Online Poker

Poker Basic Rules

Knowing the basics of poker—such as hand rankings, key terms, and how each round progresses – is useful for both playing against other players and playing against the dealer. Logically, it is more important with poker versus other players due to the time limit and the tension that comes with these games.

Winning Poker Hands

The most important thing to know about online poker is what combinations of cards will result in a win. While most games will tell you if you have a winning card combination, they don’t tell you how these hands stack up against one another. Entering the showdown with the dealer with a weak hand may result in a loss for you because they have a better card combination.

The list below contains all winning poker hands, ordered from strongest to weakest.

1. Royal Flush – A, K, Q, J, and 10 with the same suit (ex: ♠A, ♠K, ♠Q, ♠J, ♠10)
2. Straight Flush – five cards in a sequence that share the same suit (ex: ♥J, ♥10, ♥9, ♥8, ♥7)
3. Four of a kind – four cards with the same rank (ex: ♠Q, ♥Q, ♦Q, ♥Q, ♣5)
4. Full House – a three of a kind and a pair (ex: ♥K, ♠K, ♣K, ♦7, ♠7)
5. Flush – any five cards in the same suit but not in sequence (ex: ♣J, ♣10, ♣5, ♣3, ♣4)
6. Straight – five cards in a sequence with different suits (ex: ♠3, ♣4, ♦5, ♥6, ♣7)
7. Three of a kind – three cards with the same rank (ex: ♦J, ♣J, ♣J, ♦7, ♥3)
8. Two pair – two cards of one rank and two cards with another (ex: ♠K, ♦K, ♥3, ♦5, ♣5)
9. Jacks or better – a pair of Jacks, Queens, Kings, or Aces (ex: ♠J, ♥J, ♦4, ♣3, ♠6)
10. Pair – two cards of the same rank (ex: ♠6, ♣6, ♦7, ♦3, ♥4)

Poker Terms

Online poker uses a unique lingo. When coming across these terms for the first time, they may catch you off guard. Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about that. We’ve assembled all the terms you need to know to play online poker and their meanings right here.

• Ante – the initial bet you place to start the round.
• Bankroll – the total amount of funds you have set for playing poker.
• Call – committing to your hand by placing another bet down.
• Community cards – the five cards placed in the middle of the table that both dealer and player can use to form winning hands.
• Dealer – the person who deals the cards. Usually a computer, unless you’re playing a live casino variant of online poker.
• Deuce – nickname for a card whose rank value is two.
• Downcard – cards that are only visible to the person holding them.
• Face cards – cards whose artwork contains a picture of a face: Jacks, Queens, and Kings.
• Fold – surrendering early in the round.
• Hand ranking – refers to the strength of one hand compared to another.
• Hold’em – the most popular type of online poker.
• Jackpot – a large payout, usually tied to a side bet or a lucky card draw in some online poker games.
• Limits – the minimum and maximum bets you can place at a specific poker table.
• Omaha – popular poker variant that deals four cards to the player and dealer instead of two.
• Push – you receive the money you wagered back.
• Quads – the unofficial name for a four of a kind card combination.
• Rank – the value of a specific card or number.
• Sequence – ordering the cards in a sequential rank.
• Stud – poker variant where players are dealt a mix of upcards and downcards.
• Suited – a starting hand where both cards share the same suit.
• Upcard – cards that are visible to everyone on the table.
• Variant – a poker game with slightly changed rules while retaining the same gameplay.

Poker Betting Rounds

While most online poker games simplify betting rounds, some stick more closely to how things are done at land-based casinos. In such games, you will have four betting stages during which you can call, fold, and more.

1. Preflop indicates all bets you place before the round begins, such as the Ante bet.
2. The Flop reveals the first three community cards.
3. The Turn reveals the fourth community card.
4. Finally, the River reveals the fifth and final community card.

Most online poker table games you will come across will have the Preflop and Flop stages, while the Turn and River are combined and mark the end of the round.

Online Poker vs. The Dealer

At first glance, online poker table games work the same way as real-life oijer. You receive several cards and try to create the best possible hand with them. However, there are some differences between online and land-based poker worth mentioning. The biggest of them is the role of the dealer.

In land-based poker, you play against other players, trying to bluff and luck your way to the top. Online poker simplifies things and you play against the dealer. On one hand, that makes it a bit easier and more accessible, as you only have to worry about the quality of your hand. However, many die-hard poker fans adore the player vs. player aspect of the game.

Another upside is that online poker versus the dealer is more convenient for players. These games are available at all times. In addition, they use the RNG which determine the results of every round, which means that outcomes are completely random and unbiased. Many games also have helpful indicators which tell you what kind of hand you have. If you’re new to poker, this feature will be useful while you’re getting your bearings.

In recent years, we have also seen the rise of live dealer poker games. A real-life host deals the cards in these games, and players virtually decide how to proceed with the round. It provides an excellent middle ground between online and land-based poker, although you still play against the dealer.

Popular Game Types

While most poker games follow the Casino Hold’em ruleset, this isn’t the only type of poker out there. Countless poker variants exist, with slightly changed rules that shake things up while still retaining the gameplay we know and love. Below, we’ll outline the top 5 poker variants available at regulated US casinos.

Let It Ride

Let It Ride is a poker-based game where the goal is to form a 5-card hand using the 3 cards dealt to you and 2 community cards placed face down. A round begins with players placing 3 bets of equal size, after which the dealer draws the cards as mentioned above. Then, you have the option to pull back your first bet or let it ride.

Pulling back your bet puts that wager back into your balance. Meanwhile, letting it ride will keep the money on the table, to be won or lost. Once you choose, the dealer will reveal the first community card. The game will then ask you whether you want to pull your second bet back or let it ride before showing the second community card.

The round ends when all the cards are visible. You will receive the appropriate payout if you form a viable poker combination. Stronger poker hands will pay more, enticing you to try your luck instead of pulling bets back.

3 Card Stud

3 Card Stud is a poker variant that does away with community cards altogether. As its name suggests, it’s a 3-card poker game, meaning fewer card combinations to keep track of.

At the start of the round, players have to place money on the Ante bet. After pressing the Deal button, the dealer will draw 3 cards for both you and themselves. You can see your cards, but theirs are placed face down. From here, you’ll be prompted to either Play or Fold. Folding ends the round early while Play forces you to place another bet down that matches your Ante wager.

The host will then reveal their 3 cards. If they have a Queen High or better, they qualify, and the showdown begins. If the dealer does not qualify, you win on your Ante bet while the Play wager is pushed. In the case that both you and the dealer have valid hands and yours is better, you will receive a payout for both bets you played.

You can also wager on the Pair Plus side bet, which pays if you get a pair or better. The side bet grants a cash prize regardless of whether you win or lose the main round. Additionally, your Ante bet will receive additional prizes if you score a Straight, Three of a Kind, or a Straight Flush.

Four Card Poker

If trying to line up three cards isn’t your favorite way to play, then Four Card Poker might be more up your alley. In this game, your goal is to get the best possible 4-card poker hand out of the five cards dealt to you and have it beat the dealer’s best hand.

Every round starts with the Ante bet, after which all the cards are dealt. Players will get 5 cards they can see, while the host receives 6 cards. The first card the dealer places on their side of the table is visible to the player, while the remaining five sit face down. Players then have to decide to Play or Fold. Interestingly, if you draw 4 Aces, the Fold button is disabled because you cannot lose.

Your Play bet can be 1x the value of the Ante or 3x the value, depending on what you choose. If you have a strong hand and you’re confident that you’ll win, betting more here isn’t a bad idea. After the Play bet is placed down, the dealer will reveal the remaining five cards. The two hands are compared, and the more valuable one takes home the prize.

The game also offers an optional Aces Up wager, which only becomes available after you place an Ante bet. It checks whether you got a pair of Aces or better and awards an appropriate payout. Aces Up grants its cash prize regardless of whether you Play or Fold on your main bet. Four Card Poker also increases your Ante bet payout if you get a Three of a Kind, Straight Flush, or Four of a Kind hand.

Mississippi Stud

Unlike most games where you face off against the dealer, Mississippi Stud just tasks you with getting the correct card combinations. It’s also much closer to the way you play poker in land-based venues, with separate Play bets after each community card draw.

You will receive 2 cards after placing the Ante bet and hitting Deal. At the same time, 3 community cards will be drawn in a facedown position. At that point, you move on to the 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th Street bets. If you decide to Fold, the round ends early, and you can move on to the next one. If you want to keep playing, you have to place a separate bet for every Street. You can choose to match your initial Ante, or you can decide to double or triple it.

The dealer will flip over 1 community card after you place a bet on the 3rd Street. You then repeat the process of either betting or folding until the fifth card is revealed. At that point, you will either win the round or lose all your bets. The prize you get is determined by the paytable visible on the left side of the table.

An exciting addition to Mississippi Stud is the 3 Card Bonus optional side bet. It pays based on the three community cards that are revealed throughout the round. To win the 3 Card Bonus, the community cards must reveal a Pair or better.

I Luv Suits Poker

I Luv Suits Poker is a unique brand of poker where the player and dealer compete to get the best Flush hand. Players and hosts each receive 7 cards to make landing Flushes easier. Unlike traditional poker, where a Flush demands at least five cards with the same suit, here even two cards with matching suits count as a Flush.

You place the Ante bet and have the option of wagering on Flush Rush and Super Flush Rush side bets. After pressing the deal button, both sides get 7 cards. The dealer’s cards are not visible to the player. You can then choose to Fold or Raise, with the latter placing an additional bet. The extra bet will usually be 1x your Ante, but you can choose to have it be 2x or 3x your Ante if you have a 5 or 6-card Flush, respectively.

After the extra bet is placed, the dealer’s cards are revealed. The host only qualifies if they have a 3-card Flush with a 9 high. If they do not qualify, the Raise bet is pushed, while the Ante bet wins. Otherwise, either the player or dealer will win the round. In case of a tie, both the Ante and Raise bets are pushed.

The Flush Rush and Super Flush Rush side bets pay based on the player’s longest Flush, regardless of whether they choose to Raise or Fold. The Flush Rush grants a cash prize if you score a 4-card Flush or higher. Meanwhile, the Super Flush Rush requires a 3-card Straight Flush, meaning the Flush cards have to be in sequential order.