Online poker features you should know

The rise of online poker has fanned the momentum towards the game becoming one of the most popular card games in the gambling realm. As nature would dictate, this unprecedented growth has also led to the emergence of multiple types of poker, which can sometimes seem daunting to a beginner.

In this article, we’re going to introduce you to the broad features that unite all the different types of poker. And while at it, we’re also going to drill deep to see the different types of bets you can place in poker.

Once you’ve got to grips with the basics, you can also find a list of no deposit poker bonus codes. And if you’re into the new form of skin gambling check out these top 10 CS: GO gambling sites in 2021.

Before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s get the basics out of the way…

What is Poker?

Poker is a card game that traces roots in North America, although it has managed to transcend borders to reach all corners of the earth. In fact, it has been christened as the national card game of the United States, and jargon and play permeate the American culture.

A poker hand comprises 5 cards, with the value of the hand being inversely proportional to its mathematical frequency. Put simply, the more unusual the card combination you’re dealt with, the higher the hand ranks. The players may wager that they have the best hand, a case in which the other players must either call the bet or concede. 

Players can still win by bluffing that they have the best hand in case the players holding superior hands fail to call the bet.

The Main Poker Variations

Although there are many different types of poker, they can be classified into four main categories:

Community card poker: In this poker variation, the players are dealt cards less than the regular five-card poker hand. Next, several face-up community cards are then dealt, hoping that players can then build the best possible five-card hand by combining their cards and with those dealt as community cards. Popular examples of community card poker include Texas Holdem and Omaha.

Straight poker: This is the oldest form of poker, and it entails each player receiving a full five-card hand. Next, a quick round of betting ensues, with the players raising and reraising until the game concludes. Popular examples of straight poker include five-card brag and three-card brag.

Draw poker: This is yet another popular poker variation whereby players are dealt all the five cards initially, and then let them attempt to improve their hand by offloading cards and receiving replacements. One of the most popular varieties in this category is the five-card draw

Stud poker: Here punters are dealt their cards one by one either face-up or face-down, with bets typically happening between each card being dealt. Popular stud poker varieties include razz and seven-card.

Important Online Poker Features To Keep an Eye On

1) Cards

This may sound like a no-brainer suggestion but it is important to know the tools that you’ll be using to play aka the cards. Typically, poker is played with the standard 52-card deck with all the four suits (hearts, spades, diamonds, clubs) and ranking A (high), K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, A or low in a straight flush.

2) Table Size

Another key feature of online poker that you should know is the table size/ number of players. This means the number of punters allowed per table, and can be categorized into three main formats; 

Full ring: As the name suggests, a full ring game means that all the 10 seats on the table are being utilized, although some full ring games limit the number to nine. Needless to say, a full-ring game doesn’t necessarily have to have nine or ten players to start running; the term is just used to relate to the maximum number of players allowed to participate.

Shorthanded: Also known as six-max, here the maximum allowed number of players on a particular table is six. And just like the full ring games, the game can still run even if the threshold has not been achieved. 

Heads up: Here the game is played between just two opponents. Although this format has recently started to gain traction in the online gambling world, it is still not widely available in live card rooms as it doesn’t allow for efficient utilization of the tables.

3) Poker-Hand Rankings

All poker games are pegged on common poker-hand rankings. As a player, it is important to familiarize yourself with poker-hand rankings as they’re the parameter used to determine which player’s hand wins. These rankings from the highest to the lowest are Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pairs, Pair, and High Card.

4) Betting Structures / Limits

Most poker variants come with different betting structures, and they stipulate the amount you bet and raise in particular situations. They include;

Fixed limit: As the name implies, fixed limit bets come with fixed amounts specifying the bet amount that a player can wager and raise. Typically, these fixed amounts are implemented up to a certain level (usually in the early rounds of a hand) and progressively increased in later betting rounds. Depending on the online casino you choose, the fixed limit raise ranges between one and three times.

No limit: This type of betting structure eliminates all restrictions, with the only exception that the player bets or raises the least possible minimum amount, and they can’t wager or raise by more than what they have on the table. Better yet, there isn’t a limit on the number of raises in the course of a betting round.

Pot limit: Here, the bets and raises are limited depending on the number of chips available in the pot before acting. Compared to the previous two systems, the pot limit is a bit complicated as it also involves calculations, which may be a turnoff to new players.

5) Betting Options

This article would be incomplete if we didn’t mention betting options as features worth looking at in online poker. Basically, you have five major betting options, and it is important to master them to avoid making mistakes. They include

Call: When a different player starts the betting, you have to either match their bet or raise to continue staying in the hand. 

Raise: When a player on the table places their bet, you can choose to either call or ‘re-raise’, ultimately increasing the pot size. Consequently, the player who placed their bet will need to fold, call, or raise your bet.

Fold: This entails withdrawing from the hand and sacrificing all the bets already placed.

Check: Unless anybody else places their bet in a round, you can still stay in the hand without betting.

All in: If you don’t have enough chips remaining to call a bet, you can play all your remaining chips. As such, the subsequent betting happens in a side pot, with the all-in player only winning an equal amount of chips in the pot. 

Final Thoughts

As you can see, online poker encompasses many features, such that it would be impossible to cover all of them in a single article. But with the above-mentioned features, you should have a great headstart in your online poker gambling adventure.

Once you’ve mastered all these features, you’ll not only find it easier to play your favorite online poker game but also potentially win some money!

Better yet, you don’t have to download any apps, as many casinos allow you to bet directly via your browser.