When logging into today’s sterling online casinos, there’s no question that one of the first things you see is the amazing leaderboard showcasing the latest winners, including jackpot winners. Also, these leaderboards showcase many big-time winners who have found success playing online poker games and even many of the big-time tournaments.
There’s no question of all the table games, online poker continues making the biggest leaps and bounds. If you’re new to online poker, relax because you’re in good hands. This guide aims to help all players, especially new poker players, learn the tricks of the trade for an amazing online poker experience.
Understand the Basic Poker Game Rules
Playing online poker offers many more variants than those at a retail casino or even playing with friends. The art of winning online poker is to understand that specific game, like Caribbean Stud, because some of the rules vary. For example, Caribbean Stud, which has roots in the Caribbean Islands and cruise ships, allows members to compete against the dealer, while most poker games, including online ones, feature players competing against other players. However, at the end of the day, the fundamentals of all online poker games remain the same, including the bluff, the showdown, and all the fabulous different poker winning hands like flushes and straights.
Know when to Bluff
Games like Omaha and Texas Hold’em emphasize the art of the bluff. With the bluff, which is how Texas Hold’em is decided, is a player convincing another player that they have a weak hand and to get the other to fold their hand to win. However, there is much more to a successful bluff than just maintaining a straight face throughout playing. The art of the great bluff is the timing of pulling it off. All throughout playing poker, especially with the tournaments, study all the players’ behaviors and mannerisms to help give you a clue about who likely and who likely won’t call your bluff.
Pick the Right Game
Hopefully, it is clear that the key to successfully playing online poker isn’t just studying the rules but which game meets your skill level. Sure, while cable networks like ESPN make it cool to play poker games like Omaha and Texas Hold’em, these games, especially, require a certain skill level.
For beginner poker players, it might be a great idea to get started with video poker. Most new sweepstakes casinos carry video poker games. It’s common to browse in a new social casino lobby and find staple titles like Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild. We recommend learning how to play poker here because video poker functions like slot machines where you can let the computer pick the cards for you.
Video poker plays like five card poker where you are dealt five cards. It’s up to you to decide which cards to keep or throw away to try to build a better playing hand. Of course, you can rely on video poker to do this for you so you can learn from the ground up the poker 101 basics.
Use Sound Bank Management
Of course, before sitting down at any online poker game, we strongly urge you to have a set budget. Having a budget, as well as a hard-playing time limit, can work wonders to help prevent problem gambling.
Please keep in mind that most online poker games aren’t cheap, so you will have to budget accordingly. As an added safety measure, reputable and especially licensed online casinos have a responsible gaming session where you can set hard playing, spending, and even loss limits.
Know When to Hold’em and When to Fold’em
In the famous words of Kenny Rodgers’ iconic song “The Gambler,” as a poker player, “You Need to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold’em and know when to walk away.” If it is clear that it is not your night playing online poker, please don’t hesitate to walk away. As a rule of thumb, don’t chase losses with wild and out-of-control bets.
