Poker in its basic element relies on chance, but when you incorporate these basics into online betting, it becomes more of a skill- and psychology-based game. Online poker is one of the most played online card games globally, but different sub-categories of poker are challenging to beginners.
Luckily, a few basic poker rules & concepts apply to all poker variations and can be manipulated to fit any gaming occasion. If you are interested in learning how to play poker and earn money, here are the basic poker rules and dynamics that can boost your winning chances while improving your skills.
Basic poker setup
Poker is played using the standard 52-card deck with one or two extra jokers. However, online poker platforms offer one-card or two-card games to speed up many players. While the dealer hands one pack, the other pack is reshuffled to serve the next deal.
The cards are arranged from high to low, whereas Ace can be a high card or low card, depending on the type of poker you are playing. The pack contains four suits (spades, diamonds, hearts, and clubs), and all hands must have five cards, with the highest being the winner. Landing the highest hand in poker is the best way to earn money playing games.
Poker hand rankings
Understanding poker hands can help you earn money playing games without difficulty. Learn how the cards rank in basic poker.
Five of a kind
The highest poker hand only occurs in the presence of a wild card. A five-of-a-kind could be five kings, four 10s with a wild card, etc.
Straight flush
You only get a straight flush when using standard cards without wild cards. This hand contains five same-suit cards in a sequence. This can be 10, 9, 8, 7, and 6 spades. The highest straight flush hand is A, K, Q, J, and 10 of a particular suit.
Four of a kind
One of the highest hands that rank lower than a straight flush. The hand may hold four Aces of 3 regardless of the fifth card.
Full house
This hand carries three cards with the same rank and two cards ranking differently. They can be two 4s or three 8s.
Flush
You need five cards bearing the same suit in no particular sequence to get a flush—for instance, Q, 10, 7, 6, and 2 of hearts.
Straight
A straight is formed when a player gets five cards of different suits in a particular sequence. For example 9(hearts), 8(spade), 7(diamonds), 6(clubs), and 5(hearts)
Three of a kind
A hand combination with three same-ranking cards and two extra cards ranking differently. They can be three jacks, a seven, and a four.
Two pairs
A two of a pair has a pair of particular ranks and a different ranking pair. The fifth card will also be of a different rank. It can be a Q, Q, 6, 6, and 5
One pair
This hand has a single pair and three extra cards ranking differently—for instance, 10, 10, K, 4, 3.
No pair
None of the cards in this hand make a pair. Instead, the hand is ranked by the highest card it holds.
Online poker betting options
- Call – when you call, you stake enough money to match a player’s bet or more than what you bet last.
- Raise – By raising, you wager more money than what was placed in your last bet. You then increase the amount of your existing bet.
- Fold – Folding means that you stop playing the current hand and lose any winning chances you have. You, however, do not need to add any money.
- Check – When a player checks, they are forgoing placing their bets in the first round and hoping to play in the later hands of the round.
- All in – when there are not enough chips to make a call bet, a player can bet all the remaining chips. All-in bets are placed in an extra pot, and a player only wins according to the number of chips they had in the pot when they place the all-in bets.
The dealer keeps the game running to the point where everyone calls, raises or folds with the initial bet.
Online betting limits
Each poker game variation has its bet structures. More than three structures are used to limit the number of chips players can bet with.
Fixed limit
A fixed limit is a set number of chips that players cannot surpass when placing their bets. However, the limit may change depending on the poker game.
Pot limit
A player can only bet or raise their chips depending on the number of chips in the pot. So even when playing the pot limit, there should be a maximum limit like 50 chips for all bets placed.
Table stakes
Table stakes limit players to bet their chips depending on what the other player has placed. For example, if the player bets ten chips, they cannot place more than ten chips. In addition, players cannot withdraw their chips or return them to the dealer until they walk out of the poker game.
No limit
There is no definite number of chips players can bet in no-limit poker. However, this game is rare, considering the volatility of virtual poker games.
Poker Rules & concepts
Bluffing
You can bluff your opponents to wind at online poker without having the best hand. To bluff, you need to play suggestively to show that your hand is better than your opponent’s. When they are convinced, they will fold this, giving you an upper hand to win and earn money playing games.
Forced bets
These include the ‘ante’ and ‘blind’ bets, which every player must bet when they initially get to the table. Forced bets feature small and big blinds, with the latter being twice bigger than the former.
Now, you have understood all the basic poker concepts that you can use to play online poker. By implementing these simple strategies and following the poker rules, you will find your game plan improving significantly, giving you more winning chances. Depending on the poker you are playing, you may need some extra information to grasp the concepts.
Also Read: Different Types of Poker Games Played Online
