Playing Poker online should be fun for the player but you can’t concentrate on enjoying the game if you’re concentrating on how the game is played. Understanding the rules of Poker is very important as it will prevent inappropriate gambling and allow the player to relax into the game whilst still standing a good chance of making a profit.
Playing Live Poker
Live tables have added a human element to the online game that has been severely lacking thanks to faceless, digital dealers handling the cards on many Poker simulators. Being able to see the dealer themselves gives the game more of the realism a player will get from playing Poker in a brick and mortar casino.
Playing Poker Simulators
Some players do prefer the wholly digital versions of Poker and there are plenty to choose from online. No matter your preference on rules or stake limits; there’s a Poker simulator to suit your needs and budget available via almost every online casino.
Rules of Poker
With so many variations on the game; it is best to study the rules in great detail before considering playing Poker online. There are live tables for almost every variant these days, from the traditional styles to the more obscure:
- Texas Hold ‘Em: Players are dealt two cards and are asked to make a bet right away. Once all the players are in; three cards are dealt face up in the centre of the table. Another round of betting follows before a single card is dealt face up. Players bet once more before the final face up card is dealt to complete the player’s hands. Betting occurs once again before players are asked to show their hands with the highest value hand taking the pot.
- Omaha Hi: Similar in principal to Texas but players are dealt four cards instead of two. Five communal face up cards are dealt across the three betting rounds and players can only use two of their dealt cards in combination with three of the central face up cards to create their best hand.
- Omaha Hi-Lo: Identical in gameplay to Omaha Hi but the winner is the player with the highest and lowest hands. Each player creates one hand of five cards from their four dealt cards and the five communal but it has been known for two players to share the pot on regular occasions – 50/50 split for highest and lowest hands.
- 7 Card Stud: A more unusual variation of Poker as players are required to bet without having received any cards as an ante. Players are then dealt two face down cards and one face up – a door card. The player with the lowest value door card is asked to bet a reduced amount of the lowest stake and betting continues. Over the course of five betting rounds; players who do not fold will have three face down cards and four face up by the time of showing down. The player who can construct the best hand from their seven wins.
- SNAP: A much faster version of Texas Hold ‘Em where a folding player is immediately taken away from the table they were playing at and joins another where a hand is just starting. This reduces the waiting time that can become tedious when playing online poker and boosts the enjoyment exponentially.
Online Poker Gambling Advice
It’s never wise to play Poker online without a good grasp of the way the game is played in terms of gambling. Spend your time and research the game of Poker further; you’ll be a card sharp in no time at all.
It can be a straight forward game wherein players must match the staked amount if they are to continue playing; or go all in if the wagered value exceeds their total chips.
Always avoid going all in online as players use the heavy betting as a tactic to deter players from matching them. The absence of face to face gambling has led players to develop alternative bluffing and intimidation tactics to push lower stakes players into folding.
