Hold’em is a game of skill in which maths, bluffing and other advanced strategy can help you on your quest to victory. For beginners, the most important thing to know is basic strategy: whether your hole cards are worth playing with or whether to fold and wait for the next hand.
As a general rule, if you receive two non-pair cards valued at less than 10, your chances of winning the hand are low. If you receive a pair or at least one card worth 10 or more, it might be worth staying in the game and seeing what happens. The rest of basic strategy requires a cost-risk analysis of how good or bad your cards are and how much you need to spend to stay in the game. Sometimes it’s worth putting in a little more to see what happens, while at other times it’s better to fold a hand and wait until you receive better cards.
Keep in mind:
Take note of the community cards. These belong to everyone, so if you concentrate closely enough you will figure out not only your best potential five-card combination but also the best potential five-card combo of your opponents.
To make the most of each hand dealt in casino poker, it's important to have a plan. These tips will help you play the most strategic hands possible, regardless of the variation you're playing.
Casino poker comes in different flavors, so the first thing to do is to learn the rules.
Find casinos that have bonuses for new players and ongoing promotions for existing members.
Practice in a demo format and use virtual currency to learn the ins and outs of casino poker.
Moving from online slots or non-card games to becoming an online casino poker player may seem daunting, but it's actually quite simple. Follow our easy steps, and you'll be playing in no time.
Filter out unlicensed operators and choose the ones approved by a respected regulator.
Research goes a long way and you should spend just as much time as you spend money on poker.
Nobody is born an expert, but you can hone your skills by practicing the version of poker for free.
Use the optimal strategy and then develop your plan based on your bankroll and expectations.
There is no substitute for proper bankroll management, so never bet more than you can afford to lose.
Our user-friendly glossary of online poker terms provides valuable insight into how the game works and allows you to follow the jargon used by experienced players.
Poker GlossaryThis guide takes a look at nearly forty of the most popular casino poker games played worldwide, giving you an overview of each game's rules and gameplay.
A variant of blackjack where players can place a bonus bet that pays out based on their first two cards and the dealer's up card.
This is the generic version of the game, which can take different forms at online casinos. In most cases, it refers to Texas Hold'em, although not all casinos highlight this.
A game played in a live casino setting, with a real dealer and physical cards, as opposed to an online version.
A game where players create two hands, one with five cards and one with two, with the goal of beating the dealer's hands.
A simple card game where players bet on whether the third card in a sequence will fall between the first two.
The most popular poker variant where players are dealt two cards and must create the best possible five-card hand using community cards.
A unique variant of poker where players bet on the outcome of a simulated bullfight, with cards representing the bull and matador.
A fast-paced game where players try to create the best three-card hand possible and beat the dealer. You can play it for free or real money at online casinos.
A variation of five-card stud poker where players compete against the dealer, not each other. It is one of the best-known and most appreciated versions of the game.
A game that combines elements of blackjack and poker, where players choose to play either "high" or "tequila" poker.
A game where players place three equal bets and can withdraw them as the game progresses or let them ride until the end.
A variant where players receive a mix of face-up and face-down cards and bet accordingly. It can be found in most online and land-based casinos.
A classic poker variant where players receive five cards and have the opportunity to discard and replace some or all of them.
A variant where players receive four cards instead of two and must discard two after the flop.
A game where players create three hands from 13 cards, with the goal of creating the best possible hand in each row.
A variation of Texas Hold 'em where players receive three cards instead of two and must discard one after the flop.
A variant of Texas Hold 'em where cards 2 through 5 are removed from the deck, creating a faster and more action-packed game.
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There are many versions of the game, but the goal is always to make a hand better than the dealer.
Instead of competing with your peers, you try to beat the house, so you have a single opponent.
Texas Hold’em, Caribbean Stud and Three Card Poker are the most popular versions of the game.
Browse our list of licensed and regulated casinos to find the best one and take no chances.
Each game has an optimal strategy, which should be followed instead of relying on luck.
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