Online poker combines a strategic card game with the instant accessibility of online gaming. Players bet, play, and discard cards in an effort to get the highest-ranked hand, all while enjoying the comfort and convenience of digital entertainment. In this guide, you'll find the rules and strategies that you need to know to start playing, the factors to consider when choosing a casino, and tips on how to make your experience even more pleasant.
✓ Very popular among casinos
✓ There are live dealer options
✓ Has many different variations
✓ There are many poker tournaments
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Online poker is the digital version of traditional land-based poker. The game uses a standard deck of cards, with players dealt hands to compete for the strongest card combination. The player with the best hand wins the round. How to do that? Well, player needs to form combinations of their cards and cards on the table.
Poker is a complicated game tied to mathematical probabilities. Thus, every player who wants success needs to constantly think about his opponents’ hands and try to define how high the chance of them having a certain combination is. Another important factor that spices up poker matches is bluff. Poker works the way any player can make a bet, trying to pretend that he has a strong hand, even if he doesn’t. This makes games much more exciting, as even if you have the worst cards ever, you can deceive your opponents and steal some of their chips.
As we mentioned, there are many different online casino poker games. They slightly differ in the rules, but the game’s main goal stays the same: to make a combination stronger than your opponent’s. Below, we listed the poker variations so you can choose the one that best suits you.
It's a classic poker game featuring two cards in the player’s hand (known as "hole cards") and five cards on the table. In this game variation, bets will be placed each turn by calling, raising, folding, and checking. While it can be a game of luck, it's also a game that requires some skill and strategy.
3 Card Poker is a completely different variation of the game with some new combo possibilities. When you play 3 Card Poker, you are competing against the dealer's hand, not other players. This, combined with the game's limited strategy, higher house edge, and fewer opportunities for bluffing, may make it less interesting or challenging for more experienced players looking for a deeper and more complex poker experience.
During the Five-Card Draw match, no cards are on the table, and each player is dealt five cards. The game has the same tempo as the Texas Holdem, with similar betting options. It's considered to be one of the simplest poker variations.
The main distinct difference between classic poker and Omaha high/low is that during Omaha, each player gets four cards. In the end, the prize pot is divided between the best hand for high and low. While it may be more complex and difficult to learn than some other forms of poker, it also offers more opportunities for winning and a wider variety of strategic options. However, the higher variance, limited popularity, and reduced effectiveness of bluffing may make it less appealing for some players.
In a Seven-Card Stud, all players are dealt three cards, with one card face up. Gameplay then continues with exciting discarding phases and all-in games. Please note that the slower pace, limited popularity, and susceptibility to collusion may be less attractive to some gamblers.
Razz poker is a unique variation of Seven-Card Stud poker in which players try to make the lowest possible hand rather than the highest. In Razz, players are dealt seven cards throughout the game, but only the best five-card low hand determines the winner.
A Horse is considered to be a master poker game. Throughout its duration, you must participate in five different games, including Limit Holdem, Omaha High/Low, Razz, Stud and Stud High/Low. It can be complex, slow-paced, and require a wider range of skills.
Jacks or Better is a poker variation where you play against a gaming machine. Thus, you need to make bets and collect combos, which will multiply your winnings. To win, you need to collect a hand that has at least a pair of jacks. Jacks or Better Poker is a great option for beginners who are just starting to learn poker, as it has a simple and straightforward set of rules and hand rankings.
Caribbean Stud is another form of poker where the object is to beat the dealer's hand. Each player is dealt five cards, the same as the dealer (but with one of their cards face up). Depending on your hand, you must ante (continue playing) or fold your cards. So, the only decision players have to make is whether to fold or play based on the strength of their hand. This makes the game very simple.
As there are so many rules in poker games, hands remain their core part. So we wanted to simplify your gameplay by acquainting you with all of the card combos you can form with your hand and table cards. We will start our list with the weakest combo and move to the unbeatable one.
High Card | If luck wasn’t your companion today, the only play you will have is a high card. Playing around the high card is impossible, as the chances of other players having a stronger combo are pretty high. |
One Pair | One pair is the most basic combo that consists of two cards of the same rank. If two players have a pair, the higher one gets a win. |
Two Pair | As the name suggests, a two-pair combo is when you have a double pair (two eights and two queens, for example). The higher pair cards define the winner in the same way as with one pair. |
Three of a Kind | To form a three-of-a-kind combo, you need to collect three cards of the same rank. It's a pretty tough task and happens not that often. So that is why this combo stands upon simple pairs. |
Straight | To get a straight, you need to form an ascending sequence of five cards. For example, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. |
Flush | To form a flush, your playing hand should have five cards of the same suit. It doesn’t matter in which order they are placed. |
Full House | A full house is basically a combo of one pair and three-of-a-kind. It doesn’t matter what the suits of the cards are. |
Four of a Kind | As you can already guess, a four-of-a-kind is a combo where you collect four cards of the same rank, such as four queens or four eights. |
Straight Flush | A very rare combo where you collect five sequenced cards of the same suit. For example, six, seven, eight, nine, and ten of the clubs would be a straight flush. |
Royal Flush | A royal flush is the strongest possible poker combo, where the player must collect sequenced cards of one suit that go up to the ace. So it should be ten, jack, queen, king, and ace of the same suit. |
Our expert, Charlotte Wilson, prepared a list of the most popular casino online poker options to play in New Zealand. This information will help you to determine which variation suits you best.
The position you take around the poker table plays a significant role during the game process. Depending on what position you play, you might be getting interesting opportunities, which can help you to turn the games around in your favour.
Late position is when your chair is closer to the left corner of the table. This means that your turn comes at the end of the hand. This allows you to make some interesting decisions. If someone passes all around and doesn't want to raise, you may be able to do so. In late positions, it's better to play with a stronger hand (Queens, Jacks, Kings, Aces).
Conversely to the late position, in the early one, your chair will be in the right corner of the table. It means that you will be the one who opens the turn and sets the game’s tempo, and this position is more disposed to the early bluff. But even if you decide to raise the bet at the beginning, you should be ready to call it later this turn after late position plays.
There is no poker game where the player doesn't lose at all. Thus, your bankroll should be ready to take hits and move forward. Later in the game, you will probably recover and return your money once you get a good hand. That is why you should always start your poker match with a solid amount of money, which is essential to a good game.
To succeed in poker, it's important to use a strategy. There are several ways you can play this game. We recommend you implement these strategies to enhance your poker performance and profitability. Let's take a closer look at them.
Of course, poker games are not developed by website owners. Particular companies specialise in developing poker software and selling it to websites. Some of the most popular poker software providers are Evolution Gaming, Playtech, and EvenBet Gaming, while the most popular online poker rooms include PokerStars, GGPoker, 888poker, and PartyPoker.
This live casino provider remains at the top of its game when it comes to online casino poker. Their game collection can be described as the ultimate poker experience, featuring timeless classics, exclusive titles, and progressive jackpots with a pokie style.
Playtech is the world’s largest B2B poker supplier with a big poker portfolio that attracts 500,000 players each month. The provider ensures that players delve into a modern and immersive poker environment, while having a smooth experience across both mobile and desktop platforms.
With over 20 years of expertise, EvenBet is a leading online poker software provider, specialising in turnkey gaming solutions. It offers advanced features across desktop, web, and mobile. Also, EvenBet ensures a seamless and engaging gaming experience for its users.
To summarise everything we mentioned above in this article, we gathered all the advantages and potential drawbacks of online poker for you to see the whole picture and decide whether you want to try playing it at an online casino in New Zealand.
Even though poker is a complex game with tens of elements you should master, there are several main things you should always be thinking of as a beginner to learn how to succed in this game. They are:
Never neglect to try to read your opponents' hands. Many players only focus on the hands they’re involved in, but watching other players’ actions can reveal whether they are bluffing often. This can help you adjust against them later.