Poker is any number of different games that are played with playing cards and involve players betting on who has the best hand. The exact rules will depend on which game type you’re playing. Poker typically uses a single standard 52-card deck but the exact number of cards in play, whether cards are dealt face up or face down can all be changed depending on which game you’re playing.
Poker was developed around the 19th century in the US where it soon became a popular pastime. Over the years, the game has grown massively, and now, thanks in part to online Poker, it’s one of the biggest gambling games in the world. Tournaments like the World Series of Poker have been held each year since the 70s. This competition gives players from all over the world the chance to win millions of dollars in prize money.
The most common type of Poker you’ll come across online is Texas Hold ‘Em, so most of what we explain in this guide will be applicable to this game type in particular. In most games, there is forced betting in the form of the big blind and little blind. These bets are made before any cards are dealt, but after being dealt cards, the other players can place bets too.
Players can take various actions throughout the game, including to surrender or “fold” their cards. Folding means you’re out of that hand and won’t be able to continue until being dealt back in. You’ll also be able to “call” or match the current bet. Finally, you’ll be able to raise or increase your bet. Other players at the table must match your bet, raise or fold.
The dealer also adds cards to the community cards, using which the players try to complete the best possible five-card Poker hands. In most games of Poker, there are five community cards, and each player will be using their two dealt cards to make the best possible hand.
Scores of cards and Poker hands will depend on which type of poker you’re playing. But common hands include two of a kind, three of a kind, four of a kind, straights, and flushes. We’ll get into these more later in the guide.
There are usually four rounds of betting to allow players plenty of opportunities to place their bets and try to outwit each other. In Poker, the best hand doesn’t always win, because other players can’t see what cards you have, it’s possible to bluff and make your opponents fold, even if you have a hand that normally wouldn’t beat them.
Why play poker?
It is one of the most popular card games in the world for good reason. It’s a lot of fun to play, and unlike some other casino games, there’s plenty of skill involved as well as luck. Here are some of the reasons why Poker is so popular and why we love it so much:
- Lots of variation – There are hundreds of different variations of Poker out there. While that may seem initially confusing to a newcomer, it also gives you loads of opportunities to play different games every day. Even playing the same game type, no two games of Poker are ever the same thanks to different players, hands, and rules.
- Skill-based – Unlike the slots or Roulette table, Poker has a lot of skill involved. Sure, there’s still plenty of luck in who gets the best cards, but the best cards don’t always win. You have to know how to use the cards to your advantage and utilizing psychological tricks like bluffing over other players can help you get ahead.
- Widely available – Poker is one of the most popular card games, so it’s found at nearly every online casino. There are also hundreds of great Poker sites that are dedicated to providing the best Poker tables to players all over the world.
- Playing against other players – Instead of playing against a dealer, you’ll be competing against other players. For some, there’s an added thrill that comes from beating all the players at a table. It also allows you to play against lots of different skill levels.
- Excitement – Poker is one of the most exciting casino games thanks to the four betting rounds where you’ll get to see what your opponents are made of. Poker can go by slowly compared to some other games, but it never stops being thrillingly exciting.
- Big prizes – Loads of people play Poker, and with such a wide player-base, there’s a lot of money to be made. At regular sites, you can usually find high-stakes games. A lot of sites also offer tournaments that offer massive cash prizes to the winners.
