Play begins with the dealer dealing each of the player’s two cards, which must remain face down until the first round of betting is complete.  The player to the left of the dealer is the small blind with the player left of them the big blind.  A round of blind betting, called the pre-flop ensues, with raises allowed.  After this is complete, cards can be viewed and another betting round commences.  The dealer then lays three cards face up in the community area in the middle of the table.  This is known as the flop.  Another round of betting continues.  The final two rounds are referred to as the turn, where the fourth card of five is placed face up in the community area, and the river, where the fifth and final one is placed.  Rounds of betting are allowed in between these.

It is in the potential hands available at each of the stages of the community cards being revealed that much of the strategy lies, especially in an online casino.  For instance, a pair of aces at the pre-flop stage may appear to be a great hand, but may not pay off in the final reckoning depending on the community cards.

All poker games have similar rules of betting and ranking.  The betting is always done clockwise and each player on the table has to choose to match the bet, raise the bet, or fold.  When all the players have made a decision, the round is finished.  Different poker games usually share the same ranking of the winning cards – the flush is always the highest.  The differences between games are in dealing the hands and especially the number of cards each player receives.  The showdown and the pot may vary in different games, as well as the bet size and the number of rounds. 

Even though each poker game has different rules and tricks, most strategies used by players are based on mathematics, theory of probabilities, psychology and game theories.  Popular poker games nowadays are stud poker, draw poker, Texas Hold’em, but all types of poker can be played online. 

Tips

When playing poker online, it is important to remember that you should not just play every hand you are dealt. Wait for a chance and then take it. A lot of online players do not abide by this rule; they cannot help but play every hand. 

You must play the game with patience. If you want to win a reasonable amount of money you need to give time to the game. Remember, it is better to win in the long-term than lose in the short-term.

It is advisable to begin playing online poker on a website that has low online betting limits, so that you can practise and get used to the game without losing too much money. When you are confident you know what you are doing, you can move onto games with higher limits to try and win more money. Play in online casinos that offer free bets when you first register. That way, you will save money.

The tournament concept is a little more involved than a standard cash game.  In a cash game, players bet against each other and win money from each other, and the game is a one off.  In a tournament, the players are going for a fixed cash prize that is only shared out among the winners.  The cash prize can be considerable, which makes tournaments attractive.  The prize isn’t handed out after only one game, but instead after a series of games.  The pool of players is gradually whittled down until only one table is left.  These players go on to play the final round for the big cash prize.

So, the advantage of a tournament is the certainty that someone will win a large amount.  It brings many players together and increases the sense of purpose to the game.  The downside is the investment of time required.  Also, players who want to compete will have to provide an entry fee.  Think of it as the stake against the big prize, so the risks are greater than a cash game, but the rewards are also correspondingly greater.

How to Play Video Poker

To start a game, the player inserts money into the machine; the minimum bet on most machines is one “coin” of the denomination the machine accepts, and the maximum bet is usually five “coins”.  Once the bet has been made, you can press the ‘DEAL’ button.  You will then receive five cards.

You must select the cards you wish to keep by pressing the ‘HOLD’ button beneath where the card is displayed on the screen.  You can keep all or none of the five cards you have been dealt.  The cards you decide to discard will be replaced with new cards.  Your payout will be dependent upon the hand you have after your discarded cards have been replaced.

Different Video Poker Games

There are a variety of different games on offer in the video poker world.  Some of the more popular include:

Deuces Wild – In Video Poker, a standard 52-card deck is usually used.  However, a unique feature of this version of Video Poker is that the four 2s in the deck are considered ‘wild cards’ – hence the name Deuces Wild.  This means that they can be any card in the deck that helps increase the value of your hand.  Being dealt a 2 will therefore increase the chances of a payout.  However, the payout for most hands will be less than with other games.

Jacks or Better – This is the most popular version of Video Poker currently played, and if played correctly it will provide an expected return of 99.54%.  There are a number of different versions of Jacks or Better, so you must check the rules of the machine you are playing on.  Sometimes, the minimum hand required is a pair of jacks – hence the name – while in other versions at least a pair of kings are required for a payout.

Jokers Wild – In addition to a standard deck of cards, there is a joker thrown in this version as well.  The minimum winning hand in this version is two pair.

Regardless of the game, it is recommended to play progressive machines that may pay out big jackpots if they are available where you are playing.

The expression ‘poker face’ actually derives from the fact that all humans subconsciously give themselves away when lying, either through a facial expression, looking to the left, or even twitching.  In poker it is an important part of the game to be able to lie to, or to bluff opponents in order to maximise the chances of winning.  The unwitting twitch is called ‘a tell’ in poker.

As with all gambling card games, poker is as much about skill as it is about chance.  There are a lot of internet guidelines dealing with this subject but all commentators urge a player to never play when they feel sad.  Since poker is a game of skill and strategy, it is unlikely that a player will be able to concentrate on the game when in a foul mood.  In addition, bluffing would be difficult if the facial expressions were determined by an inner sadness.

Beginners are advised to try not to keep on playing if they have been losing.  The novice may well believe that they will be able to retrieve their lost chips after a succession of unlucky rounds of play, this is usually not the case and players are advised to start play on another occasion.

Variety of strategy is also advised.  If a player becomes predictable then opponents will be able to read their technique and therefore defeat that player once they have realised that the method of play employed never varies.  Analysts recommend that all players try to constantly update and upgrade their skills in order that they do not become too predictable.

If a player is a novice it is advisable for them to try and play for free, most of the online poker sites have schools, tutorials and freerolls where the player can experiment with their newly acquired skills.

•    Players are dealt a set amount of cards; in some games five, in others seven.
•    Betting may occur at various points during the game.  In some variations, betting occurs after each card is dealt while in others betting is done only when all players have a complete hand.
•    Players bet that they have the best hand in the group.  In any game of poker, players have the option to fold, which means they stop betting and their hand becomes forfeit.
•    Betting limits vary depending upon the game.  In all poker games, players still in the game must bet the same amount.  One player may force another to fold by raising the bets.
•    Hands are ranked based upon probability.  In all types of poker games, the least probable hand, the royal flush, is the highest ranked hand.

Poker is a simple game, but it is important to understand the basic rules as well as those of variations in order to play successfully.

Bluffing is not quite as easy as it sounds and is considered to be an art by many experienced players.  There are several forms of bluffing; the two most common are considered here.

The semi-bluff involves bluffing during an early round of betting with an inferior hand that has a real possibility of improving later in the game.  For example, if a player appears as if he may have a straight to his opponents, he may choose to bet heavily or raise a previous bet, hoping to fool the other players and make them fold.  If his bluff is unsuccessful, he may still be dealt the card that completes his straight and win the hand.  So while he bluffed in the earlier rounds of betting, he ultimately won the pot with his superior hand.

The pure bluff is when a player has an inferior hand that isn’t likely to improve.  The only way the player will win is if he makes the other players fold by betting them out of the pot.

Knowing when to bluff is just as important as knowing how to bluff.  Bluffing too much or too little can tip off your opponents as to your bluffing strategy.  One should bluff in a random, unpredictable way.  This confuses other players and makes it difficult for them to determine when you are bluffing and when you are actually holding a winning hand.

The most popular variations

Poker has a number of variations depending on where the game is played.  Each game has so many of its own rules and code of conduct during game play that many gamblers pick one or two favourites instead of trying to master them all.  During the first century of poker’s existence three games dominated; Draw, Texas Hold’em and Seven-Card Stud. These held the reigns as the most popular forms of the game.  Seven-Card Stud and Hold’em remain popular variations today with Hold’em edging Seven-Card Stud after this form started being used in the World Series of Poker. 

Basic rules of play

With most forms of Poker only one deck of 52 cards is used, and if desired the jokers can be used as wild cards.  Depending on the format there will be from 2 to 10 players at a table.  Players receive chips that are used to bet on the hand either for fun or for actual money, and the colour of each chip denotes how much each is worth.  Each round a player wins the pot of chips by having the best hand and the overall winner is the player who finishes with the most chips.

Jacks Or Better

This is a game of draw poker and you must first decide how many coins or credits to play with.  Playing with more coins gives a higher return.  You get five cards and must choose which to keep.  The remaining cards are then discarded when you press deal or draw and replaced with new ones.

Your pay-out depends on the hand you finish with.  In order of rank from highest to lowest, the winning hands are royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pairs and a pair of jacks or higher.

Deuces Wild

This is still draw poker but includes a wild card, which gives you the chance to make five of a kind.  However, the minimum winning hand is now three of a kind.  In this game, you are dealt five cards and choose which to keep and which to discard for new ones.

Twos act as wild cards and can be used to represent any card you wish.  You win if your hand has three of a kind, or better.  There are special pay-outs for wild card hands.

Remember, if you are used to playing normal poker, you need to make sure you learn the rules of video poker and adapt, as the two games are not the same.