Online poker

Any online casino will have at least one version of online poker available as it’s one of the most entertaining card games you’ll find online. There are many variants to suit any Indian player’s fancy – including Pot Limit Omaha, Seven-Card Stud, Razz, and Five-Card Draw. However, the most popular variation is Texas Hold’em – perhaps because it’s considered easier to learn – and an entry into the world of poker. In this action-packed table game, every action is a strategic decision based on calculated odds and various information you get from your opponents. Although there’s always an element of luck in any casino card game, poker is mostly a game of skill. It’s not hard to learn, however many agree that it takes a lifetime to master. So if you need more reason to search for online poker india, here are the top reasons to start playing.

Winning opportunities 24/7
Multiple poker variations
Community feeling
Playing from home
Smaller bankrolls possible

How to Play Online Poker

You play Texas Hold’em with a 52-card deck, a stack of chips, and up to nine more players at a table. The aim is to win as many chips as possible, or be the last player standing in a tournament. These poker hand rankings (from best to worst) will determine who wins each pot: Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four-of-a-Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three-of-a-Kind, Two pairs, One Pair, High Card. First, every player gets two hole cards face down, and the first action (pre-flop) starts. You need to decide whether to check (do nothing), bet chips into the pot, raise (bet more chips than your opponent), or fold (give up your hand). The dealer then reveals five community cards – the ‘flop’ (3), ‘turn’ (1), and ‘river’ (1), with players acting at each stage. If you haven’t folded by the river, you get to ‘showdown’ and reveal your cards. A winner is decided based on hand rankings, but you can also ‘bluff’ and steal pots by getting other players to fold better hands.

Online Poker Strategy

The basic poker strategies you’ll come across are ‘Tight/Passive’, ‘Loose/Aggressive’, ‘Loose/Passive’ and ‘Tight/Aggressive’. Aggressive players are usually the ones who start the betting action or raise. They bet often, and they bet big to put pressure on you. This can make opponents fold better hands at times – or even make mistakes. Meanwhile, passive players choose to call rather than raise, following the action instead of leading. If you play ‘tight’, then your strategy is less risky, because you’re probably playing only premium hands, or playing ‘in position’ (last to act), with no bluffs. However, playing ‘loose’ means you’re splashing chips and gambling a bit more. New Indian poker players should adopt a tight-aggressive playing style for better control. However, they should also be able to adjust this style as they go on.

The Odds of Winning at Online Poker

Having a basic knowledge of poker odds will get you further in the game than you would otherwise. Poker odds tell you the probability of winning a hand you’re playing, which helps you make better decisions, both short-term and long-term. To calculate your odds, you first need to know the number of cards in the deck that can help you improve or win the hand – your “outs”. Keep in mind of course, you need to subtract outs that have already been dealt or exposed in the community cards. For example, if you have a draw to a Flush (two hearts in your hand and two on the flop), you have nine cards you can hit to make it. To calculate your winning odds on the turn, you multiply by two and add two. On the river, you multiply your odds by four and add four. So around 40% chance of making your flush by the river. However, there are many cheats sheets and odds calculators you can use to memorise and help make these decisions faster.

Online Poker Dictionary – Get to Know the Lingo

Like any other game, poker has specific terminology which you should be familiar with to keep better track of the game. First off, when the ‘action’ is on you, that means it is your turn to play, so you should decide whether to bet, check, raise or fold. If you “go all-in” then you are betting all your chips into the pot. If you’re playing a tournament, you will have three players who will put chips into the pot no matter what – the “big blind” (full bet for that round), “small blind” (half bet) and the “ante” (size varies). Small and big blinds are usually first to act or “out of position” and hence at a disadvantage as they are playing without information from their opponents. The “button” is an object casinos use to indicate who the “dealer” is at that table – the player before the small blind. Sometimes you’re unlucky and suffer a “bad beat”, and other times you may be so unlucky that no other card in the deck can save you – you’re “drawing dead”. If you’re playing against just one other player – you’re playing “heads up”. And if you have the best possible hand in that round, then you have “the nuts”. If you’re inexperienced, poker players will call you a “fish”, however, if you’re great at it then you would be one to watch out for and called a “shark”.

Different Variations of Online Poker

Texas Hold’em is the most loved variation of the game so you will not struggle to find other Indian players to play with at online casinos. There are two versions: No Limit Hold’em and Limit Hold’em. However, players who are introduced to the poker world by playing Hold’em, often venture into different game variations too – including Pot Limit Omaha, Seven Card Stud and Five Card Draw. In Omaha, you have four hole cards and use only two, plus three community cards. Seven Card Stud is more difficult because some of your hole cards are face up, and Five Card draw has no community cards so it’s a different challenge altogether. Many poker sites will have a good variety of poker games for Indian players.

Considerations Before You Play Online Poker

Keep in mind that to be successful at poker, you need to be good at gathering information and “tells” from your opponents. The key in online poker is being able to narrow down the other player’s range of possible hand combinations. Then make decisions based on your winning chances in that round. Also, players have different styles, so notice any patterns they may have that may give you an advantage later on. Remember that the point is to maximise profits if you have a winning hand and build up a great stack. Or at least, lose the least amount possible if you don’t have a winning hand. Sometimes you can play perfectly and still get unlucky. If this happens don’t get angry – this is called “going on tilt” and it can severely damage your gameplay. Rationalise that you can’t win every pot and better luck next time!