Free online poker - A great opportunity for beginners
When it comes to playing poker online there are many poker variations to choose from. Among all of them the most popular is Texas Hold’Em poker. Televised poker tournaments and the internet have played an important part in boosting this game’s popularity. But there are other reasons why it is such a popular game. First of all the rules are rather simple and it should take you little time to understand them. And if you play a few hands you will definitely understand how the game goes. Although it is a simple game, mastering it will take time and effort on your part.
Texas Hold’Em is a community game. You will be dealt two cards face down, but all the other cards will be dealt face up. Those cards are community cards and all the players at the table can use them to make up the best poker hand that they can. Texas Hold’Em combines elements of stud and draw poker. The main goal of the game is to win the pot. You can do so by getting the strongest poker hand or by buying the pot.
Below you will find a detailed and comprehensive list of all the possible poker hands that you may get. I have started with the weakest poker hand and moved on to the elusive straight flush.
- No-pair or high card;
This is the worst possible poker hand. Let’s say that you have been dealt a Queen and a 7. This means that you have a “Queen high”. Professional poker players call this hand “garbage” because you have little to no chance of winning.
Your Queen high will beat a Jack high. If the other player also has a Queen high, the next high denomination card determines who wins the hand. Say the other player has a Queen and a 9. In this case you have lost.
One of the most promising high card poker hands is Ace-King. This
- One pair;
This refers to when you have been dealt two cards of the same denomination, such as Queen-Queen, or Ace-Ace. One pair will always beat a high card.
- Two pair;
This refers to when you have been dealt two pairs, such as Ace-Ace and Queen-Queen. Two pair beats one pair. If you opponent also has two pair, the player holding the higher ranking pair will win.
Your Ace-Ace and Queen-Queen will beat a 5-5 and 3-3. If the other player also has a pair of Aces, the winner is determined according to the other pair or “kicker”. Say the other player has an Ace-Ace and Jack-Jack. You have won.
- Three of a kind;
This refers to when you have been dealt 3 cards of the same denomination, such as Jack-Jack-Jack. Three of a kind beats two pair.
- Straight;
This refers to when you have been dealt 5 consecutive ranking cards of different suits, such as 2-3-4-5-6. A straight beats three of a kind. If two players have a straight, the winner will be determined according to the high card. So our example 2-3-4-5-6 will be beat by a 3-4-5-6-7.
- Flush;
This refers to when you have been dealt 5 cards of the same suit. They need not be in consecutive order as ong as they are of the same suit. A flush will beat a straight. . If two players have a flush, the winner will be determined according to the high card. If the both players have the same high card, the next high denomination card determines who wins the hand.
- Full house;
This refers to when you have been dealt three of a kind and a one pair, such as 5-5-5-8-8. A full house will beat a flush. If two players have a full house, the highest ranking three of a kind wins. In the eventuality that both players have the same three of a kind, the outcome is determined by the one pair. So our 5-5-5-8-8 will win over a 5-5-5-6-6.
- Four of a kind;
This refers to when you have been dealt four cards of the same denomination, such as 7-7-7-7. Four of a kind will beat a full house. If two players have four of a kind, the higher denomination four of a kind will win. So our 7-7-7-7 will be beat by a 9-9-9-9. But if both players have the same four of a kind, the kicker or the fifth card determines the outcome.
- Straight flush;
This is the strongest possible poker hand. It combines the elements of a straight and a flush. A straight refers to when you have been dealt 5 consecutive ranking cards and a flush refers to when you have been dealt 5 cards of the same suit. In conclusion a straight flush is when you have been dealt 5 consecutive ranking cards of the same suit.
A straight flush will beat four of a kind. If both players have a straight flush, the high card determines the winner.
The only poker hand that can beat a straight flush is a royal flush. A royal flush refers to when you have been dealt a 10-Jack-Queen-King-Ace of clubs.
Two hole cards will be dealt to each player after the blinds bets have been placed. A player will place the small blind and another player will place the big blind. A small blind bet is usually equal in value to half the lower stake. So for a $10 / $20 Hold’Em game the small blind would be $5. The big blind bet must be made by the player sitting to the left of the small blind. A big blind bet is usually equal in value to the lower stake limit. So for a $10 / $20 Hold’Em game the big blind would be $10. The blind will rotate clockwise around the table and each player will have their turn of making this bet.
The first round of betting will now begin. The betting will start from the player to the left of the player that made the big blind bet. If he wants to stay in the game he must call the big blind. His options are to call, raise or fold.
Calling means that you want to place a wager equal in value to the wager placed by the previous player.
Raising your bet means increasing the amount wagered by the previous player. You must call his bet by placing the same betting amount as he did and increase that with and additional raise amount. So for a $10 / $20 Hold’Em game raising means that you will automatically call the previous bet of $10 and place a raise of another $10. You will have to wager a total of $20.
Folding means that you give up on your hand. If you do so you are out of the game and you will lose all your wagers.
All following players will get to call, raise or fold. The player that placed the small blind must make the difference between small and big blinds if he wants to stay in the game. He must also match any raises made by other players.
The last player to bet is the one that made the big blind. He may fold, call or raise. If he decides to raise he cannot do this more than a maximum of three times.
After all the players have finished making their bets it is time for the flop. This is when the dealer will place three cards on the table. These cards are dealt face up and are community cards. Community cards refer to the fact that any player can use community cards to make up a poker hand.
The second round of betting will now begin. The betting will start from the player that made the small blind bet. He may bet or check. If he checks and all the other players also check, no amounts will be added to the pot.
Checking means passing on your turn to bet. You simply do not want to make a bet and you pass. The next player will get to check, bet or raise.
If any player decides to bet, all the other players that checked must call his bet in order to stay in the game.
After all the players have finished making their bets it is time for the turn or 4th street. This is when the dealer will place a forth card on the table, face up.
The third round of betting will now begin. The bets are set to the high limit for the third round of betting. For a $10 / $20 Hold’Em game the high limit is $20.
The betting will start from the player that made the small blind bet. He may check, bet, raise or fold. All following player may check, bet, raise or fold.
After all the players have finished making their bets it is time for the river. This is when the dealer will place a fifth card on the table, face up.
The forth and final round of betting will now begin. The bets are set to the high limit for the third round of betting. For a $10 / $20 Hold’Em game the high limit is $20. The betting will start from the player that made the small blind bet. He may check, bet, raise or fold. All following player may check, bet, raise or fold.
After all the players have finished making their bets it is time to determine the winner. The player with the strongest poker hand will win and get the pot. In the eventuality that there is a tie, the pot will be split equally between the winning players. The round and the hand are over.
There are some aspects of playing poker that are more difficult to master. First of all you should try not to become predictable. So you should constantly change your style of play, even during games at the same table. This way you will not be a predictable player, and that is a good thing. Bluffing is another technique that you can use, but you must know that it is rather difficult to figure out the right time to bluff, and even more difficult to bluff without being called.
Note that there is more to poker that knowing the value of the hands and the rules of the game. So postpone your matches with poker pros for later on when you will be a skilled poker player. Know that you know a few things about poker you should try out your hand. Do this by playing free online poker. This way you can work on your poker skills and not spend a dime. It will prepare you for those real money poker games and will hone your skills.
Although free online poker is a great idea for beginners, there are some drawbacks. People tend to play more loosely since there is no stake in the game. Some players get carried away and bluff way too much. You can spot a bluffer by observing the way other players bet or the time it takes for them to act when it is their turn. If you keep an eye out you will notice any changes in a players betting pattern. That is when you know that player is up to something.
