Ready to learn how to play poker? Whether you want to play online for money at a casino or at home we can show you the basics. From there it will be up to you to practice, practice, practice. Before we get started let me give you a little of my background.
I’ve been playing poker at an online casino for about 5 years. I’m certainly not a professional poker player but overall I win money consistently when playing Texas Hold’em online or at poker night with my buddies. I’ve played poker at Foxwood’s Casino in Connecticut, The Paris in Las Vegas, and in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) at the Rio in Las Vegas. 5 years ago I was exactly where you are today, trying to learn how to play poker. In total I’ve won about $5000 playing online and have funded several of my other hobbies with the cash I’ve won playing Texas Hold’em.
Alright, let’s jump right in with the 5 simple steps on how to play online poker.
5 Simple Steps to Learn How to Play Poker
Step 1: Pick a Poker Game
There are lots of different types of poker. I would recommend you stick with the most popular, Texas Hold’em. That’s where I started and recommend you do the same.
Step 2: Learn the Rules
Once you know what type of poker you want to play, you need to learn the rules on how to play. After reading through the rules it may seem a little confusing, until you actually see a hand or two. However once you see a couple rounds it will make perfect sense.
Step 3: Play Some Poker
Know that you know the rules it’s time to put it into practice. Obviously play with free money, play money, or microblind tables. This step is just to get your familiar with the game and show just how much fun poker can be once you learn how to play.
Step 4: Learn Poker Strategy
With your new found knowledge its time to add some basic poker strategy to the mix. This will give you the edge over your friends or the other clowns playing on the internet.
Step 5: Play More Poker
Now its time to grind out some long hours on the tables and take down some huge pots.
Poker Games
There are several different types of poker. Here are a few of the most popular.
Texas Hold’em Poker is no doubt the most popular game played by poker enthusiasts. It was made popular by the WSOP being televised and hasn’t slowed down sense. It’s played by 2 – 10 players and the rules are simple to learn. The player receives 2 private cards and 5 community cards to make the best hand. The player with the highest hand and the showdown wins the pot. If you want to learn how to play Hold’em poker keep reading.
7 Card Stud is also quite popular. Each player receives 3 cards face down and 4 cards face up. You’ll then make the highest hand using a combination of five of their 7 total cards. Before each hand is dealt an ante is collected from each player and is added to the pot.
Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo is a version of 7 Card Stud with the same exact rules, but each player will create the highest and lowest qualifying hand.
5 Card Draw is the oldest poker game but still one of the best. The game is played with 2 – 5 players. The hand starts with an ante which preceded by 2 betting rounds. Each player receives five cards face down and may return 2 cards to the dealer after the first betting round.
Omaha Hi/Lo is gaining popularity and is a game that is a nice distraction from the rigors of Texas Hold’em. It’s played with each player receiving 4 private cards and 5 community cards face-up. Each player creates the highest and lowest possible hand using any 2 of their private cards and any 3 of the community cards.
Lets check out the rules of the most popular game: Texas Hold’em.
Poker Rules
First things first, you MUST memorize the poker hand rankings. All the games use the hand rankings to determine who the winner of the hand is, so its imperative that you know if you have the best hand at all times.
- Royal Flush: A,K,Q,J,10 all the same suite. (1 in 650,000)
- Straight Flush: 5 consecutive cards of the same suite. (1 in 72,200)
- 4 of a Kind: 4 cards of same rank. (1 in 4,200)
- Full House: 3 of a Kind AND a pair (1 in 700)
- Flush: 5 cards of the same suite (1 in 510)
- Straight: 5 running cards of any suite (1 in 250)
- 3 of a Kind: 3 of the same card (1 in 48)
- 2 Pair:2 cards of same rank AND 2 different cards of same rank (1 in 21)
- Pair: 2 cards of same rank (1 in 2.4)
- High Card: Highest card shown takes the pot!
Best Poker Cards and Chips
There are really only 2 pieces of poker equipment you need to get started. A deck of cards and some poker chips.
So for less than $50 you can start playing poker – bets not included.
