Poker is certainly one of the most popular online casino games. Initially known as Poque, it was firstly played by some French men in the early 1800’s in America. There are tens of online poker variations, Texas Hold’em being the one played and known all over the world. The basics and rules are easy to learn, and becoming a skillful online poker player does not require too much efforts either, just the development of some specific tactics, skills and strategies. But before all this, being familiar with the basic terms like “river, turn, flop, big blind, small blind or showdown” is necessary to start playing poker online.

Usually there are eight or nine players at a poker table. Before the cards are dealt the two players next the dealer have to place the small blind and big blind, these being the initial bets. Poker is played with chips, all of them replacing money, which is put into the pot. In every case the small blind is the half of the big blind’s amount, determined at the beginning of the game. After these blind bets players are dealt two cards faced down, which can be seen only by them. According to your hand you can bet, fold or raise the bet. When someone raises every player who wants to stay in has to raise, otherwise they have to fold, leaving their previous bet in the pot. If no one raises the bet you can check waiting for the community cards. This initial part of the game is called pre-flop.

After a card is burned the dealer turns up three community cards called the Flop. These are community cards, because everyone can combine them with their two cards to get a winning hand. The next decision is made by the small blind that can check, raise or fold his card. Then the betting goes around again. After the checking, raising, folding and burning another community card is dealt, the Turn. 

The River is the last community card after which the final round of betting begins. People will show their cards and the one having the strongest hand wins the pot. The only way winning a hand besides everyone folding instead of you, is in showdown. You can have a combination of five cards by using three from the five community cards and your two initial cards. The combinations and strengths of the hands are the following: High Card, One Pair (two 8), Two Pairs (consists of two pairs like aces or sevens), Three-of-a-Kind (three cards of the same kind), Straight (there are five cards on a sequential run), Flush (five cards in the same suit), Full House (consists of a Pair and a Three-of-a-Kind combination), Four-of-a-Kind, Straight Flush (cards of the same suits in a flush ) and the bets one and the rarest Royal Flush.

These combinations might seem hard to learn at fist but after a short time of routine and continuous play you will know them. These basics are not hard to acknowledge and after a short period of learning you will be able to develop strategies, tactics and your bluffing to become a good online Texas Hold’em poker player.

Don't Gamble away your fortune! Don't play with money you can't afford to lose!