Did you know that as early as 1829, there were documented games of poker being played in New Orleans, USA? French settlers from Europe had brought over poker to the USA. Poker has since grown and spread globally, even to Asia and the Indian sub-continent. Brick and mortar casinos were the main spots where poker enthusiasts could play poker until the early 2000s when poker went online.
However, digital poker has been in existence since the 1970s in the form of video poker machines. These machines were usually deployed to casinos and needed cash to play. Technological advancements and the internet have brought the game much closer; you can even play poker on your smartphone wherever you may be.
So, for 2022, here are the top tips to play online poker used by pros:
How can you play digital poker online?
You are not restricted to one method to play cards online, although each has its pros and cons.
Playing physical cards over social media and chatting apps
This method is usually applicable to friends and family, but you also recruit strangers to play through message boards or groups. It would be best to have a physical deck of cards and a webcam to play using this method. You initiate a call through a calling or chatting app and loop everyone into the call.
Then you decide on the game to play, and everyone plays from their deck of cards. It can be quite tricky or downright impossible to play some games. A major drawback of this method is that you cannot shuffle the decks the same for each player, so it cannot beat an in-person game. You also can’t show your cards in secret to your confidant or ally as everyone on the call will see them.
Playing cards on a virtual card table
If you want to play poker against human opponents and can’t get a quorum of players, you can try virtual card tables. You can play poker with friends or strangers using virtual card table platforms. Every player needs to purchase virtual card-playing software to access the game.
All players see the same 2D table and can manipulate cards off the same deck, or you can even summon more decks. This form of gameplay is usually for leisure as you normally don’t put any money to bet in the game. A prime example of this game model is Tabletop Simulator, available on Steam.
Read About: Perks of Playing Online Poker
Download a card-playing app on App Store or Playstore
You can download dedicated poker card games on Play Store or App Store on your phone or tablet. You can play against the computer or join virtual tournaments. Use user reviews and the number of downloads to choose only the most reliable apps. The top results may vary per region or state. Most of these games are played for leisure or play money. They are ideal for helping you grasp poker basics, and develop and try out different playing strategies.
Playing poker in an online casino app or site
If you are looking to dabble in gambling on poker, you can check out the various sites available in India. You can also download apps (usually associated with major online casinos) to play poker. Most of these sites have a plethora of other games and may also include sports betting on the side. The poker games offered also vary from casino to casino, but some of the more popular games include
- Jacks or Better Multi-hand
- 4-Line Aces and Faces
- 4-Line Deuces Wild
- Joker Poker
- 25-Line Aces and Faces
- Deuces Wild
- 7 Stud poker
- Aces Eights
- All American Poker
- Bonus Deuces Wild
- Double Double Jackpot Poker
- European Slot poker
- Joker Poker
Due to the strictness of Indian gambling laws, ensure you only play on licensed casinos that have credible and certified games. Be sure to check the casino poker games’ RTP (Return to Player) and choose the poker games that have higher RTPs in the long run. Another brilliant strategy is to improve your skills, as poker is not purely a game of choice but also incorporates some know-how.
These online casinos usually have a structured means of depositing money or withdrawing wins to play these online cash games. Most online casinos accept anything from credit and debit cards, eWallets, cryptocurrencies, wire transfers, and wire orders. Some casinos may not deal with Rupees directly as their main currency, but they usually offer conversion services at a fee.
To further regulate the sector, to open accounts in most casinos, you must have a registered phone number and attach proof of residence in some cases. You must also prove that you are above eighteen years of age.
Reputable casinos have dedicated customer care teams who promptly deal with any issues raised.
To sweeten the deal, most casinos offer bonuses and promotions to keep players trickling in. Examples include:
- Welcome, bonus: This type of bonus is issued to players the first time they register on a site; it may be a cash amount or a matching bonus. The casino matches your first deposit by a percentage (some go as high as 200%).
- Deposit bonus: Some casinos also offer you a bonus after depositing money even though you are not new to their site. It usually varies with the amount you deposit.
- Referral bonus: Some casinos encourage you to rope in your friends and family to the site. Every time a player signs up to the casino from your referral, you get a cash bonus.
- Other casinos offer comp points and even have VIP treatment for their more ardent fans and high rollers.
Tips To play online poker
- Try out the various types of poker available, and don’t just bet on the familiar games you’ve played repeatedly. Use that info to refine your strategy if you can get information on how often a specific game has paid out.
- Always have a strategy. You can research and integrate advanced methods to help increase your chances of winning. Online tools like mathematical analysis or strategy charts can come in handy.
Finally, remember to play these online cash games responsibly and avoid taking unnecessary financial risks. With time, your poker playing skills may have you considering the World Series of Poker!
Also Read: Cash Games Strategies to Win at Online Poker
