Online Poker Basic Rules
As mentioned earlier, online poker comes in different variations. Each of these variations has its own rules for how it is played and the moves players can make. However, despite the numerous types, most poker variants have the same basic poker rules. The game’s objective is usually to have the best poker rankings to win.
Poker is a game played between a range of 2 and 14 players, depending on the variation. Players in each game round may place bets to fill the pot, and the poker player with the best hand wins the entire pot. However, it’s worth pointing out that there may be some variations of the game where two or more players may win and share the payout.
Poker Hand Rankings
Hand rankings matter a lot in poker, and some other games, like video poker, also adopt the same rankings. The better your poker hand ranking is, the more likely it is that you will win the game. However, this does not mean players with the best poker hands cannot lose, as it all depends on your gaming strategy. Generally, there are 10 hand rankings that you need to know if you want to learn how to play poker, and we will explain them below.
Royal Flush
A royal flush or royal straight flush is the highest hand you can have in poker. It almost certainly guarantees a win unless your opponent also has a royal flush, which is highly unlikely in poker games. This hand features five consecutive cards of the same suit, starting from 10 to Ace.
Straight Flush
This is the second best hand in poker. A straight flush contains any five sequential cards of the same suit but not a royal flush, such as a hand with 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the same heart suit.
Four of a Kind
Four-of-a-kind is just as it sounds. It is a hand with the same card in all four different suits. An example is when you have a hand with all four aces (Spades, Clubs, Diamonds, and Hearts).
Full House
One of the strongest poker hand rankings is a full house. It is a hand that consists of the same value card in three different suits and a pair of the same rank. For example, if you have a hand with three Kings and two Aces, you have the best possible full house in poker.
Flush
A flush is a hand with five cards of the same suit in no particular rank or order, such as having five diamonds or clubs. However, it is worth pointing out that when two players have a flush, the player with the highest-value card wins.
Straight
A straight is a hand with five cards of sequential numbers and with two or more suits. For instance, having 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 in different suits in a poker game is a straight hand. You should also be aware that Ace can count higher (above the King) or lower (below 2) to complete a straight.
Three of a Kind
Three-of-a-kind is a hand that consists of three cards of the same rank in three different suits. An example is when you have three Queens (Diamonds, Hearts, and Spades).
Two Pairs
Two pairs hand contains two sets of cards of a matching rank. The best two pairs are two aces and two kings. If two players have the same two pairs, the player with the highest last card wins. But this depends on the poker variation and poker rules of the game.
Pair
A pair is a poker hand that consists of two cards of the same rank. An example of a pair is two Queens, which can only lose to higher poker rankings or another higher pair, two Kings or two Aces, in this case.
High Card
This is the lowest hand ranking that you can have in a poker game. Any hand with card combinations we have not discussed so far is a high card. If two players have a high card, the player with the highest card value wins. In this case, the king of spades is the highest card and trumps other cards.
- Royal Flush – Five consecutive cards of the same suit, starting from 10 to Ace
- Straight Flush – Five sequential cards of the same suit but not a royal flush
- Four of a Kind – Same card in all four different suits
- Full House – Same value card in three different suits and a pair of the same rank
- Flush – Five cards of the same suit
- Straight – Five cards of sequential numbers of different suits
- Three of a Kind – Three cards of the same rank
- Two Pairs – Two sets of cards of a matching rank
- Pair – Two cards of one rank
- High Card – Any other combination
Is It Safe to Play Poker Games Online in Vietnam?
Contrary to what some people think, playing poker games online is pretty safe. To offer online casino games, the best poker sites team up with top-tier and well-known software providers. These providers have a team of experts who design their games after carefully considering the industry’s guidelines.
Before an online trustworthy poker game is released, it passes through a series of tests. It is only when the game checks all the required boxes (including safety) that it is made available to play at online casinos. Top developers also work with independent audit laboratories like iTech Labs and eCOGRA to vet their games regularly and ensure there are no loopholes.
What Types of Poker Can I Play Online?
There are numerous types of poker to choose from in the lobby of top online poker sites. While these poker games may share the same basic rules, they also have other betting rules you must understand to play them. Over the next few subsections, we will explain how some of the popular online poker types work.
Texas Hold'em
Texas Hold'em is a popular form of poker, and the game starts with two players to the immediate left of the dealer button placing the blind bets (small blind and big blind). The dealer then deals two cards face down to each player, called the hole cards. Play continues with the pre-flop round, where players are able to call the big blind bet, raise, or fold.
After the pre-flop round, the dealer will reveal three community cards in the flop round, one card in the turn round, and another card in the river round. The last round is the showdown, where players have to reveal their cards to determine the winner of the pot. A good example of Texas Hold'em is the Poker Pro Viet Nam.
Five-Card Draw
This is a classic and popular online poker variant with the goal of creating the best possible hand from five cards. The game starts with players placing an ante bet according to the table limit. After that, the dealer will deal each player five cards, facing down. Play continues clockwise, with the player to the dealer's left checking or betting the pot. Other players take their turns to either check, call, raise, or fold.
After the first betting round is complete, each player can discard three cards for new ones, and the second betting round starts. Players must then reveal their five cards to determine the winner.
Omaha High/Low
Omaha High/Low is a split pot variation of poker where you can win the high hand and the low hand. It is a similar poker variant to Texas Hold'em, but with some additional rules. The game starts with the small and big blind bets, after which the dealer will deal four cards to each player. After the first round of betting, the dealer reveals three community cards, the flop.
The game proceeds to the turn and river, at which point five community cards are on the table. Players will then need to make their best five-card hand and worst five-card hand in the showdown round. The players with the best high and low hands win.
Seven-Card Stud
The gameplay in a Seven-Card Stud poker game begins with players placing an ante bet. The dealer will deal each player two face-down (hole) cards and a face-up card, and this round is called the Third Street. The player with the lowest face-up card is forced to start an action by placing another bet equal to or twice the ante bet. The remaining players will then continue to play using poker betting options. (call, raise, or fold)
After that, the game moves to Fourth Street, Fifth Street, and Sixth Street, with a face-up card dealt to each player in each round. The seventh card will be dealt face down in river round. If more than one player remains, the game goes to a showdown, and the player with the best hand wins. However, if only one player remains, the remaining player wins.
Razz
Razz Poker is a poker game with a similar gameplay as Seven-Card Stud, but you play for low only. The dealing of cards is the same as with a Seven-Card Stud, but the player with the highest face-up card on Third Street is forced to start an action.
The game continues to Fourth Street, Fifth Street, and Sixth Street. If more than one player remains, the game goes to the final round, the showdown. Here, the player with the best low-hand ranking wins.
HORSE
This is a poker variant where you play five different poker types in one game: Limit Hold'em, Omaha High/Low, Razz, Stud, and Stud High/Low. Due to the game's complexity, it is often referred to as the "Masters' Poker game."
A typical horse game starts with the Limit Hold'em/Stud, then moves to the Omaha Hi/Lo round, Razz, Stud, and Stud Hi/Lo. To be a successful HORSE poker player, you must understand how to play all five poker types.
Pai Gow
Pai Gow is a bank game poker variation in which players compete against the dealer. You start by posting an ante bet, and the dealer will deal seven cards to you and himself. The game's goal is to form two hands from the cards, the best five-card and two-card hands. However, note that your two-card hand cannot be higher in value than your five-card hand.
After you form your two hands, the dealer will also form two hands, a five-card hand and a two-card hand. The cards will then be compared. If you have the best two hands, you win. However, if the dealer has the best two hands, you lose. In a situation where the player and dealer have one best hand each, the game goes to a push.
Caribbean Stud
Caribbean Stud poker is another bank-based poker game. To play, you place an ante bet and the dealer will deal you five cards face down and deal himself five cards but with one of the cards face up. After checking your cards, you can continue playing by betting double the ante wager or fold.
The dealer will check to see if he qualifies. He must have at least Ace-King high to qualify; otherwise, the game ends with you winning back your ante bet. If the dealer qualifies, his hand will be compared with yours, and whoever has the best hand based on poker rankings will win.
Best Winning Strategies in Online Poker
Poker is a game of skill and luck, so you can use strategies to improve your chances of winning. But keep in mind that no strategy can guarantee you’ll win every time, so only bet with money you can afford to lose. Nevertheless, here are the best winning strategies in online poker.
Choose Your Starting Hand Carefully
It’s easy to get tempted to play every hand in an online poker game. However, you must avoid this temptation and know when to fold. When you get your starting hand, check if it is good enough to continue playing. If not, fold and wait another turn.
Learn The Basic Math
Poker is a math-based game, at least to some extent. For this reason, you should learn basic math to understand the probability of the occurrence of a card being dealt from a deck. This will help you make a better decision on how to play your hand, thus improving your winning chances in return.
Adopt Different Styles of Play
Always try to mix things up when playing poker online, as this will make you less predictable. Learn how to play aggressively when there is a need for it, as well as how to play tight, loose, passive, and slow. The idea should be to not make it easy for your opponent to read your tells and win.
Playing Poker in Mobile Casinos
Advancements in mobile technology have made it possible for players to play poker on their smartphones and tablets. Playing poker at mobile casinos offers more comfort. You can play on the go, whether on a bus or moving train, and you will not be restricted to a desktop computer screen. Some mobile poker casinos even have native apps for Android and iOS that poker players can download to get the full mobile gambling experience.
Poker Terms Glossary
There are several terminologies you may come across in poker games. And if you want to play poker, you need to be familiar with a few terms. We’ve highlighted some common poker terms and their meanings below.
- Active Players – Refers to players still in a pot
- Ante Bet – The opening round bet of a poker game
- All-In – Betting all your chips in a poker round
- Big Blind – The larger of the two forced bets in poker
- Bluff – Betting with a hand that is mathematically not the best
- Burn Card – A card discarded by the dealer before revealing community cards
- Call – Used to match a bet
- Chips – It represents the money wagered in a poker game
- Dealer – The individual dealing the card
- Pot – The current total wager in a poker game
- Small Blind – The lesser of the two forced bets in poker
Online Poker Conclusion
We’ve discussed everything you should know about online poker in this guide. It is a fun table game to play online, and you may be lucky to win big playing for real money. Remember, online poker has many variants like Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hi/Lo, Five-Card Stud, HORSE, and so on. While these variants have specific rules, the main objective is similar, to form the best poker hand rankings to win.
If you want to have the best time playing poker online, you should choose a top site that has been licensed by a reputable organisation. If you play at our recommended poker sites, you can enjoy better bonuses, and faster withdrawals.