The Complete Online Poker Guide for 2023

Texas Hold ’em is today the most popular poker variant, although the game itself goes way back to the start of the eighteen century. The story starts in France in the 1700s, although variations of the popular game exist in Chinese and Persian history. Its original name was Poque, but over time it changed to Poker.

When talking about modern gambling games, we notice two things. First, they were created in Europe, or the European Union, to be precise. Secondly, all of them reached the US thanks to settlers from the region. Poker is no exception, as it reached the States by travellers from France during the American Civil War. It didn’t take long to become popular across the country, with new versions, such as Draw & Stud Poker, quickly emerging.

Texas Hold ’em first appeared in the early twentieth century in Texas. Unfortunately, it took another fifty years for the game to become popular. The Golden Nugget casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, introduced Texas Hold ’em in the late 1960s, while the first competition was organised by Dune Casino two years later. Its popularity never stopped growing, and the rest is history.

With the game becoming increasingly popular, the Binion brothers acquired the Gambling Fraternity Convention and turned it into a massive event. Over the years, it has turned into the world's biggest poker event! When they gave Texas Hold'em the centre stage nearly half a century ago, no one could have known the move would make history.

The event was named the World Series of Poker and was televised across the country. Texas Hold'em gained the status of the ultimate poker variant, with the internet giving it global popularity and recognition. Now, billions of poker lovers worldwide can enjoy this variant on a regular basis.

Blinds: Two players must put forward obligatory bets. The rule itself applies to the players on the dealer's left side. The player sitting next to the dealer places a small blind, while the one located two places to the dealer's left places a big blind.

Bluff: The player bets on a weak hand, trying to force the opponents with stronger hands to quit.

Buy-in: This is the minimum amount of chips a player needs to take part in a game.

Community Cards: During a game of Texas Hold'em, all players have access to five cards. These cards are dealt face up.

Flop: It's the first match where three community cards are dealt face-up.

Flush: Five cards of the same suit.

Hole Cards: Cards dealt with other players.

Pair: Two cards worth the same, for example, two Kings or two threes.

Pot: Potential winnings in a hand.

Rake: A commission taken by the house from each pot.

River: The last community card dealt in a game.

Round of Betting: The player chooses a move at the beginning of each game. There are four options: check, raise, call, and fold.

Royal Flush: The best hand in Poker, although the least frequent one. It includes a flush with an Ace or higher.

Straight: Five cards in consecution, belonging to any suit.

Trips: A Three-of-a-kind combination.

Turn: The fourth community card in dealing order.

The action starts with the dealer or the player shuffling a standard deck consisting of fifty-two cards. The player sitting two places to the dealer's left places a big blind, typically the lowest bet.

The player next to the dealer's left plays a small blind, usually worth half of the lowest stake. Then, the dealer gives two cards to everyone participating in the game, opening from the player on his left.

The game starts with the player who placed the big blind and played in a clockwise direction. Players have several options. They can increase the size of the pot or call to match the maximum stake. Once the maximum bet is reached, a player can choose to check. If the player's cards aren't good, he can fold, quitting the game.

Round two starts with the dealer awarding the first three community cards. The fourth one is dealt in the next round, while another betting round follows.

Lastly, the river is awarded in the final round, and after all, bets are placed, players will reveal their cards.

If two players stay in the game, the dealer will reveal the fifth community card to determine the winner. The player with the best five-card hands wins the game.

Below is the worth of Hand, listed from high to low:

Royal Flush: Straight Flush with Ace and higher

Straight Flush: Five cards of an identical suit in a row.

Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same worth, plus an odd one.

Full House: Three cards of the same worth, along with two odd ones.

Flush: Five cards of the same suit.

Straight: Five cards in a row of different suits.

Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same worth.

Two Pairs: Two pairs of the same-valued cards, plus an odd card.

Pair: Two cards of the same worth.

High Card: If no one gets a Pair or higher, the player with the highest cards wins.

We have collected some of the most useful tips and advice to help you become a seasoned online casino poker player. Therefore, if you are new to poker, read on and follow the guidelines we have prepared for you.

Know the strongest poker hands in your game

Knowing if you have a winning or a losing hand can help you decide how to play the game. If you recognise that you have a weak hand which is not a winner, folding and starting again is the best decision.

Learn about payouts for every winning hand

You shouldn’t always look for hitting the biggest hand. If you collect winnings constantly with weaker hands might be the best poker strategy in the long run than playing risky, hoping to scoop a big pot win.

Learn different poker strategies

If you’re new to the world of casino poker, make sure to get familiar with different gameplay and betting strategies. This can help you identify essential hands and offer assistance when playing others. These strategies are great for improving your poker skills, although they don’t guarantee a win.

Knowing when to raise

When playing Caribbean Stud Poker, it’s recommended to raise your hand if you have a pair or higher. If your hand is weaker, it’s better to fold.

Understanding the fluctuation of win values

A winning hand in Cyber Poker doesn’t guarantee you’ll actually win money. If the dealer’s hand fails to qualify, you won’t be able to make the most of the payout potential.

Winning one hand may not be enough

Pai Gow is a poker variant where you have to make two hands. To beat the dealer, both of them must win.

New players should avoid playing HORSE

HORSE is a collection of games played in a rotation. If you want to be good at it, you’ll have to learn the following games: Fixed Limit Hold ’em, Razz (Seven Card Stud Low), Fixed Limit Omaha (High/Low), Seven Card Stud (High/Low), and Seven Card Stud (High).