So you want to play online poker. Great! There are two things you need to know before entering the fray. The first is how to play, the second is how to make money. Let’s take a look at each topic in turn.
How to Play Online Poker
The most essential step to being able to make money playing online poker is learning how to play. Although there are many different poker variants out there, it basically comes down to two things; knowing how to play and figuring out how to play against the dealer’s hand. Let’s discuss each of these in turn.
Firstly, knowing how to play poker is very important. This isn’t particularly difficult as there are many different games out there and almost all of them can be learned relatively quickly. Once you have familiarized yourself with the basics, you can move on to more complex situations and games. To give you a head start, below we’ve compiled a list of tips on how to play poker.
Poker Strategy
One of the more complex aspects of playing poker is figuring out the right strategy to use based on the situation. To keep things simple, let’s discuss four different situations and the strategies that go along with them.
Royal Flush
If you have just witnessed an unexpected royal flush on the draw, you’ll have to decide whether to stay or fold. One of the simplest yet most effective ways of playing poker is to always stay in the game. A royal flush is a hand that contains five cards of the same suit from Jack to King. If you can identify a royal flush fairly quickly, you can take advantage of the fact that the dealer doesn’t have the best hand and check whether to stay or fold.
If you have just witnessed a royal flush, you should probably stay in the game. The dealer doesn’t have the best hand, so you have a good chance of winning. If you also have a flush in the same suit on the other three players’ hands, you have even more chances of winning.
Straight Flush
A straight flush is one where all the cards are of the same suit. For example, the four of hearts, five of hearts, six of hearts and seven of hearts. A straight flush is usually considered the second most significant hand in poker after a royal flush. If you have a straight flush, it’s essential that you go all in as soon as possible. The reason being is that an entire suit is often more advantageous than a pair or a single card.
If you have a straight flush, it’s usually a good idea to put your entire stake on the table. This will make it easier for the dealer to call and win. If you have a perfect straight flush, the dealer will certainly call as soon as they see it. This means you win the hand regardless of what the other players do. You should also note that having an ace and a nine of the same suit is also a straight flush. This makes it even simpler for the dealer to win
Flush
A flush is a hand where you have several cards of the same suit. For example, the king of hearts, ten of hearts, jack of hearts and queen of hearts. A flush is considered the third most significant hand in poker after a straight flush and royal flush. To be able to effectively play a flush, you must have at least two cards of the same suit. It also helps to have some low cards as well so that the dealer can’t steal the pot from you with a queen or a ten.
If you have a flush on the turn, there are several options available to you. One is to check, which means you’re showing the hand but not putting any money in the middle. Another is to bet, which is usually a good idea as having more money in the middle makes it more difficult for the dealer to lose. A flush on the river gives you the possibility of catching a lucky streak or an unlucky streak. You should probably stay in the game as long as possible so that you can get a good read on the dealer’s hand and whether to check or bet.
Almost Perfect Flush
An almost perfect flush is one where you’re missing just one card of the same suit. For example, the king of hearts, ten of hearts, jack of hearts and queen of hearts. An almost perfect flush is slightly less significant than a flush but more significant than a straight. If you have an almost perfect flush, you should probably stay in the game as long as possible so that you can get a good read on the dealer’s hand and whether to stay or fold.
How to Play Against the Dealer’s Hand
Now that you know how to play poker, you can move on to the more complex aspect of making money in poker; playing against the dealer’s hand. This is where things get interesting. The idea is that the dealer shuffles the cards, lays them out on a table and deals them to each player. While the dealer is doing this, it’s your job to beat the dealer. To give you a head start, below we’ve compiled a list of tips on how to play against the dealer’s hand.
The Role of Luck
Luck has a very crucial role to play in winning at poker. This is mainly because there’s a lot of variance in the way each game is played. If you don’t have any luck, it’s very difficult to win at poker. The reason being is that the casino will always beat you. If you do get lucky, you’ll have the upper hand and can potentially win big. To put it simply, poker is all about having luck and using it wisely.
Most people when they hear the term “luck”, think about casino games. While this is true, there’s more to having luck in poker than just joining a casino and gambling. You need to be able to recognize chance events and take advantage of them. For example, if the dealer has a flush on the turn or the river, you can likely win the hand. But if the dealer doesn’t have a flush, then you’ll lose the hand even if you’re perfectly suited for it. This is why it’s important to read the dealer’s hand carefully and figure out whether to stay or fold before hitting the table.
Poker Calculators
Poker calculators are very useful when playing poker against the dealer’s hand. These are basically devices that do all the math for you. This means you no longer have to do math in your head while playing; you can simply input the right numbers and the calculator will do the rest. There are many different types of poker calculators available, each with their own unique features. Below we’ve compiled a list of the most useful features of poker calculators.
Best Overall
The best overall poker calculator is the one that can handle all the different situations you’re likely to encounter. For example, if you try to use a regular poker calculator and play against a player with a straight flush, it won’t work as the rules of poker aren’t the same when playing against a smart dealer rather than a human player. The best overall poker calculator will have a large enough screen so that you can view all the cards easily and have the option to toggle bet/check/fold hands so that you don’t have to enter the information for each player individually. It’s also wise to look for a model with a physical keypad rather than a touchscreen as it’s easier to type on a physical keypad. Finally, having a separate screen for the chat with the dealer is also a nice touch as it keeps things isolated from the rest of the activity.
Most Helpful When Playing Against The Dealer
The most helpful feature when playing against the dealer is the one that allows you to view all the cards. The other players can’t see your hand, so it’s often difficult to tell whether you have a good hand or bad hand. With a clear view of all the cards, it’s much easier to figure out if you’re doing well or badly. Another important feature is the one that allows you to enter the chat with the dealer privately. This is especially useful when playing against a very short-stacked opponent who doesn’t want to show their hand publicly or when playing in a high-stakes game and being called by the dealer during critical moments.