Beginner's Guide to Online Poker

 
At the best uk poker sites you can play many variations of Poker, but over the past 10 years or so, the one game that stands head and shoulders above the rest has to be Texas Hold 'Em. It is with this version we will try and spell out the basics and without coincidence it is the easiest of the poker variations to master.
 

The Deck...

So starting right at the beginning, you play Texas Hold 'Em with the standard set of 52 playing cards. Cards are marked 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J (Jack), Q (Queen), K (King and A (Ace - being top card and can also be 1). Each set are given a 'suit' - either Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs or Spades.
 
The ace is always the high card and there is no suit better than any other in Texas Hold 'Em.
 

Full Tilt Poker is a reviewed and recommended online poker room of Popker Geezer

 
The Rankings...
 
The next stage is to learn the rankings of hands in Poker. Remember that in Poker, all hands consist of five cards, regardless of the amount of cards you get to choose from in each game. The rankings for Texas Hold 'Em go like this (best first)...
 
Royal Flush - this is where you have 10, J, Q, K, A - i.e. all the same suit.
 
Running Flush - this is where you have any five consequitive cards, in the same suit - for example 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. The best Running Flush in a hand relies on the highest card in the hand (so in this case, a 9).
 
Four of a Kind - this is where you have four of the same face values in your hand - for example 8, 8, 8, 8, x. If you have more than one Four of a Kind shown, then the highest number wins.
 
Full House - this is where you have three of the same face value in your hand, as well as two of the same value in your hand. So for example A, A, A, K, K. If you have more than one Full House shown, then the highest Three of a Kind determines the winner.
 
Flush - this is where you have different face values in your hand, but each card is the same suit. For example 3, 5, 9, K, A. If more than one Flush is shown, then the highest card in the Flush determines the winner.
 
Straight - this is where the face values in your hand are consequetive, regardless of the suits. So for example 7, 8, 9, 10, J i.e. they are different suits. If more than one Straight is shown, then the highest card in the Straight determines the winner.
 
Three of a Kind - this is where you have three face values the same only (the other two have no relevance). So for example, A, A, A, x, x. If more than one Three of a Kind is shown, then the highest card determines the winner.
 
Two Pair - this is where you have two face values the same and another two face value the same. So for example A, A, K, K, x. If more than one Two Pair is shown, then the highest pair shown determines the winner. If more than one hand has the same Two Pair, then the highest card
remaining in the hand determines the winner - this is known as the
kicker.
 
Pair - this is where you have two face values the same only. So for example A, A, x, x, x. If more than one Pair is shown, then the highest Pair determines the winner. If more than one hand has the same Pair, then the highest card remaining in the hand determines the winner - this is known as the kicker.
 
High Card - this is where you have different face values and different suits, where only the face values count. So for example A, 4, 8, 2, 3. If more than one High Card hand is shown, then the highest card determines the winner. If more than one hand has the same High Card, then the next card determines, and so on.
 

PKR Poker Online Poker Room, as recommended and reviewed by Poker Geezer

 
The Deal...
 
Now that you know the sequence of hands in Texas Hold 'Em, it is time to learn how to deal the cards in the correct manner. 
 
Each player in the hand is first of all dealt two cards face down. These are called the Hole Cards. Each player must then look at his or her Hole Cards and determine how they would like to bet.
 
Once betting for this round has finished, the dealer will then deal out three Community Cards - also know as The Flop. These are dealt face up in front of every player and another round of betting takes place.
 
Once betting for this round has finished, the dealer will then deal out another card face up - this is known as The Turn. Betting takes place again and any remaining players will then see the final card.
 
The final card is known as The River and is again dealt face up, for all to see. This means that you as a player now has seven cards to choose from, to make up the best five card hand. Betting continues and once finished, all hands remaining are shown - whoever has the best shown, wins!
 
So for example (where Diamonds = , Spades = , Hearts = , Clubs = )...
 
Hole Cards - A, K
Community Cards - 4, 7, 8, 9, 10
 
Taking the best five cards to make a hand, you can see that you have a Flush - made up of the 4, 7, 9, K, A. The face values have no relevance here, but they are all Diamonds - meaning you have an Ace Flush.
 
Ladbrokes Online Poker Room, as recommended and reviewed by Poker Geezer
 
The Betting...
 
Now that you know the sequence of hands in Texas Hold 'Em and how to deal the cards, it is time to learn how the betting works.
 
Betting takes place before any cards are dealt, then betting takes place after each 'set' of deals - Hole Cards (x2 down), Flop (x3 up), Turn (x1 up), River (x1 up).
 
Before a card is dealt, the persons sitting to the left of the dealer must bet. These are known as the small blind and big blind. The Big Blind is always double the small blind - the dealer will announce how much it should be.
 
Once each player has then been dealt two cards face down (that only they see) the betting starts again. The person to the left of the Big Blind must go first and they have the option of Call, Raise or Fold.
 
To Call - the player will bet the amount the Big Blind bet.
 
To Raise - the player will bet the amount the Big Blind bet, plus more on top.
 
To Fold - the player no longer wants to take part in the hand.
 
Once he has made the decision, it is the next persons turn. Again he must Call, Raise of Fold - and so on for all players. Betting continues around the table until either all players bar one have folded (leaving the pot to the remaining player) or when all players have bet the same amount.
 
Once betting has been completed, the Fold is dealt by the dealer - three community cards, face up so all can see and use in their own hands. Again betting starts, with the person to the left of the dealer starting. This time, the person also has the option to Check - as there is no betting yet, he has decided to let someone else start the betting. If everyone checks, then no chips are put in the middle, the betting is finished for the round and the Turn card is dealt.
 
And so on until all seven cards have been dealt and all betting concluded. Remember that there are two ways to win a hand...
 
1. You have the highest hand of any remaining player once betting has finished after The River.
 
2. All your opponents have folded their hands, leaving only you left.
 

Bet365 Poker Online Poker Room, as recommended and reviewed by Poker Geezer


Of course - these are just the basics to playing poker online - what you need next is the strategy of the game - how to bluff, double bluff, fold at the right time, raise at the right time. Keep coming back to Casino Geezer to read up the very latest tips, tricks and strategies to help you play better at the best uk poker rooms online.
 
Good luck!
 
 
Now find out more about the best uk poker sites to play your favourite online poker games.
 
Want to play at some of the best uk casino sites? Then read our Beginner's Guide to Online Casinos.
 
 

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