Poker cards on laptop

How to Start Playing Online Poker?

New people are drawn to the “Poker crowd” every day, but only a handful of them decide to put in a real effort in order to become truly good at the game. Although Texas Hold’em is considered to be the most popular form of poker, there are many other variations of the game that are played in both online casinos and land-based gambling events. Before starting their journey on the “road to poker glory,” people will need to be aware of a few facts that will prove invaluable in the long run.

The Formation of Hands in Different Poker Variants

Although there are many variations of poker, many people who don’t play are aware of how different hands are called (for example, Full House, Straight, Flush, etc.). Granted, depending on the poker version, a specific hand may be low or high strength; in any case, they will all be named the same way. The only exception players would find is with the hand called “five of a kind,” where a Joker is introduced to the game as a “wild card.” In reality, a Joker is rarely introduced in serious poker cash games, regardless of their type.

The Different Games You Might Like

After Texas Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) is considered to be the most popular form of poker. Similar to Texas, PLO operates on the same “card flop and river” mechanic, with the notable difference that players are dealt four cards, not two. In addition to providing players with a better chance of making a good hand, PLO’s bet penalties for “sitting out” a game round, is considered to be much more forgiving than its Texas counterpart.

Although Hold’em might be considered as the most popular form of poker, the one version that everyone tends to learn how to play first, is none other than Five Card Draw. Featured in almost every “Spaghetti Western” movie, this is the simplest form of the game. A dealer would distribute five cards to each player before the beginning of the first betting phase. After conclusion, players can choose to discard up to three cards from their hand. Once they do, the second and final betting stage must be resolved. The player with the best hand left standing, wins.

Other popular variants include names such as Pai Gow, 7 Card Stud, Horse, and many others. A very important thing to mention is that there are many variants of the game, poker is usually separated into two distinct types – draw, and stud. In all variations of “draw”, a player will be dealt a complete hand, which can be improved with either the replacement of dealt cards. Stud variants deal a hand that’s not only a combination of face up and face down cards but are also completed throughout the following betting rounds.

Training Is Essential to Becoming Good

No matter which type or variant of poker you might be interested in, training is essential. Today, there are many free websites and applications that allow free play on every imaginable poker title, which allows people to get the training in need. On the other hand, experts advise that training should be done with real money, even if playing for the lowest stakes possible. This way, a beginner would get a real sense of both winning and losing and are bound to be more alert and assertive when it comes down to playing for high stakes.

Man playing poker

The Best Online Casino Sites to Play Poker

Poker has been and still is one of the most iconic gambling games in the world. Although today many versions exist, the “Texas Hold’em” variety has proven to be one of the most wide-spread versions of Poker everywhere! While playing this exact version isn’t available for single player, “Casino Hold’em” has appeared as a worthy substitute. Today we will learn which online casino sites are considered the best to play real money poker.

888poker – The App-Website

Perhaps, 888poker is the best website online that is dedicated to the game of the same name. Not only does it offer variants such as 7 Card Stud, SNAP, BLAST, Pick’em, Hi-Lo, and Texas Hold’em, but it also contains valuable information that every player can benefit from. What is interesting here that 888poker requires the download of special software, which will allow players to enter different rooms, participate in tournaments, and use a variety of other features. Although the website of 888poker doesn’t feature actual games, it does have an abundance of guides, strategies, and tips on how to play every available version of this card game.

888 Casino Is First on Our List

An online gambling venue with established traditions, 888 is highly renowned among players. Not only does it offer both instant and live dealer versions of the game, but it is also held in high regard by the gambling industry. The gaming titles offered there have a high RTP rate, the venue itself offers a wonderful welcome bonus, and 888 is ready to make payouts to players via a rich variety of banking options. If you’re looking for a good place to play this card game, then 888 Casino is definitely one of the best.

Poker Stars Has Entered the Mainstream

Completely dedicated to the game of the same name, Poker Stars (PS) is a no-nonsense website where players can experience a variety of games, such as Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Five Card Draw, Seven Card Stud, and quite a few others. This venue is famous not only for the quality of its gaming titles but also for the fact that they often hold high profile tournaments with incredible prizes. Whether you would like to play by yourself or with other people, PS is a place that can accommodate your needs.

Unibet Gives Your Winnings Fast

This brand is not only associated with offering superior casino services, but also for its sportsbook platform. Regardless of being a famous bookie, Unibet is a preferred destination for players who like to play some poker. The venue is known for its fast payouts, huge jackpots, and a huge selection of games.

Bet-at-Home Is another Successful Poker Venue

Bet-at-home started out as a sportsbook but has taken a turn for the best by introducing both casino games and a poker gaming network. This gambling venue is known for offering special game variants such as No-Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha, Five Card Draw, as well as Canadian Stud. Bet-at-home has more than 20 years of experience and an outstanding reputation as providing exceptional gaming services.

Choosing two poker cards

Why You Should Play Multiple Poker Games at Once?

Depending on the online casino you visit, you will be able to play on multiple poker tables at the same time. If the casino platform is capable of supporting multi-window gaming, people would be able to play different poker versions in different windows at the same time. Why is multi-window gaming so popular, and why should you try it? We’ve explained further below.

The Final Goal Is To Get More Winnings

To people that already have some experience with Poker in an online casino, playing a single table can be a tad too slow for their preference – this is where multi-screen playing comes in. The wins they will rake in will come from multiple sources, and will multiply considerably faster. On the other hand, before achieving such a feat, people will need to prepare.

Be Aware of the Dangers of Multi-Screen Poker

Just as players can get winnings from multiple tables, they can lose from them as well! If an unprepared player tries multi-screen playing, they are very likely to lose their entire bankroll in a matter of minutes. Multi-screen-play has proven to be the pitfall for many people that have underestimated the dynamics of this play mode.

How to Prepare For Several Games at Once

They say that the most experienced poker players out there can play up to 10 tables at the same time! Experts often advise beginners to start with a single poker table. After a couple of hours every day for a week, a player is advised to increase its table count to two. Due to the relative ease at which a person can get confused when following separate card deals, prolonged training after the first table increase is advised.

Even training is bound to cost some money as in most casinos that offer multi-screen Poker, do not offer “demo play.” In fact, most multi-play games are of the live dealer variety. In order to start training for more tables, beginners are advised to enter the rooms with the lowest betting limits available; if they happen to deplete their bankrolls, they won’t suffer a large financial loss. Once a player is feeling confident enough to increase the number of tables, they should do so at regular intervals. If adding one more game screen is making things difficult to follow, it is advised that the number of tables is reduced by one.

Familiarizing Yourself With the Table’s Interface

The fact that every newly opened tab will be practically identical to the next one is a precursor for “information overload.” In order to avoid being confused by the many elements, people that multitask on different tables are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the interface of the poker game in question. Because of that, experts often warn people not to mix multi-playing different games at the same time (for example, five tables on Blackjack and five on Poker). Once a person is familiar enough with the heads up display of one window, they will feel more comfortable in adding more tables to their screen.

Two men playing poker in casino

The Best Online Poker Players in the World

Fans of online casino poker often wish to bask in the virtual spotlight of their favorite players. As online poker made its mark on the industry, people realized that you don’t need to be a “Las Vegas regular” to qualify for a high-profile tournament. With that being said, there are a few people that have made names known in the online industry – here are the best of them.

Phil Ivey – “The Tiger Woods of Poker”

Considered by many to be the best online poker player in the world, Phil Ivey managed to net nearly $20 million over the course of four years! Mr. Ivey is a professional gambler through and through, and in addition to being the best player in the online room “Full Tilt,” he is a regular participant and winner in a variety of land-based tournaments. The winnings mentioned above are only from one online room – Mr. Ivey’s total gains are much more than that.

Patrik Antonius – “The Black Lotus”

According to a “Full Tilt Poker” statistic, this Finnish tennis coach-turned poker pro player managed to net up to $11 million in online wins in a mere five years. Antonius is considered to be an exceptional “heads up” poker specialist, which means that his strongest abilities are revealed when he plays one vs. one. With that being said, Antonius played a historical online “Omaha” match against another famous player (Viktor Blom), where a historical pot was recorded of nearly $1.5 million, which “the Black Lotus” won.

Viktor Blom – “Isildur1”

A former member of the Poker Stars Team Pro and a current member of the “three pros” of Full Tilt Poker, Mr. Blom’s career has taken incredibly dynamic turns that have made both industry professionals, and fans invigorated. While his total winnings come close to $2 million, it was his ability to persevere and come on top of difficult situations that made him into a promising young star. Renowned for his “aggressive style” of playing, Blom had experienced both failure and success; however, he is still playing high stakes Hold’em, while being one of the most popular players out there.

Dan Cates – “Jungleman12”

Only 30 years old, Dan Cates managed to net more than $10 million of winnings by playing online poker in Full Tilt. Considered to be a “highly aggressive” player, his rapid stakes force competitors in disarray, which makes them either fall into a trap or fold. What is interesting about Dan Cates, is that he made most of his winnings by playing high stakes games, while staying away from tournaments.