Online Poker

Poker history

Determining a specific date when poker was created is not easy. Evidence shows that the Chinese played a card game with very similar rules over 1000 years ago. In the 15th century, in Germany, the entertainment known as Pochen was eagerly enjoyed, i.e., a game whose rules were deceptively similar to the rules of poker as we know it today.

The first documented poker tournament, held in 1829 in Louisiana, is considered the beginning of poker as we know it today. The game quickly gained popularity throughout the United States, and because sailors were eager to play it, the rules of poker spread worldwide in the blink of an eye.

The first World Series of Poker tournament was organized in 1970, marking a milestone for poker. To this day, it is wildly popular with players, sponsors, and fans, and the prize pool for the winners is millions of dollars.

The real boom in poker occurred at the end of the previous century when exclusive casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City began to spring up like mushrooms and at the beginning of the 21st century, when online bookmakers came to the fore and allowed players to test their skills against the background of players from all over the world without leaving home.

Of course, the rules of poker have changed over the years, and the game has evolved, but at the moment, the most popular form of online poker is Texas Holdem, the rules of which we will describe a little later.

Why play poker at an online casino?

• Accessibility and convenience
  Most land-based casinos are generally located in places away from where you live. Fortunately, with the advent of the Internet, the era of online casinos was born, so all you need to “sit at the poker table” wherever you want is a permanent connection and a laptop. Moreover, there are hundreds of applications that you can install on your smartphone or tablet to increase accessibility to this fascinating game of poker. It is also worth mentioning that connoisseurs of this game have the opportunity to participate in many online poker rooms simultaneously, thanks to which they increase their chances of winning big.
• Bonuses and promotions
  The digital gambling sector is highly competitive. The number of online poker rooms is growing daily, so the owners of sites offering this popular game must use the right strategies to differentiate themselves from the competition. To attract more customers and increase their membership pool, online casinos offer lucrative bonuses and promotions to encourage players. These can include bonuses and no-deposit bonuses, cashback rewards, reduced membership fees, and even anniversary bonuses.
• More payment methods are available
  Online real money poker is available like never before. While land-based casinos execute payment transactions the old-fashioned way with chips, online poker casinos offer more varied deposit and withdrawal methods. You can use cash and credit cards, and the newly widespread cryptocurrency and e-wallets nowadays are seen as a standard. This aspect puts land-based casinos in a much worse light while online casinos are gaining an advantage again.
• The dynamics of the game
  Some people find that live games are too slow, tedious, and take a lot of patience, which can put players off the hook. In online poker, you avoid the time the dealer spends shuffling, dealing cards, dealing pots, and collecting chips, making the game faster and providing a better experience.

The above aspects have strengthened our belief that the online poker experience can match or exceed that of playing in a land-based casino. After all, it is not without reason that the popularization of virtual versions of poker is taking the world by storm.

Everything you need to know before starting the game

Before you start playing at home, you need to do some preparation.

• Game variant: Texas Hold’em
  Texas Hold’em Poker is the most popular variant of the game. Tables and tournaments are mainly offered in this variant on online poker sites and in German casinos.
• Players: 2-10 players per table
  At least two players are required. As a rule, a maximum of 10 players play in one round or at one table.
• Cards: A deck of 52 playing cards
  It would be best to have a poker deck with 52 playing cards. Remove the jokers so only cards 2 through Ace are available in all four suits.
• Chips: Wagering with poker chips
  Chips are tokens of different denominations used to pay for bets at the table. The chips must be converted into a certain value when playing for real money. In tournaments and gambling for play money, each player initially receives the same number of chips.
• Stake: The basic stake must be set before the game start
  The blinds determine the stake according to the Texas Hold’em rules. Blinds are the forced bets placed by the two players seated behind the dealer at the table. The size of the blinds gives a rough estimate of how high the bets will be per game round, even if they usually have no limit in Texas Hold’em. (Except special variants such as Pot Limit Hold’em are played).
• Dealer: A dealer must be determined
  The dealer deals with the cards at the table. He is always the last to act. For each new hand (= game round), the dealer’s left neighbor from the previous round becomes the dealer.

Most popular variations of poker

One of the most popular versions of poker in the world is Texas Hold’em, but there are a few other game variants that should not be overlooked. You will find those where the players play against each other and the players play against the dealer. Now we will discuss the popular poker variants available at online casinos for players and briefly tell a little more about them.

1. Texas Hold’em

Texas Hold’em is classic poker, which is probably the most played variant, both live and online. Each player here receives two face-down cards (called hole cards), only visible to him. The five community cards are dealt face up in the center of the table. All players in the game use these cards in conjunction with their hole cards to make the best possible 5-card poker hand.

Texas Holdem poker figures are any combination of the seven available cards, where, of course, we choose the best five cards in a given situation. It is one of the easier games to learn and, therefore, great for beginners.

2. Omaha

Omaha poker is similar to Texas Hold’em, but each player is dealt four hole cards (so-called own). The five community cards are placed face-up in the center of the table.

In Omaha, each player must use exactly two of the hole cards and three of the community cards to create his or her best possible poker hand covered (unlike Texas Hold’em, where the hands can consist of any combination of cards from the board and cards).

3. Omaha Hi-Lo

Like Omaha, in Omaha Hi / Lo, the player is dealt four down cards, and five face-up cards are placed in the center of the table. The pot is split between the best high and best low hands, hence the name.

You can use different combinations of two-hand and board cards to form the high and low hands, but they must always be exactly two-hole cards and three community cards.

Omaha Hi / Lo poker is played according to the “8-or-better” rule, which means that the low hand winning the fraction of the pot must consist of five cards of different values but no more than eight. If there is no low hand in the hand, the pot goes to the best high hand.

4. Seven Card Stud

Before Texas Hold’em poker stole the hearts of players, the 7-Card Stud was the most popular version of poker. It is said that reaching a master level in this game can take a lifetime.

In Seven Card Stud, players are dealt seven cards during a hand, including four face-ups and three hidden (no community cards). After all betting rounds, the player with the best possible five-card hand wins.

The ranking of poker hands is the same as in Texas Hold’em. Unlike Texas Hold’em and Omaha games, Seven Card Stud poker is usually played as Limit – with a predetermined and fixed bet amount.

5. Seven Card Stud Hi / Lo

In Seven-Card Stud Hi / Lo, as in Omaha Hi / Lo, the pot is split between the holders of the best, high and low, hands when comparing cards.

In this version, players are dealt seven cards in hand (no community cards), but only the best five-card hand of each player is considered when determining the winner. In Seven Card Stud Hi / Lo, as in Omaha Hi / Lo, the “eight or better” principle is used to determine the low hand.

6. Razz (Seven Card Stud Low)

When the cards are compared, Razz (Seven Card Stud only played low) is a poker game in which the low hand wins the pot (ace to five). When comparing cards, if two or more players are of the same rank, the pot is divided equally among them. Card suits are not taken into account when deciding the winning hand. In Razz poker, players are dealt seven cards throughout the deal, but only the best five-card hand for each player is counted towards determining the winner.

Unlike Omaha Hi / Lo and Seven Card Stud Hi / Lo, Razz does not have to be eight or better to win the pot.

7. Five-Card Draw

Five-card draw, or five-card draw poker, is the traditional form of poker many players grew up playing at home tournaments. In this game, the goal is to get the best five-card hand after one swap. Here, all players are dealt five cards (no community cards), and the first round of betting begins.

Two players (small blind and big blind) place blinds and betting continues clockwise at the table until the betting round is complete. Any player can fold, call or raise a previous bet. After the first round of betting, players who did not fold may exchange as many cards as they want to improve their hands. Up to all five cards can be replaced or none.

The player from the small blind picks first, and the one on the button lasts. A second and final betting round follows when the draw phase is over. Players can check, bet or raise. If a showdown occurs, the player with the best five-card hand wins (the same poker hand hierarchy as in Texas Hold’em applies here). Like Hold’em, it is a game that is easy to learn but takes a long time to master.

8. Three-Card Poker

Unlike the classic versions of poker, where you play against other players, this poker variant is played directly against the dealer. Before the start of the round, the player must place an ante. After choosing the stake for the hand, the dealer deals three cards to himself and the player. The player’s cards are face up and the dealer is face down.

After reviewing the layout of the cards, the player may either bet or fold the cards. If he chooses to bet, the dealer flips his cards face up and both hands are assessed. If the player has a better hand than the dealer, he wins. For the dealer to win the hand, he must win queens or more. If the dealer does not have these cards, the players compare their cards and the player with the best hand wins.

Online three-card poker is a very simple game to play, and at the same time, it is very profitable if you follow the right strategies. The advantage is the relatively low advantage of the casino over the player. The RTP for all bets is greater than 90%.

9. Caribbean Stud Poker

Caribbean poker is based on classic poker but is more like blackjack because the players are playing against the dealer, not against each other. Before the cards are dealt, each player must make an initial mandatory ante bet. Then, each player and the dealer are dealt five cards, and the dealer reveals one of his cards at once. The ranking of hands is the same as in classic poker.

In most online casinos, the Caribbean poker game is varied with a progressive jackpot, i.e. a bonus accumulated pool. If you want to play for it, you need to wager the Jackpot box with a fixed amount determined by the casino, regardless of your bet amount.

10. Ultimate Texas Holdem

In Ultimate Texas Hold’em, players do not compete against other players. Instead, they only play against the dealer. A player may make one raise at any time during the hand. The game starts with the player posting the blinds and antes. An optional Trips bet allows you to get a payout whether your hand loses or wins.

11. HORSE (mixed game)

HORSE is one of the mixed poker games. HORSE combines the different variants of poker into one game :

• Hold
• Omaha Hi / Lo
• Razz (Seven card stud low)
• Stud (Seven card stud high)
• Eight-or-better (Seven card stud high-low)

The players play one hand (or several hands) of one variant and then several hands of a different variant. You need to concentrate a lot when playing HORSE!

Which variant of online poker needs to be chosen?

The choice of online poker variants depends on many factors. The best online poker variation for you will not necessarily be the best choice for another player. We recommend that you learn the rules and try a few different types of online poker, then choose the one that best suits your playing style and skills.

When choosing an online poker variant, consider its availability in an online casino, the house advantage, or payouts. Remember that experimenting with different variants is absolutely nothing wrong, as this is realistically the only way to discover which type of online poker is right for you.

Remembering that you do not have to limit yourself to one type of game is worth remembering. Some players find it difficult to switch between different games and prefer to focus on just one, but many players also like mixing different game types.

Online poker variants with the lowest house edge

What is usually interesting when choosing an online poker variant is to look at the house edge. When you play Texas Hold’em, Omaha, 7 Card Stud, or Five Card Draw, you are playing against other players, which means the house has no direct advantage.

Instead, the casino charges players a fee called the rake. Usually, the rake is between 5% and 10% of the pot, with a maximum amount from the top. Other poker variants are played against the dealer, but the game’s house edge can vary greatly.

The table below shows the house edge of the different online poker variants:

Most profitable variants

It is difficult to answer which online poker variant has the highest payout. In games where you meet other players, the payouts can be huge depending on the level you are playing and the level of your opponents.

You can also meet sky-high wins during online poker tournaments. Some games have additional bonus options that offer even bigger prizes. For example, in games such as Ultimate Texas Holdem and Caribbean Stud, you can bet a jackpot, making the games even more attractive.

In Ultimate Texas Hold’em, getting a royal flush will increase your payout by 500x, and in Caribbean poker, having the highest hand will increase your payout by a hundred times.

Best online poker variant for a beginner

It is best to start your adventure with online poker with the classic version of the game, i.e. Texas Hold’em. This variant has simple rules that make it perfect for beginners to learn the game.

Or you can try the five-card draw online poker with which many Texas Hold’em and Omaha pros took their first steps. Regardless of which variant you choose, you must know all the game rules, betting options and strategies.

Learning the rules of five-card draw online poker and Texas Hold’em takes less than an hour, but you will need a lot of practice to master the game. Fortunately, most online casinos offer demo versions so you can play for free and practice your skills as long as you feel confident to play for real money.

Remember, however, that free online poker is only available for virtual and video poker, while live poker requires a real investment.

Best online poker variants for the seasoned player

Many, even very experienced players who know the rules of the game perfectly and are fluent in applying various online poker strategies, remain faithful to classic versions such as Texas Hold’em, practicing and perfecting their skills in the game for years.

However, if you are looking for a new challenge, we recommend trying one of the mixed poker games like HORSE. Many people consider HORSE and other mixed games the best test of an online poker player’s skill.

These games are great for developing your poker instincts and building your character. Still, they are also the best way to practice many variations of online poker and break the monotony of playing one kind throughout your session.

Online poker variants you should avoid

We all like different games, so it’s hard to say you should give up any of them. On the other hand, when choosing the best online poker variant for you, please pay attention to the house advantage; for example, Caribbean poker is the most advantageous for the casino, making it difficult to win.

Each variant has its unique charm, so we recommend choosing the game you think is fun. Just remember to be in control of your budget and play responsibly.

Finally, we recommend you look at our overview of the best online casinos, where you will find sites that offer the best online poker variants and attractive casino bonuses that will make your game even more enjoyable.

Important tips you should know before playing online poker

If you are fascinated by online poker and want to sit at a virtual table and try at this exciting game, you should prepare yourself well beforehand. First, we recommend reading this article thoroughly, which will help you build a solid foundation of knowledge about the basics and strategies of poker.

It’s time to choose an online casino where you will start your online poker adventure! We can also lend a hand by referring you to our reviews of the best online casinos available for Canadian players.

Okay, the casino has been chosen, and now you “sit” at the first table and win millions! Not so fast. There is one more important tip! Training! Be sure to start playing poker online for free in the demo version, i.e., without any cash contribution! This way, you do not risk losing cash but practice and gain experience.

1. Learn the rules, positions and poker hands

The rules of poker are very easy to understand even for those who have not had any experience with it before. All versions of online poker are played using a typical 52-card deck, shuffled after each game, and the number of players can vary from 2 to 10. Initially, the players are dealt 2 hole cards, and another 5 community cards appear on the table. The basic idea behind casino poker is to get a better hand than your opponent.

You make combinations depending on what cards you have in your hand and what community cards are on the table, if any. Below, you will find a list of all possible hands from worst to best:

• High Card – A hand in which each card has a different value and the cards are not in the same suit or sequence.
• Pair – Consists of two cards of the same rank and three unrelated side cards.
• Two Pairs – A hand comprising two different pairs of cards and one additional unrelated card.
• Three of a Kind – A combination of three cards of the same rank and two unrelated side cards.
• Straight – A hand consisting of five consecutive cards of different suits, for example, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. An Ace can complete Straight from 10 to Ace (10, J, Q, K, Ace), which is the highest straight, or in the lowest straight, where an Ace is treated as one (Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5).
• Flush – Five cards of the same suit, not required to be in sequential order.
• Full House – Consists of a three of a kind and a pair, e.g., three Jacks and a pair of fours.
• Four of a Kind – A hand consisting of four cards of the same rank and one additional unrelated card.
• Straight Flush – A straight consisting of five consecutive cards, all of the same suit.
• Royal Flush – The strongest hand in the game, consisting of the Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten of the same suit. It beats all other hands.

Probabilities of receiving individual hands

Now that we know all the poker hands, it is time to move on to the hand flow. After the cards have been dealt to the players, a symbolic dealer token appears on the table and is moved clockwise. The two players to the dealer’s left must post the compulsory blinds. The so-called blinds.

After each hand, there must be a small and a big blind (small blind and big blind) on the table, where the big blind is usually twice the small blind. The first player posts the small blind to the dealer’s left, and the big blind is by the next player to the left of the first. The next player on the left is the first to decide if and how he wants to continue playing.

2. Understand the key concepts of poker strategy

A player’s three main actions at his disposal are to fold, call, or raise. Below is a complete list of the rounds and activities involved in playing poker:

• Pre-Flop – After all players have been dealt their cards, the pre-flop betting round begins. Players should look at their cards so that no one else can see them, and then make their move.
• Flop – After the end of the first betting round, three cards are dealt face up.
• Turn – Following the previous betting round, the dealer places the next card next to the flopped cards. The third round of betting proceeds in the same manner as the round on the flop.
• River – Assuming that more than one player remains in the game, a card is played on the river like on the turn. This is the last community card.
• Showdown – After the final betting round, the players still in the game reveal their cards. The player with the best hand wins.
• Fold – This indicates that a player does not want to continue with the hand and gives up their cards, possibly because they are weak.
• Check – A player can choose not to raise the current stake and not fold, while waiting for the other participants to make their moves. It’s important to note that checking is only possible if no one has raised the stake in the current betting round.
• Call – This action means that the player bets an amount equal to the big blind, indicating their desire to stay in the hand.
• Bet – This action involves placing the first bet within a betting round.
• Raise – If players believe their cards are strong, they can raise the bet. Raises are typically made in multiples of the big blind. For instance, if the big blind was 2, the minimum raise would be 4.
• Va Banque (All-in) – This move is a “do or die” strategy. A player who goes all-in pushes all their chips into the pot. They are out of the game if they lose, but if they win, they claim the entire pot.
• Bluff – This is when a player pretends to have much better cards than they do to confuse opponents and win the pot. The success of a bluff often depends on maintaining a convincing poker face to prevent opponents from detecting the deception.

3. Familiarize with poker card hierarchy

What is the hierarchy of cards in poker? As in other card games, the highest cards in poker are ace, king, queen, and then jack. Next are the numbers from 10 to 2, with the lower the number, the lower the card’s value. In practice, for example, a pair of aces has a higher value than a pair of kings, and three queens win with three tens.

As for the color hierarchy, all colors are treated equally. This means the ace of hearts (♥ heart) has the same value as the ace of clubs (♣ clubs). The suit can only be relevant when starting the game when the order in which you bet is determined by the seniority of the cards (the weakest card starts the bets).

Color rank from strongest to weakest:

• Spades ♠
• Hearts ♥
• Diamonds ♦
• Clubs ♣

4. Understand types of poker bets

Both free online poker and cash poker require a bet. Although online poker does not have a physical table, it also allows placing bets at the beginning and later in the game. Depending on the type of game, as well as the personal preferences of the player, the types of bets can vary considerably. After revealing your hand, decisions about the next bets should be based on the hand you receive.

Below, we will explain the most popular types of bets and briefly describe them. This allows even a novice player to decide which type suits him best.

• Donk Bet: This is a type of bet made by a player who was not the aggressor in the previous round and is directed against the previous aggressor. A common scenario for a donk bet occurs when a player calls an opponent’s bet in one round and leads out with a bet in the next. This move is also known as a blocking bet.
• Continuation Bet (C-bet): A bet made by the player who also placed the bet in the previous round. This typically occurs after a player raises pre-flop and his opponent calls. A continuation bet is often part of a strategy to continue the aggression or bluff with a weaker hand.
• Overbet: A bet that exceeds the value of the pot, most often made post-flop. Overbetting is a strategic move that puts players in a strong position, forcing opponents to make difficult decisions.
• Underbet: A type of bet significantly lower than the value of the pot, generally less than 50% of the pot’s value. It is used infrequently, but an experienced poker player might employ it strategically to manipulate the pot size or mislead opponents about the strength of their hand.
• Three-Bet (Re-raise): This occurs when a player makes the third bet (hence, three-bet) in a betting sequence. It follows an initial bet and subsequent raise, thus acting as a re-raise. This move is typically used to show strength and push opponents with weaker hands out of the pot.
• Value Bet: Usually made by a player who believes they have the best hand and wants to increase the pot to maximize winnings. This strategy involves placing a bet likely to be called by a slightly worse hand, thereby adding value to the pot.
• Pot Bet: A bet that matches the current size of the pot. While not exceedingly common, it is strategically used by players with a strong reason for matching the pot’s total, often to put maximum pressure on opponents or to protect a strong hand.

5. Learn positions

For most novice players, their position at the table is the most underrated aspect of the game. They focus on their two cards and don’t think about the consequences of whether they are playing Big Blind, Dealer or in the middle. So, let’s get down to business.

We distinguish the following items (for the sake of simplicity, let’s assume that we are playing with 10 people):

• Early position – these are the first three people who decide in a given round. For the sake of simplicity, let’s say it straight: the early position is played by the small blind, the big blind and the player to the left of the big blind. Of course, the SB and BB are the last to decide in the pre-flop phase, but they start the betting in each subsequent game phase!
• Late position – these are the last two people who make a decision. In short, the dealer and the player are to his right (cut-off).
• Middle position – the remaining five.

Early position players are in the worst situation because they are the first to make their decisions, blind, as it were – they don’t know what the next players will do. This handicap requires a relatively strong hand to see the flop from an early position.

Late-position players are in the most comfortable position. They make a decision knowing everyone else’s moves. This additional advantage means we can enter the game with the relatively weakest card when playing a late position.

Of course, middle-position players are in an intermediate position. They can enter the game with a card weaker than those in an early position, but it also has to be stronger than the card sufficient to play from a late position.

Okay, and when 6 and not 10 people sit at the table, what then? There is no exact rule for who and when is playing in what position. But there is no such need either. Forming the following line of thinking is important: How many people make decisions after me, overwhelming me? If relatively many – I’m in an early position; if one or no one – I’m in a late position.

6. Know your chances of winning

Online poker is pure math. Your chances of winning or drawing a better card later in the game are presented in numbers and known in advance. Odds and outs are the two most important terms determining the likelihood of getting a good card and winning. What are the odds? The odds show the probability that they will appear on the table for several outs. Outs are the number of remaining cards in the deck that can be put on the table and strengthen your hand. Likewise, an important factor is the odds against, i.e., the probability that the cards that were supposed to strengthen your hand will not appear on the table. When playing online poker, it is very important to know the odds, hand rankings and odds. This knowledge allows you to calculate your chances on a given hand quickly.

The table below shows the probabilities and odds of particular poker hands. It will tell you what hand is worth playing and your chances in a given situation.

Strategies and tactics in online poker

In online poker, there are many different approaches to the game, which eventually give rise to different strategies and tactics. These strategies and tactics differed from each other, both in the size of the stack used and in the approach to choosing starting hands and the degree to which they were played aggressively.

By the size of the starting stack, they are divided into:

• SSS is a short-stack strategy;
• MSS is a medium-stack strategy;
• BSS is a big stack strategy.

Short stack strategy (up to 40bb)

The short stack strategy, or SSS, is a poker approach in which the player sits at the table with a minimum bankroll. Usually, this number is limited to 20-40 big blinds. This approach is simple and aggressive: with a starting hand from his range, the player is ready to go all in. Due to the small size of preflop bets and blinds, the short stack will have a good expected value even with low odds of winning. SSS is suitable for beginner poker players; it is simple and protects against expensive mistakes. But the game is becoming predictable, so the regulars will exploit it.SSS features:

• the strategy is effective on full-ring tables: this way the blinds will be paid less often;
• need tables that don’t have other short stacks yet;
• if the stack goes above 50 big blinds, you must leave the table; you can return with 20BB, leaving the excess at the box office;
• this strategy is unsuitable for all poker rooms, so PokerStars or Partypoker do not allow users to take seats at tables with a stack of 20BB; they require a minimum of 40 big blinds.

Medium stack strategy (40-100bb)

MSS is a more advanced version of SSS that requires knowledge of the post-flop game and the basics of mathematics. According to her, the poker player takes from 40 to 100 big blinds at the table. Suitable for players who want to reduce the variance: beginners or users who want to reduce risks when moving to a new limit. MSS reduces the gap in the level of play with the regulars; however, to take all the chips from the amateur, the average stack is often enough. It is recommended to play aggressively and only 9-max tables.

Big stack strategy (from 100bb)

BSS, or full stack poker strategy, is considered to be the most difficult because it requires knowledge of mathematics and competent decisions of the player on the post-flop. The maximum amount available at the table is 100 big blinds. If the stack becomes smaller, auto-re-buy up to this amount is activated. The approach is aimed at maximizing winnings at the expense of stack depth. The user in SSS and MSS more often enters the draw by calling, because a possible big win pays for unsuccessful attempts to collect strong poker combinations: sets, straights, flushes, etc. The main goal is to force opponents to go all-in.BSS features:

• higher potential win rate and variance relative to SSS and MSS;
• mistakes are more expensive;
• more options for maneuvering at the table;
• works on 6-max and 9-max tables
• bluff is used;
• you need a bigger bankroll than in SSS and MSS.

However, going all-in easily at a table with a big stack must be abandoned, as the losses can be large.

The playing styles of poker differ depending on the degree of aggression (aggressive and passive) and the degree of freedom of the players (loose and tight):

Tight-aggressive strategy

In this style, the player only plays strong hands, especially at the beginning of the game, thus putting pressure on the opponents. At the same time, even if such a player is bluffing, opponents feel he has a winning combination, as in previous deals.

On the one hand, this poker strategy has many advantages: only initially strong combinations are played, there is a high probability of winning the bank, and there is an advantage in bluffing because, in the eyes of the opponents, the tight-aggressive player deliberately plays only strong hands. However, when playing in real money tournaments, when the blind is rising rapidly, you are likely to lose a large proportion of your capital in the blinds.

Tight-passive strategy

These players usually just hold the blinds or other people’s stakes but only raise them if they have a very good hand. This style is preferred by serious players when playing against unknown opponents or with insufficient bankroll.

Loose-aggressive strategy

A very expressive and decisive style. The player plays aggressively even with deliberately weak hands, preferring to pressure opponents by raising the stake. Rivals easily read this style of play, so it can be used when playing small banks and micro-limit poker.

Loose-passive strategy

This poker strategy is chosen by beginners and weak players who hope for luck. With every threat, such players even fold a strong hand because they have a bad understanding of starting hands, but often support other people’s stakes.

Cash poker strategy

Playing at cash tables is characterized by a constant stack size and no time limits, which attracts a wide variety of players, from those who just want to pass an hour or two playing poker to grinders who try to play as many tables as possible.

Since you can choose the stack size within the limits available on the table and you can always rebuy in case of a loss or loss of part of the stack, this has the most direct impact on the strategy of the game that can be used at the cash table. This allows:

• Choose the most convenient time for you to play.
• Play a preconceived range of starting hands for various situations.
• Avoid unfavorable situations for you already from the pre-flop.
• Play only against the opponents you want to play against.

On the one hand, the cash game strategy allows the player to control actions literally at every stage of the auction without relying once again on luck. Still, it also requires much more preparedness.

Tournament poker strategy

Playing tournament poker has its own specifics and requires a different approach and a markedly different game strategy. Unlike cash tables, when playing in a tournament, you will always be pressured by the time factor and a limited stack, which will go down and down as the blind level increases. The most distinctive factors of tournament strategy are:

• There is a need to play with a stack of different sizes. You can even start with a stack of 250+ BB. However, it will gradually decrease due to the increase in the level of blinds, and as a result, you will have to switch to MSS and then SSS game tactics.
• Unlike cash games, in tournaments, you can play any 2 cards, and it will be more profitable than folding them.
• The prize money zone and the bubble factor will greatly pressure you and your opponents, imposing increased requirements for discipline and psychological stability. In addition, the variance itself in tournament poker is much stronger than in cash games.
• Tournaments occur at a certain time, and players cannot just sit down and start playing or leave the table at will.

Changing styles and strategies

The basic principle of successfully playing online poker is to vary the game’s styles and strategies. A timely and unpredictable change of style will confuse your opponents, making it impossible for them to anticipate your actions or figure out a bluff.

Why is it worth playing online poker?

This information is intended primarily for people who are just starting their online poker adventure on the Internet. Still, even old players can find some interesting and useful information in it. First, you will learn what online poker is. We will then tell you the safest way to start playing online, where to play, and what rules to follow to make poker fun.

Security above all else

Online poker rooms care about security. Now, you may be wondering if your money is safe. Can you withdraw your winnings without any problems since the poker rooms are beyond our control? I will answer with a perverse and a half-joke that precisely because the operators are beyond the control of the Canadian authorities, you can be sure that your money is safe. However, seriously, you must understand that poker rooms are not casinos.

Online poker players play against each other, not against the company. The operators of online poker games are only “intermediaries” in the game and have no influence on it; they make money by having the games played with them. This is done by collecting a commission from the games. Thus, a jump to the players’ money would be a one-time action, after which no one would be tempted to deposit more funds to the account of such a poker room. Of course, there have been more or less successful attempts to make it difficult to withdraw money, but this has never worked for such an operator.

In addition, you need to be aware that online poker rooms are subject to very strict regulations and controls in the countries where they are registered. The basic rule is that players’ funds are separated from the company’s money. A poker room is, therefore, a kind of bank in which the operator cannot turn the funds accumulated on the accounts and, therefore, do not bear interest. They can be withdrawn at any time.

When withdrawing funds, online poker rooms additionally apply a rule that further improves security: the withdrawal must follow the same channel in which the payment was made to the account. So if someone has used a credit card when depositing funds into an account, the winnings will be refunded to the player on the same card, not by any other means. This applies to bank transfers and electronic wallets (Skrill, Neteller, Paypal, etc.).

The richest players have millions of dollars in their online poker accounts, which is a sufficient guarantee of the security of our money. Although most of the poker world is very fair and secure, some single companies are committed to cheating. This will always be the case in every field, but these dishonest operators can always be identified quickly, and their business lives are extremely short. How do I do it? There will be more on that in a moment.

Choosing the online poker room

In the beginning, there is one very important thing to note: the level of online gaming is higher than that of live gaming. We find online poker players who live on low stakes and are doing very well. This means that a beginner who just wants to get into the world of online poker should look for a place where his opponents will not be much better than him. Online poker is a game of skill in the long run. You can be lucky in the short run and then win a lot, but in the long run, the better player will always outplay the weaker one. The selection of a poker room should always be based on the following rules in this order:

• Reliability of funds and honesty of the operator.
• The general level of play in the poker room.
• Promotions and bonuses.
• Language and support.

As we mentioned above, some operators tempt players with amazing promotions, but paying out winnings can be quite a problem. These are usually completely unknown companies, new, established quickly and without much experience in the business. Speaking of specifics, it is best to choose an online poker room from the PokerScout.com ranking list, starting from the top of the ranking. This portal monitors the activity in online poker rooms, and thanks to it we know how many players sit on average at the cash tables of a given operator. All online poker rooms on this list can be taken virtually blind without worrying about your own money. The second criterion is the overall level of the poker room. Of course, novice players do not want to give their money to professionals who only hunt for it. So, those who are just starting their online poker career should look for games with other beginners or players who are not very skilled.

However, it is also an online poker room with the highest level of play. Let’s think wisely; what if the online poker room gives us a nice bonus if we won’t be able to get it because our bankroll’s lifetime will be very short? So what if you can play in the $1,000,000 guaranteed tournament when the shepherds of professionals drastically reduce your chances of hitting the cash? Don’t get caught up in the old carrot-and-stick trick that goes away even faster in high-level poker rooms. Beginners should lean more towards the smaller poker networks. A word of explanation here: a network is a union of several poker rooms with a common pool of players. For example, in the iPoker network, we have William Hill Poker, Titan Poker, and Winner. This means players registered at these poker rooms can play against each other. They are all put in one pool of players. You can find a full breakdown of poker rooms by affiliation to poker networks here. The final selection criteria are bonuses and promotions at poker rooms. Of course, everyone should try the game for free. Whenever a poker room offers free funds, then you have to take advantage of it, no doubt about it. If it costs us nothing, there is no reason not to play for free. But now let’s talk about bonuses and promotions.

Poker bonuses

This is the most common type of bonus. When making a deposit, usually the first one, the online poker room gives us a bonus that is a multiple of our deposit. For example, when a player deposits $100 he or she receives $100 in a bonus. However, that doesn’t mean he gets the money right away! There will be no $200 in the player’s account that he can play. This is a bonus that a player has to earn by playing at the online poker tables.

As you play, the online poker room always charges a commission, be it a cash table or a tournament. In the former, we have the so-called rake, while in the tournaments is a fee. Rake is a percentage commission on the pool generated, while Fee is a one-time tournament fee. Therefore, tournament buy-ins are always written in two numbers, for example, $10 + $1. This means that $10 goes into the pot and $1 is the operator’s commission. Rake, on the other hand, is usually between 2% and 5% of the pot. Two players generate a pot of $10, then the online poker room takes $0.20 to $.50 from it, and the rest lands with one of the players.

Thanks to commissions, we generate loyalty points that release bonus installments from the deposit. The more commission we pay, the more of this bonus will be credited to your account. This is “Claiming a Bonus.”

Some online poker rooms offer amazing bonuses to earn. Some tempt us with offers in the style of 1000%, i.e. for a deposit of $100 we get a bonus of $3000 to earn. Where’s the catch? In such cases, it is usually an unfavorable proportion between the commission received and the bonus installments. Getting such a promotion is virtually impossible for beginners and those sitting at low stakes. The second property of such a bonus is the time frame in which it is valid. It is usually 30 to 90 days. If the player does not fit in with the creation of the whole, the rest is simply lost in the world.

Rakeback

The rules for Rakeback are very similar to the first deposit bonus. However, the Rakeback does not have a timeframe and there is no limit to the bonus size. Rakeback is simply getting back a portion of the rake paid to the online poker room. It is usually from 10% to 35%, but there are unofficial offers that refund the player up to 100% of the paid rake. These, however, apply to well-known and good players with whom networks and poker rooms negotiate individually. Rakeback is always paid out for some billing period. This is usually 1 week (Full Tilt Poker) or 1 month (iPoker network). The poker room calculates the amount of rake a player generates and then transfers the Rakeback percentage to their poker account.

Loyalty points

In almost all online poker rooms, we collect loyalty points. We receive them for playing at real money tables and rake tournaments. Points are just another representation of the rake paid to online poker rooms that wish to reward the most loyal players. Points can be spent in shops. We can buy tickets to tournaments, get cash back on our account, or buy some poker gadgets, clothes, chips, cards, books, etc. The wealth of the shop depends, of course, on the size of the online poker room. For example, in some online poker rooms, you could buy an auto for points several players used.

Although online poker rooms tempt us with promotions and bonuses, we must not forget that nothing is for free. If, for example, we just want to play by depositing $10 or $20, it makes no sense to follow the bonus criteria. They require persistence in the game. Most of them make sense when we spend several hours a day playing, while for recreational players, they are just a mere marketing decoy.

Let’s use common sense to summarize the topic of choosing an online poker room. Above all, high first deposit bonuses are a tempting proposition, but it will be difficult for beginner poker players to use them fully. Operator honesty is paramount. The speed of deposits and withdrawals is also one of the top criteria – here are ruled by the world’s largest poker rooms, which pay out money in a few minutes to electronic wallets. The level of the online poker room is also very important for beginners because no one wants to deposit $50 to play half an hour and give everything to the professionals.

Poker deposits and withdrawals

Once you have chosen an online poker room, create an account there.

Once you create an account, you will have to make a deposit. Most online poker rooms offer a dozen or even several dozen ways to deposit money into your online poker account. Of course, the most popular are credit and debit cards. However, you can use a bank transfer or electronic wallet. Of course, you must remember that payments are processed by third parties and regulated by financial laws. Transferring money is therefore safe and you do not have to worry about your credit card details being in the wrong hands.

Depositing money is very easy. After creating an account, just enter your card details or make a transfer using your favorite payment method. The funds will be immediately in your account, and you can start playing.

Electronic wallets

Electronic wallets are very popular among online poker players. They are a very convenient and safe way to handle money online. Wallets are a kind of bank, which, however, do not give interest to the collected funds, offer full anonymity of transactions and lack any control of Canadian tax and customs offices. The most popular wallets are Skrill, listed on the London Stock Exchange, Neteller, and Paypal. Electronic wallets are regulated by the financial supervision authority of the country in which they are registered. For example, Skrill is subject to UK financial supervision.

The security of funds accumulated in the wallets is undeniable. These are companies with many years of experience and many millions of customers. Some of them, such as Skrill or Neteller, even offer VISA or MasterCard ATM cards that allow you to withdraw the accumulated funds from anywhere in the world. Wallets are also a great way to remain completely invisible to the financial systems. Suppose you just won $20,000 in an online poker tournament. From the point of view of Polish law, this is, unfortunately, illegal money, so a transfer to a bank account could end up being seized by the tax office. However, thanks to the electronic wallet, you can safely withdraw them from an ATM or pay in stores without feeling pressured.

So if you want to play for larger amounts and count on bigger winnings, the best way is an electronic wallet. If you want to play for small amounts, up to $500, you can safely skip this step and use your account or credit card.

Payouts and verification

You must complete the verification process the first time you want to withdraw funds from an online poker room. This is a one-time action to verify your data. This is not a withdrawal obstruction but a process that prevents fraud, fraud, money laundering, and minors from playing. The verification process usually takes up to 24 hours after you have sent the documents specified in the regulations. These are usually:

• ID card scan, two pages that confirm the name and surname.
• Bill scan (electricity, gas, internet) and confirmation of the residence address. Your bank may also have correspondence with your address on it.
• A scan of the credit card from which the payment was made; only some online poker rooms require this document. Remember to blur the CCV number on the scan, which verification does not need, and this is safe for you.

Sending documents is, of course, very secure. Online poker rooms do not collect this data; they are used only to confirm the player’s identity on the Internet and to exclude all kinds of frauds who, for example, want to use third-party credit cards. After passing the verification process, you can freely withdraw your winnings from the online poker room.

The withdrawal request is identical to the deposit order. Just enter how much you want to withdraw and choose how you want to receive the money.

The largest online poker rooms pay out money almost instantly. If, for example, we use an electronic wallet after ordering a withdrawal, we have the money at our disposal in a few minutes on Skrill or Neteller. Some online poker rooms reserve time to process the payout. This is because they do them manually, an accountant has to come and make a transfer to the player. The processing time is usually up to 48 hours maximum. Later, it all depends on the financial operator, VISA, MasterCard (when it comes to withdrawals to a credit card) or the bank (in the case of transfers).

Poker Glossary

In poker, certain types of games and moves are standard. In addition to numerous strategies and tricks that can be learned, many terms are used in any type of poker game. Newbies, in particular, are probably already busy learning the basics of poker. This already takes enough time, not counting the various technical terms. And just because there are many terms in the poker game, helplessness is often inevitable at the beginning.

So that you can understand the most important terms in poker, I will name the numerous terms in the following report and explain them. This is an advantage because you can learn the different poker terms and not be overwhelmed in the game when different technical terms are used.

As a hobby player, this may not be relevant. Still, as a player in a tournament, it is all the more relevant because you usually also play against players who often bring more experience than you do. By exactly these players To be taken seriously, one should be able to know and understand the most common terms.

• Action: Every move you make at the poker table is an action. This includes, for example, betting, raising, checking, or folding. If an unusually large pot is played in a round, this round is referred to as an action game.
• All-in: A player bets all the chips they have available.
• American Airlines: Refers to having two aces as hole cards.
• Angle: In the poker lexicon, performing an angle is not necessarily a rule violation but is considered far from fair play.
• Bankroll: In poker, each player has a monetary value known as their bankroll, which is the amount of money available for playing and potentially winning.
• Bet: In poker, the bet the respective player places and brings into the game is also called a bet.
• Bet Odds: Bet odds are expressed as a percentage and indicate the likelihood of a player winning the current hand.
• Big Blind: The player two seats to the left of the dealer must post the big blind, a bet placed before the cards are dealt. The dealer and, accordingly, the player who has to make the big blind can be identified by the D symbol.
• Blank: A card that does not significantly impact the game is called a blank.
• Blinds: There are two types of blinds: the small blind and the big blind. The player posts the small blind directly after the dealer while the player places the big blind two places to the left of the dealer.
• Bluff: When you bluff, you have a weak hand but place a large bet to persuade your opponents to fold by pretending to have a strong hand.
• Board: The center of the table where all community cards (flop, turn, and river) are placed is called the board.
• Boat: Another term for a full house.
• Broadway: A straight that runs from a ten to an ace is also called Broadway.
• Bullets: If you have not one ace but multiple aces, they are called bullets.
• Bump: When you increase your bet, this move is referred to as either a raise or a bump.
• Button: The button, marked with a D, identifies the dealer. It is passed clockwise after each round to indicate the dealer of the current round.
• Call: To call means to match the bet of your predecessor without raising it, so you bet the same amount as the player who made a bet in the current round.
• Cap: A cap dictates the number of raises allowed per betting round at the poker table.
• Check-raise: When a player first checks and raises the opponent’s bet, it is called a check-raise.
• Chop: It is called chopping the pot when the pot must be split between players for various reasons.
• Connectors: This term denotes consecutive cards, for example, a 4 and a 5.
• Dead Man’s Hand: Holding two eights and two aces is referred to as the Dead Man’s Hand.
• Dealer: The dealer deals cards in the current game round and is identified by the D button.
• Door Card: In a round of stud poker, the first card dealt is called the door card.
• Draw: If a player is just missing one card for a potentially winning hand, it’s called a draw. For example, if a player needs a 6 to complete a straight with a 7 and a 4 in hand, and the community cards show an ace, a 5, an 8, and a 10, then the player has a straight draw.
• Ducks: Also known as deuces, this indicates you have a pair of twos in your hand.
• Fish: A player new to poker and, therefore, still inexperienced is referred to as a fish.
• Fixed Limit: Unlike other game types, this variant of Hold’em is played with fixed betting increments agreed upon before the game.
• Flat Call: If you have a hand so strong that you should typically raise, but you only call your opponent’s bet, this action is called a flat call. This move can give your opponents the impression that you do not have a very strong hand.
• Flop: The first three community cards dealt together are called the flop.
• Flush Draw: If a player is missing one card to complete a flush, it is called a flush draw.
• Fold: If you opt out of a round and discard your cards, it is called a fold.
• Freeroll: A tournament that has no entry cost but still offers cash prizes is called a freeroll.
• Grinding: Playing for a long time with low risk and corresponding low stakes is referred to as grinding.
• Guaranteed Prizepool: The poker provider guarantees a prize pool for the tournament, which consists of either money or prizes.
• Heads Up: When two players play against each other, it is called heads up. This can result from nearly completing a game or as a distinct tournament variant.
• High Limit: When a game is played for high stakes, it is referred to using the term High Limit.
• Hole Cards: At the beginning of the round, each player receives two face-down cards that only they can see, also called hole cards.
• Jackpot: An additional prize in a game.
• Keep Them Honest: To prevent a player from bluffing, you call their bets. This is referred to as keeping them honest.
• Key Hand: During play, a hand can lead someone to either victory or defeat, and the hand primarily responsible for the player’s outcome is called the key hand.
• Lead: The player who makes the first bet is also called the lead player.
• Limp-in: Calling without raising your bet is referred to as a limp-in. It differs from a call in that it is used only pre-flop. The player only calls the big blind here.
• Maniac: A player who plays many hands and with very high stakes is referred to as a maniac.
• Muck: At the end of each round, a player can publicly show their cards. If they do not, it is called mucking.
• Monster: If you have a strong hand and a good chance of winning, it is referred to as a monster.
• No Limit: In this variant of Texas Hold’em, each player can bet as much as they want without any limits. The only restriction is the player’s bankroll.
• Nuts: If a player has the best possible hand in the current round, it is called having the nuts.
• Offsuit: If you are dealt two hole cards not of the same suit, e.g., a diamond 9 and a heart 8, they are referred to as offsuit.
• Open: If you make the first bid and open the game, it is called opening.
• Overcard: A player with a card higher than the highest on the table has an overcard.
• Overpair: A pair in hand that is higher in value than any cards on the table.
• Pocket Cards: Another name for hole cards, i.e., the cards you are dealt at the beginning of the game and that only you can see.
• Pocket Pair: A pair in a player’s hand is also called a pocket pair.
• Post: Players in the round who do not have to pay a blind can post, i.e., bet.
• Pot: The pot is paid to the winner of the current round and represents the total amount of money in the middle of the table.
• Pot Limit: In this variant of Hold’em, a player may only bet as much as is currently in the pot.
• Prize Pool: The tournament prize money is also called the prize pool and is divided among the winners.
• Rail: The edge or boundary of the area where poker is played or the poker table is called the rail.
• Railbird: An outsider who joins the game is also called a railbird.
• Raise: If you increase your bet, it is called a raise.
• Rake: The rake is a small fee that the poker room charges for playing the game.
• Re-raise: If someone raises their bet and then another player raises the bet of the player who raised it again, it is called a re-raise.
• Ring Game: According to the poker dictionary, a ring game is another term for a regular game.
• River: The community card that is the fifth and final card in Hold’em is called the river.
• Rock: A tactical player who plays conservatively and only raises when they have a very good hand.
• Rounders: Players who make a living from poker; coincidentally, a well-known poker film also bears this name.
• Rush: When luck is on your side and you’re on a winning streak, it’s called a rush.
• Sandbagging: Even if you have a good hand, you can play cautiously and only call or raise relatively small amounts, which is called sandbagging.
• Scoop: It is called a scoop if you win the pot with different Sun Split variants.
• See: According to the poker lexicon, to see simply means that you call.
• Semi Bluff: Unlike a regular bluff, you have a decent hand here and could win the pot.
• Set: According to the poker dictionary, a set is when you hold a pair in your hand and hit three of a kind.
• Showdown: This is the exciting moment when the opponent’s cards are revealed.
• Sit’n’Go: The tournament starts when the required number of players are at the table. There are no fixed times or anything like that; the start only depends on the number of registered players.
• Slow Play: Even if players have a good hand, they still play smoothly and wait to see what the other players bet. We’re talking about slow play here. In slow play, the bet is often increased.
• Small Blind: This is the smaller brother of the Big Blind, i.e., an initial bet. The small blind must represent half of the big blind.
• Speed Tournament: A variant of the game in which there are time constraints that symbolize the action time. The tournament usually runs very quickly.
• Split Pot: A split pot occurs when both players’ hands are equally good. The pot is divided fairly among the players.
• Stack: The stack is the stack of chips a player owns and usually has in front of them. In online poker, a stack is usually a number under the username.
• Straight Draw: The card that is only missing from the player until the draw is called a straight draw.
• Suited: If cards are of the same suit, they are referred to as suited here.
• Thirty Miles: A set of 10s is called Thirty Miles.
• Tight: A player who plays good cards but does not want to take risks is also called tight.
• Tilt: If a player loses in the previous round but plays overly aggressively in the current round, this is called a tilt.
• Tournament / Tournaments: You pay your participation fee and possibly an additional registration fee to participate in the tournament.
• Turbo Tournament: The blinds increase faster here than in other tournament variants.
• Turn: The fourth community card revealed is also known as the turn.
• Walking Sticks: If you have a pair of sevens as hole cards, these are called walking sticks.
• Bubble: The point in a tournament just before players enter the payout positions. The player eliminated right before the bubble is said to have “busted on the bubble.”
• Cooler: A situation in which a very strong hand, usually a very high full house, loses to an even stronger hand, such as a better full house or a straight flush.
• Deep Stack: Refers to having a significantly larger number of chips relative to the blinds or an average stack in a tournament. This allows more play and strategy.
• Equity: The portion of the pot that a player is expected to win on average, based on the current situation in hand.
• Floating: Calling on one betting round to take away the pot from the opponent on a later street.
• Gutshot: A straight draw where only one card can complete the straight. For example, holding a 6-7 with a flop of 8-10. Only a 9 can complete the straight.
• Implied Odds: The money you expect to win if you complete your hand and the additional bets you expect to collect.
• Kicker: The card that is not part of the main hand rank but may be used to break ties between hands of the same rank. For instance, if two players have a pair of aces, the one with the higher kicker wins.
• Lay Down: To fold a strong hand in anticipation of a superior hand held by another player.
• Nut Flush: The best possible flush, typically involving the ace of the suit being played.
• Open-ended Straight Draw: A straight draw that can be completed with two different cards on either end of the sequence.
• Runner-runner: When a player needs two consecutive cards on the turn and the river to make a winning hand.
• Squeeze Play: A pre-flop play where a player makes a significant raise after a raise and at least one call, attempting to win the pot immediately.
• Stack-to-Pot Ratio (SPR): The total pot size compared to the size of your chip stack. It’s a metric used to determine how committed you are likely to be in the pot and influences your strategy in hand.
• Under the Gun (UTG): The position to the immediate left of the big blind is the first to act in the first round of betting.

Final thoughts on online poker

Thanks to many years of development and popularity gained during the Industrial Revolution, poker has gained due recognition. It is currently one of the most popular card games with many variations. Along with gaining the sympathy of increasing players, casinos, which started organizing tournaments, became interested in poker. After the production of slot games in casinos began, there were also different versions of poker there. Most often it was slotted that drew cards instead of symbols and won hands in poker in the same hierarchy as in the traditional game. Today, the popularity of this game has spread far beyond the walls of casinos. Professional online poker tournaments allow you to win huge amounts of money. There is no shortage of online platforms, and there is also a sports poker version.

Most people play online poker these days. The ubiquitous internet has made it a very popular and accessible game variant. The internet is full of casinos and sites offering tables to play with virtual chips and real money. Suppose you do not want to risk losing money when playing against more experienced players or at the beginning of your poker adventure. In that case, an alternative solution is online poker for free, where you do not risk real money and can play with virtual chips. It is also a good form of play for those who want to learn the rules or test new poker strategies. Yes, poker is also an excellent strategy and psychological game.