There is no such thing as online poker. Poker is, in fact, a genre of games with lots of different variants. Therefore, learning how to play poker online can often be a different experience for players based on their preferred game. Nonetheless, the basics of most poker variants, including the ranking of hands, remain relatively the same, and that is something every poker newbie will need to familiarise themselves with, no matter what game tickles their fancy. That’s what Go Spin is going to focus on today with our beginner’s guide to playing poker online.
Online Poker: Getting Started
Lesson one – online poker isn’t a game but a genre. Before deciding to sit down and play, newbies need to familiarise themselves with the different types of poker games, which we’ll explain later in this guide.
Seasoned pros will fancy their chances at Texas Hold’em, Omaha or Hi-Lo, and these are games played against other players and are often found in bona fide poker rooms or played in tournaments at dedicated sites. That’s not what we’re going to touch on today. Instead, we’re interested in the common online poker games found at online casinos. That’s where all newbies should begin.
Online casino poker games differ from Texas Hold’em. For starters, they aren’t played against other players. Instead, they’re played against the dealer, whether we’re talking about RNG online poker games or live dealer options.
Beginner’s Guide: How to Play Poker Online
Let’s begin our how to play poker online guide by stating the objective: since there are no other players, the sole objective is to beat the dealer, whether that is another human or a program. Amateurs can feel free to tackle real-life human players in online poker rooms as soon as their skills are honed. Start out with the basics, though, which we’ll cover here.
Betting and the Deal
Every online casino poker game will begin with a bet. In most cases, the chips are available on the screen. These can be selected and moved into the designated Ante betting spot on the screen. There may be time constraints when betting if live casino poker games are chosen, but in RNG (random number generator) games, players can take as long as they wish. After betting, the game begins.
How many cards are dealt depends on the variant being played. Five are dealt in stud and draw poker games, just two in Casino Hold’em, and varying numbers in others. No matter the game, the objective is to form one of several official hands detailed below.
The Hands Explained
While video poker games feature unofficial hands, such as an Unnatural Royal Flush and the fabled Five of a Kind, the only official hands needed include the following, in order of strength:
| Poker Hand | Explanation |
| Royal Flush | 10s through Aces, all in the same suit |
| Straight Flush | All cards are in sequential order and in the same suit |
| Four of a Kind | Four cards of equal value |
| Full House | A Pair and a Three of a Kind |
| Flush | All cards are in the same suit, although the sequence doesn’t matter |
| Straight | All cards are sequential, although the suit doesn’t matter |
| Three of a Kind | Three cards of the same value |
| Two Pair | Two sets of pairs |
| Pair | A pair of cards of the value |
| High Card | The highest single card in a hand that is permitted by the game |
The probability of landing each hand will vary depending on the number of decks used in each game. The lowest-ranking hand may also differ depending on the poker variant played. The Royal Flush is almost always the highest-ranking hand in any poker game, though.
Variations on Gameplay
What happens after the deal depends on the game. We’ll cover five of the most common games below and explain how they pan out and how wins occur.
Casino Hold’em
Unlike with Texas Hold’em rules, Casino Hold’em is designed for online casino players and is played against the house/dealer, not other players. Players receive two cards at the start. They can then Fold or Call to continue playing after three Community Cards (shared cards) are drawn. Calling costs double the Ante bet. A further two shared cards are drawn, and bettors must construct a hand using their cards and the Community Cards. The best five-card combo will win.
- Some online casino hold’em games may have other players sitting at the table, and these may either be programs or humans. It won’t matter, though, since their actions, gameplay, and hands have nothing to do with yours.
Caribbean Stud Poker
In Caribbean Stud, the dealer issues five cards to players and keeps five for themselves. After looking at the cards, bettors must choose to Fold or Raise. Choosing to Fold sees the Ante bet lost and any side bet made (more on that in a second). Choosing to Raise requires a bet worth twice the Ante. The dealer must have (at least) an Ace-King or higher to qualify. If not, players receive even money on Ante bets, and winnings on raises will be determined by a paytable. If the dealer qualifies and trumps the player, both bets are lost. If there’s a tie, both Ante and Raise bets push.
- Caribbean Stud Poker can (but won’t always) feature a progressive jackpot side bet. This often costs $1. If the bet is played and the hand matches one of those in the jackpot’s paytable, a prize is paid out accordingly.
Red Dog Poker
In Red Dog, two cards are dealt face up. If the two cards have the same value, a third is drawn. If this is also the same value, the player instantly wins 11:1 or 12:1, or the bet is returned as a push. If they are consecutive, the bet also pushes. If the cards qualify (are neither of the above), the player can choose to Fold (lose their bet), Call or Double. A third card will then be drawn, and if it is ranked between the two cards, players will win the bet. If it isn’t, they lose.
- Playing Red Dog requires bettors to consider “the spread” between the two cards drawn first. If it is a spread of seven or higher, there’s a 50%+ chance of winning. If it is less, the odds of success are reduced. The spread also determines the payout received, which will likely vary from 1:1 to 5:1.
Pai Gow Poker
Players (and the dealer) will be dealt seven cards at the start. These must be split into two hands (a high hand of five cards and a low hand of two). The idea is to form the best two hands possible, but the high hand must always outrank the low one. Upon comparison, if the dealer or the player wins just one of the two hands, the bets push and are returned. If the dealer wins both Pai Gow hands, the player loses their bet. If the player wins both, they’ll receive prizes from the paytable based on the value of their hands.
- Pai Gow Poker may also feature alternative rules. Jackpot Pai Gow and Fortune Pai Gow may have progressive prizes up for grabs, for instance.
Let ‘em Ride
Let ‘em Ride often begins with three bets of equal value and three cards dealt to both the dealer and the player. If they’re happy with their hand, players can “let it ride” by leaving their chips in place. If not, the first bet can be pulled back. If the first bet rides, a Community Card is then turned over before players decide if they want to continue letting the second bet ride. The final bet must remain in place as a second Community Card is revealed. The objective is to form the best five-card hand possible using the three initial cards and the two shared cards. They will then be ranked, and (if the dealer is beaten) any prizes will be paid out via the paytable.
- As with Caribbean Stud, Let ‘em Ride may also feature a progressive jackpot side bet, which can be won based on the initial three-card hand.
Winning Prizes in Poker at Online Casinos
When playing online poker games against other players, everyone at the table must be beaten to see a return. Therefore, winnings will amount to whatever is in the pot. However, when playing most poker games at online casinos, players are only competing against the dealer, so anything won is usually drawn from a paytable displayed on the screen based on the strength of the hand. There are exceptions, though.
Five Top Online Poker Tips for Newbies
Lastly, our gambling experts want to share a few poker tips for beginners. Here are five key things worth considering before betting on poker online:
- #1 If you’re new to poker, we recommend trying video poker first. Players won’t compete against a dealer in those games, and their sole goal is to form a winning hand. We also recommend playing casino poker games for free as demos.
- #2 Understand the difference between online poker casino games and online poker sites. Games at dedicated poker sites feature human players, while most casino poker games are played solely against the dealer.
- #3 Side bets are often available in online poker games. However, Go Spin doesn’t recommend making use of them. They often feature woeful probability and odds.
- #4 Experiment with Stud and Draw games. In draw poker games, hands are concealed until the end, and, in most cases, it’s possible to take (swap out) additional cards.
- #5 Don’t dive into poker gameplay against other players at the start. They may be vastly more skilled. Stick to games against the dealer at the beginning.
