Useful Tips for Playing Online Poker at Casino Sites
Poker is one of the most popular card games in the world, and it’s a game that you can play against other players or alone.
If you don’t have the time or patience to sit down and spend hours playing poker cash games or taking part in poker tournaments, then you may be interested in playing some of these online casino poker games instead.
Here are some useful tips for playing poker from a smartphone, laptop, desktop or tablet device at today’s best casino sites.
Can I play poker at online casinos?
Yes. You can play several popular poker varieties at hundreds of fully licensed online casinos. Playing poker at an online casino is completely different from playing at a dedicated poker site or a land-based poker venue.
For example, when playing poker at casinos, you only play against the dealer or alone. You don’t play against any other players.
Useful tips for playing poker at online casinos
Anyone can learn how to count cards in poker, but unfortunately, it won’t help you when playing poker at an online casino, especially when playing video poker, where the results/outcomes are determined by computer programs known as Random Number Generators (RNGs).
Some of the most useful tips to remember when you next play poker at an online casino are the following:
- Learn the different winning hands in poker before playing any online casino poker game
- Find out if the game has any optional side bets
- Understand the odds/payouts before placing a wager
- Check your stake before you place a bet
- Concentrate on the action as it unfolds
- Don’t sit there for hours at a time playing poker, and don’t play out of necessity
- If you hit a winning streak, you may want to increase your stake a little
- If you hit a losing streak, perhaps it’s time to reduce the stake or close the game
What are the winning poker hands?
In poker, the winning hand starts from a high card, which usually pays even money (1:1 odds). The next best hand is a pair (a Pair of Aces is the top pair, and a pair or 2s is the lowest valued pair), which also pays even money.
You then have two pair (e.g., 4-4 and Jack-Jack, with any other card), which pays 2:1. Three of a kind (e.g., 7-7-7 and any two other cards) pays 3:1, and a straight (could be 3-4-5-6-7 of ANY suit) pays 4:1.
A flush (any five cards, but must be of the same suit) pays 5:1. You then have a full house (any three of a kind and any pair, for example, 4-4-4-Q-Q) pays 7:1. Four of a kind (any four matching cards, for example, 8-8-8-8+ any other card, or J-J-J-J+ any other card) pays 20:1.
You then have a straight flush (any five cards in a row, and must be the same suit, for example, 7-8-9-10-J of clubs) pays 50:1, and the most valuable hand in poker is the elusive royal flush (10-J-Q-K-A of the same suit), which pays 100:1.
What are the most popular poker games to play at online casinos?
If you’re looking for video poker-style games where RNGs determine fair and realistic outcomes, then you may want to start by playing video poker. You have more time to make decisions, and you are in control of when the cards are dealt.
Some of the most popular online casino poker games to keep an eye out for today include the following great games:
- Lucky Showdown Hold’em Poker from Microgaming
- Aces and Faces video poker from Microgaming
- Heads-Up Hold’em poker from Playtech
- Casino Stud Poker from Play’n GO
- Progressive Jackpot Caribbean Stud Poker from Play’n GO
You have the option of being able to play these games for real money or just for fun in the practice mode. When learning how to play these games, it might be a good idea to practice in the risk-free demo mode until you get good.
If you’re looking for something a little more exciting, then you need to keep an eye out for today’s best live dealer casino poker games, most of which are brought to you by Evolution Gaming, Playtech, NetEnt, and Pragmatic Play.
Examples include Evolution Gaming’s Live Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Live Caribbean Stud Poker and Live Three Card Poker games, and Playtech’s popular Live Casino Stud poker game. These live dealer games are only ever available in the real money mode.
Final note
The thing to remember when playing online poker at casino sites is that once you have mastered the rules of one game and the different winning hand values, you can play any poker game.
In other words, you don’t need to learn any strategies because you aren’t playing against other players, plus you don’t need to know how to bluff, etc.
You only have to carefully think about the bets you are about to place based on the strength of your hand and then hope for the best. It’s much easier playing online casino poker than playing against other people in a real-life poker tournament.
