The Best Poker Games and How to Play Them
Poker is a card game traditionally played against other players. Your objective is to form the best hand value against your opponents by the end of each round. You can also win if you are the only player with a hand still in play after a round. It is one of the most played games at online casinos, such as Verde Casino and others.
While many players still visit traditional brick-and-mortar casinos to enjoy a poker game, the online version is quickly becoming a darling among players. It has expanded the game’s popularity by incorporating live poker and video poker versions. These enable you to play poker from the convenience and comfort of your home.
Popular Types of Online Poker Games
There are more than a few dozen types of online poker games. However, regardless of the variety, they will be classified under any of the below categories.
Texas Hold ’em Poker
It is the most sought-after type of poker game in both online and land-based casinos. The game features five table cards and two (player) cards. This makes a total of 7 cards in play. The cards on the table are flipped after every round until all five are visible. The results are then determined.
Omaha Poker
It is a popular variant of the standard Texas Hold ’em poker. However, there are nine cards in play instead of the usual 7. The difference in number arises due to increased cards in the player’s hand. Instead of two, you have four.
These extra cards add to the excitement of the game as more cards equal more potential pairings. It also means a better chance of achieving high-paying hands such as Royal Flush and Flush.
Video Poker
The first video poker game was designed in the late 1970s. The game streamlines the poker experience by using a total of five cards. All these cards are face-down at the start of each round.
Your objective in video poker is to create the best hand possible in two rounds. During the first round, you can choose to hold onto as many cards as possible. The remaining cards are reshuffled and dealt again.
During the second round, if you form one of the poker hand combinations, your hand becomes a winner. The prize you receive is based on the rarity of the combination.
Unlike the two versions discussed above, video poker is an electronic game. The results are determined using RNG software.
How to Play Poker Games Online
The step-by-step guide below for playing poker online mostly focuses on Texas Hold ’em and its variants. It does not apply to video poker games.
Step 1: Place Your Bets
To start the game, two cards are dealt to each player – face down. You must then make your initial buy-in and peek at the cards you’ve been dealt. Failure to make an initial buy-in bet means you’ve folded for that round.
Step 2: The Cards on the Table
The next play involves the dealer placing five cards on the table. These cards are lined up neatly. Once all the buy-ins have been received, the first three cards are flipped over. You can then decide to fold, stick or raise. Every time the game goes back to the dealer, a card is flipped. This continues until all five cards on the table have been flipped.
- When you decide to fold, it means you don’t feel your hand is strong enough to compete against the other players, or you cannot match other player’s raise move. However, don’t be too quick to fold, as other players could be bluffing. Learn to study your opponents’ betting patterns and the cards on the table.
- If you choose to raise, you are simply adding an extra bet to the pot. All the non-folded players at the table must match the raised bet. The value of the raised bet equals the buy-in amount or as much as you currently hold in winnings.
- Anyone who decides to stick means he/she has opted to stay with the hand they have. They will not be making any extra bets. If everyone decides to stick, the next card on the table is revealed. After that, the round starts again.
Step 3: Winning in Poker
Once all five cards have been flipped, players seated at the table reveal their hand. Winnings are paid to a player with the strongest hand. There is also a provision to make final raises before the reveals. The player with the best hand walks away with the pot.
If all the other players at the table fold before the five cards are flipped, whoever remains at the table automatically wins. The winner takes the pot, and the game restarts.
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