There are a variety of poker variants, and it’s almost always played with a standard 52-card deck. Each poker hand consists of 5 cards, and the more unusual the combination, the higher the hand ranks. Additionally, each hand involves multiple betting rounds, during which players take turns placing bets, calling, checking, raising, or folding.
Where to Play Poker Online
Many online casino sites offer poker games alongside their slots and table games. These sites offer many different poker games, including the popular Texas Hold'em and Omaha poker. There are also video poker games for players who feel more comfortable playing on their own rather than playing with other players.
Some sites even offer live dealer poker rooms, where players can interact with real dealers via live video streaming. With 24/7 access and the convenience of being able to play on mobile phones, online casinos have become one of the most accessible ways to enjoy poker today.
The Basics on How to Play Poker
As previously mentioned, there are several Poker variants, with the most popular being Texas Hold’em. In Poker, the game uses a standard ranking system. In most games, players have to make the best 5-card poker hand using the standard poker hand.
The best poker hand is the royal flush, followed by the straight flush. Royal flushes and straight flushes, along with 3 and 4 of a kind, and straights are often the best hands to have when a showdown starts. Below are the different Poker Rankings:
- A Royal flush consists of an A. K, Q, J and 10 all of the same suit.
- Straight flush is also a rare hand, and it consists of any straight that is all of the same suit, i.e. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
- Four of a Kind is often referred to as quads, and here you have 4 cards of the same value along with another card known as the side card.
- A Full House has three cards of one value and two cards of another.
- In a Straight, you will have 5 cards of consecutive value, all from a different suit.
- Three of a Kind or Trips is where you have 3 cards of the same value and 2 side cards with a different value.
- When you have two cards of equal value and another two cards of equal value, and one extra card, that is known as Two Pair.
- Pair is self-explanatory; here, you have two cards of the same value and three extra cards.
Actions
Once you have learnt the various poker hands, you just need to decide which of the 4 actions below you are going to use while playing poker.
Call: matching the amount of an open bet or raise
Raise: increase the open bet amount, which means any of the other players must match.
Fold: Here, the player places their cards in the centre of the table, surrendering any chance of winning the hand.
Check: pass the action onto the next player without placing a wager
You just never know, once you know all the basics of poker, you could just become the next World Series of Poker champion!