How To Play Online Poker | BettingLadies.com

Online poker sites and casino operators with poker usually provide RNG table games, video poker, and live casino tables for you to choose from.

Whether you’re new to online poker or if you’re just greasing the wheels after some time off, we’ve broken down the basics of online poker for you in this article. We’ve also included a list of BettingLadies.com’s most trusted partners to get you started.

What is online poker?

Poker is a game of both skill and chance, and despite the fact that there are several variations out there, the basic rules remain the same. You’ve got a hand of cards (typically 2 – 5) and the Community Cards, which are the face-up cards the dealer places on the table.

The aim of the game is to create the best hand possible with what you’ve got plus the Community Cards. If you have a good hand, you can call or even raise. Any chips you place on the table are representative of real money, so, just as in a land-based casino, you can win real money if you are successful in collecting the pot. If you think there’s no hope, you can fold without taking any financial risk.

Val C. Martinez

Founder of BettingLadies.com

For those of you who are interested in learning about playing poker face-to-face with other beginners, check out Poker Power. They organize meetups where they teach women how to play poker and how to use that skill in business. Very cool

How to get started with online poker

Ready to dive into online poker? Follow these steps to get started:

Make your first deposit
Fund your casino account and claim any available welcome bonuses to boost your gameplay.
Choose a poker table
Select a table and take your seat. Be prepared to pay a Buy-In fee if required.
Place your first bet
Once the Community Cards are dealt, you can make your first bet.
Continue with the next rounds
The dealer will deal the next card, and you'll have the option to fold or raise your bet.
Final betting round
After the dealer reveals the final card, engage in the last betting round.
Reveal your cards
All players reveal their hands, and the one with the best hand wins the pot.

Rules of poker online

The goal in online poker is to win the pot, which you can achieve by creating the best hand or bluffing so your opponents fold. Once you have your cards, you can decide whether to make a bet or pass. The dealer will then reveal the second card, giving you the chance to call or raise. During the final round, the third card is revealed, leading to the last betting opportunity. Finally, all players who haven't folded reveal their hands, and the player with the best combination wins the pot. While the rules may seem complex at first, they become intuitive as you gain more experience in the game.

Poker terms

Part of learning how to play online poker is learning the jargon. Knowing what’s what helps you understand what other players are doing, and, more importantly, what actions you are able to take to improve your hand or win the round. This is why we’ve included a list of common online poker terms. Keep in mind that this is just to help you get started – there’s much more for you to learn out there.

Action	One’s turn to act during a hand.
All-In	A bet where players put all their chips into the pot.
Blind	The player sitting directly to the dealer’s left or right.
Bluff	To pretend players have a better hand than they actually do.
Bubble	A tournament term to describe the person who just missed a prize. For example, if there were 50 prizes and Charlene finished 51st, Charlene is the bubble.
Buy-In	The amount players need to pay to participate in the online poker tournament.
Call	To put in the minimum amount of chips necessary to stay in the game.
Check	To pass the turn for that round.
Draw	Calling or raising during a round in the hopes of collecting the cards required to complete the current hand.
Fold	To give up and end the round while losing any bets previously placed.
Limit	A game structure where there is a maximum bet and raise.
No-Limit	A game structure with no maximum bet and raise.
Pot	The center of the poker table that contains all the bet chips.
Raise	To bet more than the minimum amount required to play, thus forcing other players to call in order to continue.
Sit Out	When players choose to leave the table for a few rounds.
Split Pot	When the final pot prize is split between two players due to identical hands.

Poker hands

Now that you’re familiar with the jargon, it’s time to have a look at the types of hands you can win with. We’ve listed them in the descending order, meaning the Royal Flush is the highest possible hand you can have.

Royal Flush	10-J-Q-K-A of the same suit
Straight Flush	Five cards of the same suit in consecutive order (for example: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 of diamonds)
Four-of-a-kind	Four of the same card value (for example: eight of diamonds, eight of hearts, eight of spades, eight of clubs)
Full House	One pair together with three-of-a-kind (for example: King of hearts, King of clubs, three of spades, three of diamonds, three of hearts)
Flush	Five non-consecutive cards of the same suit (for example: three of hearts, eight of hearts, Queen of hearts, two of hearts, Jack of hearts)
Straight	Five consecutive cards of different suits (for example: seven of hearts, eight of diamonds, nine of clubs, ten of hearts, Jack of spades)
Two Pair	Two pairs of the same card value (for example: Jack of hearts, Jack of clubs, 8 of hearts, 8 of spades)
One Pair	One pair of the same card value (for example: Queen of spades and Queen of diamonds)
High Card	Five unrelated cards of different suits (for example: K of spades, 7 of hearts, 6 of clubs, 8 of spades, Q of diamonds)

Different types of online poker

Poker has developed plenty over the years, which means that you’ve got a world of variations to choose from. Depending on the online casino you sign up to, you’ll find different games in the table game, video poker, and live casino sections.

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the most popular online poker variants:

Texas hold’em

As the most popular variation of poker, you’ll find texas hold’em at all the best online casinos in the us in both regular table game format as well as in live casinos. You’ll play with five cards and the rules are quite simple, which makes drastic changes in the stakes quite common. Some of the game’s features include turn, flop, preflop, blinds, river, and showdown.

Omaha hi-lo

Two or more players participate in the omaha hi-lo poker variants. The objective remains the creation of the best hand in order to take the pot. A counts as both the highest and lowest value in this game, which can change your hand in an instant. Omaha poker comes in other variations like omaha 8-or-better and omaha high. Each version has its unique rules and features.

7-card stud

You’ll typically find between 2 and 8 players on this version of online poker. The game is divided into four sections: the setup, the bring, betting rounds, and the showdown. You won’t find any community cards when playing 7-card stud. Another difference from classic poker is that 7-card stud uses ante and bring-in bets instead of blinds.

5-card draw

As the simplest form of poker, 5-card draw is what we recommend beginner players start off with. The aim, as in any poker game, is to create the best hand possible. You’ll be given five cards that you can discard and exchange by drawing from the top of the deck. Since there is only one round, you can only do this once. Players then reveal their cards and the best hand takes the pot.

Online poker tournaments

Many players in the US enjoy participating in online tournaments, which is why you’ll find them at many online casinos. You’ll find plenty of different types, some of which we’ve listed below for you:

Feature	Definition
PKO (Progressive Knockout)	A bounty tournament that adopts a knockout structure. So if Denise is knocked out when playing against Laura, Laura collects half the bounty and receives the other half as an add-on to her own bounty.
Sit ‘n Gos	These tournaments can be in single-table form (STT) or multi-table form (MTT). The starting point is when all seats have been filled. Sit ‘n Go prize pools are typically divided between 10% and 20% of competitors.
Bounty	A tournament where a percentage of your original buy-in goes towards the final prize pool.
Rebuys	Tournaments that allow you to purchase new chips when yours finish. You can also top up your chips at set intervals.
Freezeouts	Tournaments that end as soon as players run out of chips.

Top tips for online poker

Although there is no magic formula that will help you win at online poker, there are a few things you can do to improve your odds.

Eliminate distractions

Remove your social media notifications, close your chat apps, and switch the TV off. You want to be totally focused on what’s going on in the online poker game as it’s not just about what you do, it’s also about what other players do, and you want to be totally focused.

Start with low stakes

This tip is especially good for beginners as low stakes allow you to learn by doing. You’ll familiarize yourself with the rules and you’ll pick up tricks along the way. Online poker works differently to in-person poker, so you’ll want to get used to the software before going all-in.

Know when to fold

Recognizing when it’s the end of the line is a crucial part of online gambling in general. Do not keep raising if you have an impossible hand. Save your chips for when you have a better hand and thus a better shot at winning the central pot.

Key things to note about online poker

Many online casinos in the United States offer players the opportunity to participate in poker tournaments. These tournaments come in various forms, so it’s important to review the rules and check for any buy-in requirements before committing.
You can win real money when playing online poker. Every real money bet has the potential for a payout. While there is no guaranteed way to win, implementing a strong strategy and understanding when to call, raise, or fold can improve your chances.
The best online poker variant depends on your preferences. For beginners, 5-Card Draw is often the ideal starting point as it’s the simplest version. Players are dealt five cards, which they can exchange once before placing their final bets.
Online casinos in the United States frequently offer bonuses specifically for online poker. These bonuses can be used to explore different poker variants, helping you decide which one to play for real money.
Online poker differs from land-based poker in its speed, timing, and use of software to manage the games. However, the basic rules of the game remain the same, whether you’re playing online or at a physical casino.