Contents
Poker Fundamentals
Hands and Hand Rankings in Poker
Dealers and Dealing
Betting
Winning the Pot
Basic Poker Game Variations
General Poker Strategy
Five-Card Draw and Variations
Seven-Card Stud and Variations
Texas Hold’em and Variations
Where to Play Poker
Tournament Poker
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Where to Play Poker
Most people play poker at home, in a casino, or online.
Playing Home Games
The rules and variations used by different hosts for regular home games vary widely. If you’re new to a home game, get all the information you need regarding:
- Types of games to be played
- Number of games to be played
- Amount of the buy-in
- Whether re-buy-ins are allowed
- Minimum bets and raises
- Limits
When playing a home game, it’s considered polite to bring your buy-in in small bills, which make payouts easier at the end of the game. Always bring cash.
Playing in a Casino
At casinos, poker is a business, so the rules are stricter. The casino probably has posted rules, either on site or on its website. Familiarize yourself with the rules before attending, or ask the dealer to explain them before playing.
The presence of a professional dealer is a major difference between home games and casino games. Though the casino’s dealer always deals the cards, the role of “dealer” (which affects who bets first or puts in the small or big blind) still rotates around the table. Make sure to tip the dealer a few dollars or chips when you leave.
Online Poker
Online poker has grown enormously popular. It allows devoted poker players to play at any time without having to leave home. Online poker also provides novice players with a great learning environment:
- Structure: The software that powers most online gaming sites provides structure that real-life poker lacks. For instance, the software typically prompts you each time you need to play. When it’s your turn, it also presents you with all of your possible moves. In live games at home or in a casino, you yourself have to recognize what all your possible moves are.
- Low cost: If you want to learn poker without spending much money, online poker is the way to go. Many online poker tables are free or very inexpensive, with antes as low as two cents.
Online poker sites also have higher-stakes tables, with antes of $10 or even much higher. If you want to improve your poker skills, it’s important that you move up to these tables only after you get comfortable on the low-stakes tables. Higher-stakes tables generally have better players, and low-stakes poker is often played differently from high-stakes poker. Since low-stakes players have less money on the line, they often play a looser game, playing hands that they probably shouldn’t because they don’t really care if they lose. High-stakes poker is usually played tighter: players are more conservative about what hands they’ll play and therefore fold more often.
Choosing an Online Poker Site
There are hundreds or even thousands of online poker sites. Take some time to evaluate them before deciding on one, since they can vary in a number of ways:
- The number of tables available
- The amount of bonus money you can earn by joining or referring others
- The number of free tournaments offered
- The types of games available
- The experience level of other players
- Payment options
- The rake (the percentage the site takes from each pot)
Before you decide to sign up with any online poker site, search online for reviews of the site. And if you have friends who play online poker, get recommendations from them. Since you’ll most likely have to provide your credit card information to whichever site you join, it’s important to do your homework first and make sure the organization
is reputable.
| Acknowledgments & Disclaimer |
