Uncover all the top tips from our casino experts with our Ultimate Poker Guide. Increase your knowledge of which hands are most powerful for winning poker.
Poker remains one of the most popular card games, both online and offline. There are also lots of variations of poker to try your hand at. Let’s assume that you have now got to grips with understanding the game with the help of our experts how to play poker online guide and that you are now ready for a few tips, tricks, and strategies for winning poker.
This guide will take you through the most important strategies and playing tips to help you build your bankroll and play poker like a pro.
Know Your Hands
Like with everything in life that you want to be successful at, you must master the fundamentals first. The hands are mostly standard across all the variations of poker, so once you get to grips with this, you will be winning poker in no time.
- Royal Flush: A hand made up of A, K, Q, J, and 10 in the same suit. This hand cannot be beaten but can be tied.
- Straight Flush: Is made up of any five consecutive cards in the same suit. For example, 5,6,7,8,9.
- Four of a Kind: Consists of four cards of the same kind. For example, A, A, A, A.
- Full House: Comprises three cards of the same kind, plus a pair. For example, A, A, A, K, K.
- Flush: Any five cards in the same suit.
- Straight: Any five consecutive cards not in the same suit.
- Three of a Kind: Is made from three cards of the same kind and 2 unmatched cards.
- Two Pairs: Two pairs of cards and one unmatched card. For example, 9,9,7,7, 6.
- Pair: One pair of the same cards and three unmatched cards
- High Card: If you have none of the above hands, the highest card in your hand will be considered at the showdown at the end of a round.
Strategies & Tips to Help You on Your Way to Winning Poker
- Start with low-stakes games: Lower stake games will allow you to explore your strategies and develop confidence. It will also help you build up a bankroll for larger stake games.
- Become familiar with the online poker game: Learn how to place your bets, what the table bets are, and take your time to get used to the betting controls.
- Keep it simple: Play at a single table with a single hand before moving on to multi-hand games. You don’t want to risk becoming overwhelmed and making poor judgment calls.
- Don’t play every hand: As much as you would like to play every hand, it’s best not to. You must learn to recognise when your hand is not worth betting and potentially losing.
- Know when to fold: There is no shame in folding, in fact, it is a great bankroll management skill. You have the option to bluff your way through a round, but you must decide if it is worth the risk.
- Play excellent hands aggressively: If you are certain that your hand is good, play hard. Increase the bets to increase the betting pool. We do not recommend doing this too often because eventually, your hand will fail and could cost you all your chips.
- Learn the art of bluffing: At some point, you are going to have to bluff, especially if you are playing an online tournament. Only bluff with cards that have a chance of improving and follow through with a slightly aggressive bet.
FAQ
Q: Do all online poker games have the same bet limits?
A: No, each table will have its own set of rules and bet limits. Read through the rules of the game carefully before you start to play.
Q: What are the best three hands I can have?
A: The best hand would be a royal flush, followed by a straight flush and then four of a kind.
Q: How important is learning how to play and practicing my skills?
A: As with any game, practice makes perfect, and poker is no exception. Try out different strategies in online free games before you head to the tables and bet for real.