How to Play Online Poker in 2023

While online poker may appear complex from the outside when you begin to play, it is a straightforward and well-structured game. Here are some of the fundamental rules to keep in mind when seated at a table:

Learn the Card Ranks

In poker, the rank of the cards is determined by their value, with the Ace being the most valuable. The ranking of a standard deck, from highest to lowest, is Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2.

Memorize Hand Ranking

Most poker games require you to complete the highest possible ranking hand to win the pot. Doing this ranks poker hands from strongest to weakest: Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, and a Pair.

How Cards are Dealt

While some Texas Hold 'em is played with two hole cards and Omaha with four, the primary gameplay loop, including how cards are dealt, remains the same.

• Starting to the dealer's left, the players receive their hole cards.
• Then the Flop is added to the table, which consists of three face-up community cards. These community cards are also referred to as Streets.
• The next addition to the community cards is known as the Turn. It is the fourth face-up card and is sometimes referred to as Fourth Street.
• The final face-up community card to be added to the table is called the River, and this card is also known as Fifth Street.

Before each new Street is added to the table, players engage in a round of betting on building the best possible pot while gauging the strength of their opponent's hands.

Understand the Betting Cycle

Poker play is known as an orbit, and each orbit consists of one rotation of play around the table and centres on the dealer button.

• The player to the dealer's left is first up and pays what is known as the Small Blind before any cards are dealt.
• The player on the left of the Small Blind is the Big Blind. The Big Blind is double the value of the small bet and is also paid before any cards are dealt.
• Bets are then placed, moving to the left each time, around the table, till it returns to the dealer, completing one round or orbit.

While most tables have a dedicated dealer, the Big and Small Blinds will move around the table to ensure each player has their turn in the hot seat.

Here is a comprehensive list of the most popular online poker terms you need to know.

All-In – Going 'all-in' is when a player feels confident in their hand to win and bets their entire chip stack.

Bad Beat – When a player with a strong early hand loses to a player based on cards only revealed late in the game.

Big Blind – The betting player is the one seated two places to the dealer's left.

Bubble – In a poker tournament, the Bubble refers to the person who lost out on winning money by one placement.

Call – To bet the minimum stake required to stay in the game.

Check – To pass on raising the current stake while remaining in the game.

Flop – The first three community cards that are dealt.

Flush – Holding a poker hand containing five cards of the same suit.

Fold – When you choose to sit out of a hand of poker after being dealt your cards.

Freezeout – This is a poker tournament that does not offer any rebuys.

Full House - Holding a poker hand containing three cards of the same suit and one other pair.

Gutshot – Also called an inside straight draw, this is a hand where you hold four of the five cards needed for a straight. The missing card value must sit inside the cards you have, not be able to be added before or after them.

Kicker – The card determines who wins when two players hold equal hands.

Limp – A slang term for passive plays like calling when you could raise.

No-Limit – A poker game where players can bet their entire chip stack at any point. Ideally, these tables should only be played by experienced players.

Nuts – Being dealt the best possible hole cards is called getting the Nuts.

Pocket Cards – These are the cards you are initially dealt. In Hold 'em, you will receive two cards and in Omaha, four cards. They are also known as hole cards.

Quads – A slang term for holding four of a kind or four matching cards.

Raise – Increasing the current stakes and this action will force other players to match your stake or leave the game.

Ring Game – A fancy name for a straightforward real money poker game.

River – This is the fifth and final community card to be dealt.

Short Stack - Short-Stack refers to the player with the minor chips at the table.

Sit-and-Go – This poker game starts as soon as enough players are at the table. Sit-and-Go is very popular in online poker.

Slow Play – To play "passively" when you have a winning hand, and the intention is to drive up the pot value.

Small Blind – The bet required from the player seated on the dealer's left to allow them to stay in the game.

Straight – A hand containing five cards in a sequence not but not of the same suit.

Straight Flush – This hand contains five cards in a sequence and of the same suit.

Trips – The slang term for holding three matching cards.

Turn – The fourth community card to be dealt.