BASIC POKER RULES AND STRATEGIES

Poker is any of a number of card games in which players wager over which hand is best according to the specific game’s rules in ways similar to these rankings.

The game’s popularity has reached worldwide proportions, extending to online poker games being widely followed at online casinos.

As such, newcomers to online poker are also growing each day. To get you acquainted with this game needing at least three players, especially newcomers, let us present to you the basic rules and strategies in playing online poker.

Poker Hand Rankings

The highest-value hand determines the winner of this mind game unless of course, you are bluffing. It is advisable to aim to make the strongest poker hand, especially for beginners. The best high hand in most poker formats is a Royal Flush.

Know the Table Positions

The position is important in this game. All action centers around the Button- except for Stud. The button is a marker that indicates the (normal) dealer). Early Positions like the Small and Big Blinds are to the left of the Button and act as first after the flop. Seats to the right of the Button are Late Position (acting last post-flop), and seats in between are Middle Position.

Follow the Pre-flop Action

 Pre-flop action starts with the player seated left of Big Blind (BB). The action then resumes clockwise with the BB acting as last. Pre-flop players have three courses of action – folding, calling, or raising.

Folding is to forfeit any chance of winning the current pot, to lay down your hand or throw your hand in instead of calling or raising a bet. To call is to put into the pot an amount of only equal to the most recent bet or raise which is to increase the amount of the current bet.

Once players have acted and the pot is right, the betting round ends.

Follow the Post-flop Action

The Flop is made up of the first three to five of community cards (cards that are presented face-up in the middle of the poker table and shared among payers in games like Holdem and Omaha) and also referred to as board cards or “the board’’). Post-flop players have the option to check (bet nothing), bet all, fold or raise – depending on their position at the table and any other prior action.

Follow Post-turn Action

This fourth community card is dealt directly after the post-flop betting round ends. You will have the same options post-flop as pre-flop, check (bet nothing), bet, call, fold or raise depending on your position and any prior action.

A player who matches a bet may also raise (increase) the bet.

Follow Post-river Action

When you arrive at the fifth community card (the river), you should have a hand that you can win. Or you might even try a bluff (to bet or raise holding a hand you believe to be weaker than that of your opponent with the intention of getting them to fold their stronger hand) if everyone checks it to you. Also, there are no more cards which can beat you.

Be warned though, that bluffing does not always work.

The Showdown Stage

A showdown happens if there are at least two players left. The winning player must reveal their cards to win the hand.

The winner is determined by who has the best 5-card hand. That player gets to scoop in the pot. In Omaha poker, there are two pots to scoop.

Be Ready for a New Round

After the winner is determined, it is time to shuffle up and get set for the next round.