How to Play Online Poker – Guide for Beginners

Finally, let’s detail how to play poker for beginners, focusing on the different stages that a regular poker game has. Notice that these apply to the most popular variations that are not too different from the traditional, like “Hold’Em” poker. After all, that is the most relevant format of all, and the one applied in most tournaments and individual games.

• Place Your Bet

As soon as you open any poker game, you can select the chips and place bets by tapping on the table. Depending on the format and your position on the table, you are entitled to place a small or reasonable bet, to begin with. That is your entry. In games in which you play alone, you have nothing to worry about. When there is a full table of poker players online, you may place ante bets like everyone else or be required to place a blind bet, which is bigger, if you are next to the dealer. Once the bets are completed, you receive two face-down cards. Each player has the opportunity to raise the bet or let another player do it – the “check”. If you believe you have a hand that is too weak and do not intend to bluff, you may fold and recover part of your bet.

• Community Cards

The first three community cards are dealt once the first round of bets is over. Those cards, as well as the other two that will be dealt on the table later on, can combine with your two cards to form a five-card poker hand. This is the first moment when you truly realize the capability of your hand when it comes to winning the game or not. At this point, everyone has the chance to make the same possible decisions again.

• The Turn

The turn is the round in which the fourth community card is dealt and shown to all the players. There will be one extra card, so make sure to compare your hand with the four cards available so far and see if the chances of a big hand are relevant. Players take another round of decisions before the next final step, which has the showdown and decision afterward.

• Final Hand

The fifth community card, called “river”, is dealt, and now everyone knows how relevant their possible hands truly are. Remember that you need to use your cards and community cards to form a five-card hand. It is still time for another round, and some players decide to fold at this point if they are not full of hope.

• The End

It is time for the showdown, in which players who decide to stay end up showing their hand and what they form with it. The highest combination of cards according to the ranking of poker hand winds. Now, you know how to play poker!