Poker is one of the most popular card games of all time. You need to understand a lot, starting from Poker Rules, Hand Rankings, Odds, Top Tips and Strategy. Master Poker with the complete guide from SkyCity Online Casino.
Before we take a deep dive into the complexity of how to play Poker, let us take a step back and look at where this popular card game comes from.
History of Poker
For centuries, card games have been contributing to entertainment. The game of Poker can trace its roots back to as early as the 16th century. The Germans played a bluffing game called “Pochen”, which later developed into a French version called “Poque”.
The game, however, found its way to the United States and made its debut in New Orleans later in the early 1800s. Back then, gaming took place on floating steamer boats, which plied their trade up and down the Mississippi River, and until today, casinos are only permitted if they work from the water.
The game as we know it today has evolved over the decades. For example, in its earliest form, a 20-card pack was dealt evenly amongst four players featuring a much smaller range of bets and hands. Today’s format has far more rules to get familiar with before hitting the tables in your favourite Casino or Online Casino. We have summarised all the essential information to understand how to play Poker.
The Game of Poker
If you want to learn more about the game, familiarise yourself with the basic rules of playing Poker with SkyCity Online Casino. These are easy to understand in theory but hard to master in reality. However, don’t worry; we will break it down into single steps for you. And as poker is no exception, the more you play poker, the better you get.
So be patient, read our “How to play poker” guide further and practice. The progress will come along the way!
Basic Poker Rules
Poker, as such, comes in many different variations. So, we can guarantee you will find the best-suited version for yourself at some point in your journey. Texas Hold’em poker is the most popular variation for players, especially beginners, to get started and understand how to play Poker. Each version has its own set of rules. However, the basic rules of the game are always the same.
Therefore, we’d recommend understanding the value of your starting hand – the two-hole cards a player gets dealt at the beginning of a Flop-style Poker round. Simultaneously, you must master terms like ‘small blind’ and ‘big blind’. These are the forced bets posted by players to the left of the dealer button. Additionally, it would help to become sensitive about when to bet, call or raise. Mastering the basic rules will build a base for your future gaming and winning strategy.
Kick off your Poker journey, and let us walk you through all the essential poker rules to build your beginner skill set by looking into Texas Hold’em Poker variation.
Of all card games played in Live Casinos, besides Blackjack and Roulette, Poker most likely enjoyed the most exposure in Hollywood. Many players got interested due to the glamorous reputation the game garnered. Mainly through luxurious appearances in Movies around James Bond and Monte Carlo. However, Poker can be played socially for chips or little money, or you start a more committed journey by turning your gameplay professional and playing for giant bugs. Whatever your reason is for learning how to play Poker, you can find all you need to know here.
Elevate by Learning Poker Hands
Every poker player once was a beginner. They became professional poker players on their road to success with the right motivation, discipline, and vision. Building the mindset of a winner and poker pro, you’ll need to understand and rule the basics. You also need to master every poker hand.
To reach the next step to understand how to play Poker, you need to memorise each possible poker hand and ideally know them well. While taking in the ten essential 5-card hands and their ranking, arm yourself with a cheat sheet as part of your starter kit. Knowing exactly how to value a respective starting hand will build your confidence to decide what action to take.
Poker Odds
Keep in mind, even though there are plenty of ways to strategise, the game involves a great deal of luck too. As soon as you have basic poker knowledge, aim to explore poker variations further. Focus on improving your understanding of how Texas Hold’em Poker odds work. If you haven’t touched on that subject yet, look at our guide on poker odds, including printable cheat sheets and an odd calculator.
Let’s talk Poker Strategy
Let’s dive into basic poker strategy as soon as you read up on the basic rules, hands, and odds. Whether you are entirely new to Poker or an old-timer, you’ll never be done refining your poker strategy.
Poker might come across as complicated initially. But you’ll know better as soon as you get the hang of it. Playing Poker is not only about rules and mastering a perfect ‘bluffing face’; it’s also about learning how you play in the long run.
Let us give you one piece of healthy advice, expect to lose more often when starting as a Poker player. It is crucial to approach the game with a good portion of realism and balance your gameplay’s fun and excitement.
Especially as a newbie, read up on some valuable strategy tips for beginners.
Up your Game
Like on any other journey in life, there will be a moment when you hit a plateau. You need to analyse your game plan and take the critical steps to improve your poker game to an advanced level.
Especially when playing poker for a while, it is beneficial to build up your knowledge to stay ahead of this competitive game. The competition is wide awake and won’t show mercy. Therefore, we share some of the most vital advanced poker strategy tips to get you to the next level.
Explore Other Types of Poker
Poker has gained a myriad of fans worldwide throughout its long existence. This has naturally resulted in various types of poker. As mentioned, Texas Hold’em Poker is the best known among them. However, let’s not forget about the other variations of this fascinating game.
Stud Poker
Back in the days and before Texas Hold’em experienced a massive boom, 7 Card Stud Poker was the go-to Poker version worldwide. At that time, a professional Poker player was more than just familiar with that game; however, over time, things have changed, especially for Newbies in Poker.
7 Card Stud Poker remains an important version for Poker players, but it’s more common to see this variation played as part of mixed games.
To understand how to play poker, let’s take in the rules of 7 Card Stud Poker.
Omaha Poker
Another poker variation similar to Texas Hold’em is Omaha Hold’em, or just Omaha. When you decide to take a seat at such a table, you’ll be facing the same object as in Texas Hold’em, which is to make the best possible five-card hand.
However, as mentioned earlier, each Poker version has an extra set of rules. In Omaha, players are dealt four-hole cards instead of only two-hole cards; plus, two versions of Omaha are played worldwide.
Why not add some extra thrills to your Poker journey by learning more about Omaha Poker.
3 Card Poker
While it’s common in Poker to play against other poker players, in 3 Card Poker, you’ll be playing against the house.
Should you decide to take your seat at such a table, you’ll sit with multiple players at the same table. You will still play against the dealer’s hand and never against the other players.
This poker version is very straightforward and offers players an excellent opportunity to earn big pots. This popular poker game is easy to learn and counts as one of the most popular among Poker players. Let us walk you through the rules of 3 Card Poker.
Ready to start playing Poker?
After browsing through this How to Play Poker Guide, you are ready to hit the tables and confidently start your Poker journey. There are many poker sites where you can sign up for a private poker room to play games with your friends. Even where you can meet other beginners to practice your new poker knowledge.
Since you have countless options, do your research well to find the right Poker environment. Remember to practice the basics on low-stake tables before moving on to big cash games and tournaments to face the progressive community.
Enjoy the poker ride!
