Online Poker
Poker is one of the most popular card games around, offered by every online casino around the world. It's a fun game, which is not solely based on chance, but one which requires players to be skilful and strategic. Here are the basic rules of the game, the various kinds of Poker you’ll find in online casinos, as well as some strategies used by players. What is Online Poker, and what should you familiarise yourself with before you start playing?
Poker Rules
Each Poker variant will have its own set of rules which need to be followed. Five-card draw is the most common poker variant in which every player receives five cards, followed by a betting round. After the first bets are placed, players may discard up to three cards to build a stronger hand. The primary goal is to create the strongest hand on the table and take home the whole pot. More variants evolved from this classic Poker game, including the popular Texas Hold 'em Poker variation, where each player is dealt two cards, and five community cards are placed on the table. Players cannot exchange cards while playing this variant, and they participate in four betting rounds.
How to play Poker
If you wish to play Poker, you have to get started by learning all the basic poker rules. The main objective of this game is to build the strongest hand possible. Knowledge of the game rules, skills revolving around probability calculations, as well as a flair for reading other players, are critical. Here are all the hands you can create, from the lowest ranking hierarchy to the highest:
Read more about Poker Hands Ranking in our article.
In case of an outcome being a tie, it's always the extra card in the hand which determines the final result. Let's say two players managed to build two pairs - tens and eights. In such a case, the fifth card not forming part of the hand determines who goes home with the pot; the player with the highest card wins. If an ensuing tie recurs, the pool is divided between the two players.
The Poker variant you're playing determines the number of betting rounds, the size of the hand you need to build and how many cards you're allowed to exchange. If your hand is already strong, e.g. a full house or a straight, you don't need to exchange any cards and you can keep raising your bets. On the other hand, you may want to fold if your hand is weak. When all the betting rounds are complete, players expose their cards and divide the pool accordingly.
Texas Hold 'em Poker
The all-time favourite Texas Hold 'em Poker is a casino tournament variant in which rules are substantially more complicated. As many as eight players may join the table, and the game is managed by a croupier. Any player can take the role of the croupier, or players can take it in turns. Here's a step-by-step guide to how Texas Hold 'em Poker is played:
1. Every player is dealt two cards face down.
2. Based on their first two cards, players estimate their odds and start the first betting round. Texas Hold 'em provides the following betting options: raise (increase your bet), call (match a bet or a raise), check (pass the action to the player on the left) or fold (withdraw from the game).
3. The croupier burns (discards) a card then deals three cards face up (referred to as the Flop).
4. The second betting round takes place.
5. The croupier burns a card then deals the fourth community card (referred to as the Turn).
6. The third betting stage occurs.
7. The croupier burns a card then deals the fifth community card (referred to as the River).
8. Players take part in the last betting stage.
9. Remaining players show their hands, and the player with the most valuable hand takes home the pot. In case of a tie, the pot may be divided between a few players.
Poker at LV BET
LV BET online casino is home to various types of Poker, with the most popular being Five-card draw and Texas Hold 'em Poker. Every table has its own distinctive set of rules indicating the maximum and minimum betting limits and other terms and conditions. Players can choose from several types of online Poker at LV BET:
Poker tournaments
How can you play online Poker? Many online casinos offer various entertaining opportunities related to this popular game! You can either play Poker alone against a dealer or decide to play in one of the frequently-held Poker tournaments. Tournament dates are announced in advance to give interested participants the chance to prepare themselves, as such tournaments may last up to a few hours.
Bear in mind that you must pay a registration fee to participate in an online Poker tournament. The amount you pay varies from one tournament to another, consequently affecting the prize pool of any given competition.
Essential Poker skills
As already mentioned, playing Poker requires players to hone specific skills which may increase their chances of winning. Here are some factors which may influence the course of the game:
With time and enough practice, your Poker skills may improve, and you will start enjoying the game more. However, it's recommended to take a break from poker tournaments from time to time, as they can quickly become addictive. You need to play responsibly at all times, and this requires you to step away from the Poker table every now and then.
Best Poker strategies
Many books have been written about Poker, all trying to get to the bottom of which Poker strategies are the most effective. The game has attracted the attention of many experienced mathematicians who believe they can contribute to the studies conducted on Poker. The Poker strategy you adopt depends on the kind of player you are. Are you a high-risk or cautious player? How good at bluffing are you? You must be flexible and adapt to the current situation on the table. One thing you may want to bear in mind is that players furthest away from the dealer are in a more advantageous position because they are the last to make decisions. Thus, they're in a situation where they can take better-informed actions.
Special offers
Top-rated casinos, such as LV BET, do their utmost to meet the needs of all Poker fans. The competition in the gaming industry is strong, and thus, casinos strive to offer unique casino bonus such as free chips and extra money to attract more players to their sites and encourage them to play Poker and other table games.
✅Which Poker hand is the strongest?
The strongest hand is the Royal Flush - consisting of a ten, jack, queen, king and ace from the same suit.
✅Is Poker a game of skill?
It definitely is! Poker is one of those casino games which requires analytical thinking, the ability to read other players' intentions, as well as the dexterity to assess odds in all types of situations.
✅How can I participate in a Poker tournament?
You can find upcoming online poker tournaments in LV BET's tournament section. All you need to do to participate is pay the registration fee, and you're good to go! All tournament dates are announced in advance to give players the chance to reserve enough time for the competition.