Here at Betastic, we know gambling inside out, and poker is no different. One of our experts has played online poker for 20 years and has some sound advice for gamblers looking to start playing online poker.
Before you learn how to play online poker for real money, you should first understand the basics. In this article we will cover game rules, terminology used in poker, differences between live and online play and some common mistakes that new players make when they first start playing online poker. Read on to find out more.
Crucial terminology for playing online poker
- Button – The last person to act in a betting round.
- Blind bet – A fixed stake made before the round starts to start the betting
- Board – The community cards that everyone plays with
- Buy In – The entry fee for playing online poker tournaments
- Call – The minimum bet needed to continue playing a hand
- Check – To pass when it’s your turn if there has been no other bets
- Flop – The first three community cards dealt in Texas Hold’em
- Fold – To give up, losing any bets you have already made
- Flush – 5 cards of the same suit but not in sequence
- Full House – A hand made up of 3 of a kind and a pair
- Hand – In Texas Hold’em this is your best 5 cards from the 7 available
- Muck – To throw your hand away without showing it
- Pot – The money to be won in a hand of poker
- Raise – To increase the amount needed to continue playing a hand
- Rake – The commission the casino takes for playing online poker games
- River – The fifth community card dealt in Texas Hold’em
- Showdown – Each player reveals their hand and the best hand wins the pot
- Straight – 5 cards in sequence but not suited
- Straight Flush – 5 cards in sequence and suited
- Suited – 2 or more cards of the same suit
- Trips – Slang for 3 of a kind
- Turn – The fourth community card dealt in Texas Hold’em
Basic rules of playing online poker
Poker really is straightforward game, but it moves fairly rapidly when you play online. Before you start playing, make sure that you fully understand the fundamentals of
winning poker hands
and game etiquette to save yourself embarrassment.
The most popular variant for playing online poker is called No limit Texas Hold’em. In this version each player is dealt 2 cards followed by a round of betting which includes 2 blind bets to start. Players bet or fold based on the strength of those 2 cards. Three board cards called The Flop are then dealt followed by another round of betting. Next comes a 4th board card called The Turn with a round of betting. Lastly, the 5th board card called The River signals the final round of betting.
Players make the best 5 card poker hand from the 7 cards in total and if there is more than 1 player left in the hand at this point there is a “showdown” and the best hand wins the pot. If at any point in the hand all but one player folds, that remaining player wins the pot and the hand ends.
Advanced rules of playing online poker
When playing at
poker sites online, you’ll find that there are a multitude of different styles, with variations that provide new and exciting ways to play.
- Tournament poker
: Players play against each other until they are eliminated by running out of chips. Players are paid out according to the place they finish.
- Cash game poker
: Players sit down with an amount of money and play against each other. They can add more money whenever they want but not remove money until they decide to leave the game.
- No limit hold’em
: This is the most popular version of playing online poker. Players can bet any amount they want each time it is their turn to bet.
- Pot limit hold’em
: This version of playing online poker is mainly popular in Europe. The maximum bet size is equal to the current size of the pot.
- Limit hold’em
: Betting size is fixed. For example if blinds are $2 and $4 then pre-flop and flop bets are restricted to $4 each time. Turn and river bets are limited to $8 only.
- Pot limit Omaha (PLO)
: This is a poker variant made popular in European casinos due to the extra action it creates. Players are dealt 4 cards instead of 2 and make a 5 card hand using exactly 2 cards from their hand and 3 cards from the board.
- Pot Limit Omaha/8 (PLO/8)
: This has the same rules as Pot limit Omaha, only with the additional rule of being a split pot game. This means the best hand wins the pot, unless there is also a qualifying
low
hand which would win half. To qualify for the low half, you must have the 5 lowest unique cards (Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5 being the best of these).
- 6+ Hold’em
: A newer variant for playing online poker that’s also known as “Short-Deck Poker”. The 2’s through 5s are removed from the deck and played with a deck of 36 cards. The hand rankings are different (a flush is stronger than a full house). The game was created to generate more action and is played 6 handed.
Try out these reputable online operators
1.
25 SC and 25K GC signup bonus
Stake.us Social Casino Bonus
25 SC and 25K GC signup bonus
Highlights
- Exclusive promo code:
BTTSOCIAL
- Drake-approved sweepstakes casino!
- Exchange your Stake Cash for cryptos!
- Fiat is now an available payment method!
2.
GC 120,000 + Free SC 60 + a chance to win Free SC 500
McLuck Social Casino Bonus
GC 120,000 + Free SC 60 + a chance to win Free SC 500
Highlights
- Exclusive GC games
- Lots of Megaways slots
- Jackpot play games
3.
200% EXTRA: 1M Gold Coins + 75 SC FREE + 750 Pulsz Points
Pulsz.com Social Casino Bonus
200% EXTRA: 1M Gold Coins + 75 SC FREE + 750 Pulsz Points
Highlights
- Outstanding welcome bonus
- Hundreds of exciting games
- Sociable and fun gameplay
4.
245% Extra up to 60 SC FREE + 700 Gold Coins and 400 Diamonds!
High5Casino Social Casino Bonus
245% Extra up to 60 SC FREE + 700 Gold Coins and 400 Diamonds!
Highlights
- 1200+ Games, Slots & Live Dealer Games!
- FREE Daily Rewards
- Authentic brand, made in the USA
- To Claim: Click Play Now
5.
200% Extra: 30 SC FREE and 1.75M WOW Coins
Wow Vegas Social Casino Bonus
200% Extra: 30 SC FREE and 1.75M WOW Coins
Highlights
- Top-quality slots
- Daily Jackpot prizes
- Responsive support team
Does online versus offline poker differ?
If you have ever played poker in a real life setting, whether it be a casino or at a friend’s house, there are some significant changes playing online to what you will be used to.
- The speed of online poker
: This is quite a significant difference. When playing online poker you typically have 20 seconds to act. This keeps the game flowing at a decent speed, unlike casino play where sometimes players can take 2 minutes to make a decision. This increase in speed makes poker online more entertaining due to less downtime after folding. With all this in mind, it is important to think about your play before it is your turn to act, and also to accustom yourself with the user interface, so you know how to make the correct play when the action is on you.
- Cash is King
: When playing online there is no borrowing money off friends. You need to make your own deposits beforehand with your preferred deposit method. Due to money laundering regulations, online players are not allowed to transfer money between each other.
- The variety of games available
: When you first play online poker, you will be amazed at the sheer volume of games available to play at compared to a casino. Real life casinos typically have 2 or 3 tables going with a once a day tournament. For poker sites online you will find new big tournaments starting every 15 minutes with smaller 1 table tournaments literally starting every minute of the day. There is no waiting around for a game online!
- No dealer errors online
: One aspect of casino poker play that is universally hated, is the inevitable dealer error. Burning a card incorrectly or accidentally flipping over a card, these delays often put a dampener on game play. No such experience online with a digital croupier. They will deal perfectly every time and much quicker also!
- No angle shooting online
: We all know that player in a casino, who pretends to bet when they don’t want to, trying to make other players fold and then claiming they never bet. It puts a bad taste in everyone’s mouth and really makes people wonder how to play online poker in the US. Why would anyone want to deal with these unsavory types when they can just play online?
Common mistakes people make when playing poker online
Make no mistake, this is the most important section of this guide. We could write 10,000 words in this section but we will focus on the following 5 important points.
Playing too many hands
: When you are new to the game and wondering how to play online poker, it’s easy to fall into the trap of playing too many hands. This typically starts from watching poker films like Rounders, where the main character pulls off a big bluff and thinking you can do the same. Good poker players will play around 25% of all the hands they are dealt. If you start creeping over 30% you should start to consider why.
Being too passive with hands
: Another mistake new players make is to check and call a lot. This is called being a “calling station” and good players quickly pick up on this fact, knowing to never bluff you and to only bet when they think they have a better hand than you.
You will quickly find yourself bleeding away chips, and when you do wake up with a good hand, people know to fold because you only ever bet with your strongest hands.
Not paying attention to the action
: Online poker is quite a fast game, and if you are the type of person to get distracted, maybe because of your kids, or sport on TV, you may accidentally find yourself auto-folding your hand. Any time you fail to act when it’s your turn, the software will throw your hand in the muck and sit you out until you return. Not to mention you aren’t picking up on any other player’s habits if you are distracted.
Playing too many tables at the same time :
Most online casinos for beginners allow you to play at multiple tables.As many as 12 tables is completely manageable for an experienced online poker player, but for someone new your focus should be on just one table at a time. Only consider playing more than one table once you are comfortable with what you are doing and have a reasonable understanding of what is required.
Never treat a victory as meaning you are good at the game
: If there is one thing you should take from this guide, it is to never stop learning. Everyone you play against is improving day to day, so it is also important for you to improve. Make sure to read books or online articles, watch videos and pay attention to experienced players when they share advice on forums. The road to being a great poker player is a long one, and rewards those who take time to master their craft.
A conclusion about playing online poker
Learning how to play online poker with friends is a lot of fun, but it’s important to remember that you are playing with real money. Budget wisely and treat it as any other form of entertainment. If you would spend $20 going to the cinema in an evening, then do the same for poker.
Our
US online casino guide
covers the top poker sites and their welcome offers for new poker players. Casinos typically attract people with tempting bonuses and this can allow you to get some good experience playing the game without it costing too much.
Finally remember that each poker site online has its own user interface. If the first one you try isn’t to your taste, then go ahead and switch sites until you find one you like.
The best bonuses on the market
1.
25 SC and 25K GC signup bonus
Bonus Details
Requirements (WR):
3x Deposit
2.
GC 120,000 + Free SC 60 + a chance to win Free SC 500
3.
200% EXTRA: 1M Gold Coins + 75 SC FREE + 750 Pulsz Points
Bonus Details
Requirements (WR):
1x Bonus
4.
245% Extra up to 60 SC FREE + 700 Gold Coins and 400 Diamonds!
Bonus Details
Requirements (WR):
1x Bonus
5.
200% Extra: 30 SC FREE and 1.75M WOW Coins
Bonus Details
Requirements (WR):
1x Bonus
Playing Online Poker FAQ
🎴 Can I play poker online for real money?
If you are looking for a comprehensive guide to all of the legal online poker rooms for your state then you should visit Betastic. Betastic has detailed guides for everyone wishing to play online poker highlighting bonuses and deposit methods available at each.
🔐 Is online poker safe?
This is a common question asked by people thinking of playing online poker and a completely reasonable thing to ask. Betastic has guides showing all of the online poker sites with how they are regulated plus which governmental body licenses them. You can be safe picking any poker site online recommended by Betastic
💰 How do you deposit to a poker site online?
There are many ways for poker players online to make a deposit at their favorite casino. The best way to learn would be to visit Betastic and look at their wide array of guides to casinos. These guides show all the deposit methods available at each casino and walk you through how to go about this.
