Online poker is popular more than ever; people from all over the world are playing poker 24 hours a day. Online poker is still comparatively new, starting in 1998 but really hitting the online industry big in 2005. The nature of online poker is fair – if you’re skilled you can make money, which can be an additional pay check to help you at the end of the month, but if you’re just into poker as a hobby the you can have a lot of safe fun play poker online.
Poker Players
Poker is hot and poker players are now huge celebrities. Poker players playing online poker can range from a beginner to a professional World Series of Poker winner. Poker players now have the ability to join any online poker game at their leisure and according to their schedule of free time. Poker is the ultimate test of skill and can be very unpredictable. Poker has many variations, even though the rules of play and strategy differs, the hierarchy of winning hands remains the same.
Player Etiquette
Players are normally seated according to the order they arrive at the table. At some online poker sites players can upload pictures or images to represent themselves at the table. Whilst playing, players are allowed to take a moment to consider their actions, but are requested to do so in timely manner. Players are asked to check the Sit out Next Hand box if they need to attend to a matter away from their computer. Players that intentionally slow down play will be warned and if such behaviour continues may have their accounts suspended. Players should not endeavour to play when they are tired, upset or drunk.
Free Poker Play
Many online poker rooms also allow the players to play for low stakes (as low as 1¢) and often offer poker free rolls (where there is no entry fee), attracting beginners. Many online poker rooms also provide free money play so that players may practice these skills in various poker games and limits without the risk of losing real money. People who previously had no way to learn and improve because they had no one to play with now have the ability to learn the game much quicker and gain experience from free money play. While the practice of camping players with free meals, hotel rooms, and merchandise is quite common in brick and mortar casinos, online poker rooms have needed to develop new and exciting ways to reward faithful customers.
Rules Of Play
Once you have decided on your game of choice, you need to master the rules. This shouldn’t take too long, especially if you know the basic poker rules beforehand. Once you’re familiar with the rules, you need to formulate a basic poker strategy. Learning the basic rules of poker takes only several minutes and getting used to the flow of poker takes only half an hour or so. The rules are simple but don’t forget that there are many poker variations available online.
Online casino poker players are no longer considered flukes when it comes to winning big money. Online poker players are definitely the new breed of poker players and they are already giving the pros a run for their money. Playing poker online is becoming a popular and acceptable pass time in many parts of the world. Playing online poker is safe as you are in the secure surroundings of you own home and you are not subjected to the dangers of common society.
The Hierarchy of Poker Hands
Interested in gambling online? If so, chances are you might play a hand or two of Texas Hold ’em, made one of today’s most popular poker games because of celebrity tournaments and televised events. Other popular poker games include Five Card Draw and Seven Card Stud. And if you’re going to play the game, you need to know the basics of poker, and that includes the “Poker hierarchy” of poker hands.
Here is the hierarchy of poker hands from highest to lowest:
- ROYAL FLUSH: This is the highest hand you can hold in a straight poker game, and it consists of an Ace, King, Queen, Jack and ten of the same suit (such as all spades or all hearts).
- STRAIGHT FLUSH: A straight (5 cards in a row, such as ten, nine, eight, seven and six) of the same suit.
- FOUR OF A KIND: Four of one card, such as four Queens or four tens.
- FULL HOUSE: Three of one card and two of another, such as three Queens and two tens.
- FLUSH: All five cards are the same suit, such as five hearts or five spades.
- STRAIGHT: Five cards in a row, such as a ten, nine, eight, seven and six.
- THREE OF A KIND: Three of one card, such as three Queens or three tens.
- TWO PAIR: Two pairs of different cards, such as holding both two Queens AND two tens.
- ONE PAIR: Two of the same card, such as two Queens.
- HIGH CARD: Nothing but a single high card, such as one Ace or one King.
Poker hands are typically made up of five cards. From high to low, the cards are ranked Ace, King, Queen, Jack, ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three and two. There is one of each card for each suit (spades, aces, hearts, and diamonds).
