Online poker can seem a little overwhelming at first, but once you get the hang of it there’s nothing easier. If this is your first time playing online poker or you are just looking to brush up on some tips we’ve got you covered. Check out our quick start guide below to learn all of the basics and get on your way to playing like a pro in no time!How to Play Online Poker (Beginner Guide)
Playing poker online differs a bit from playing live so the first thing you need to know is how the online game varies. If you already know how to play poker then great because almost all of the variations can be played online.
The most popular variant played online is No Limit Texas Hold'em. Our step-by-step guide shows you exactly how to play Texas Hold'em Poker before you even sit down at a table.
How to Play Poker Online Step by Step
Below we take you through a typical poker hand from beginning to end to show you exactly how an online poker hand works. We use screen shots from one of our recommended poker software - . You'll see that the actual process of making bets and choosing actions is quite simple and easy with online poker.
For this example we will be playing the most popular poker game, No Limit Texas Hold'em, with a small number of players to keep things straightforward. Let’s get started!
Note: The screenshots come from a play-money game but real-money games and play from both look very similar. The only difference is that when you're playing for real money each pot will have a "Pot" and "All-in" Bet slider where players rasing will highlight their bet in big, colorful letters.
1. Choosing Your Game and Buying In
First, after opening up your chosen poker client you will want to choose the specific game you would like to join. You can search the lobby and filter through the different available options until you find something suitable.
For this example we'll join the $0.05/$0.10 6-Max Hold'em game. Once we find a free table we can click on it to open up and take our seat. Next we'll be prompted to sit down and will be asked to select our starting stack.
Since we're learning how to play poker online and just getting started we will choose the minimum buy-in of $5 (+$0.50 fee). Once we confirm we will be taken to our seat at the table where we will await the start of the hand.
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2. Dealer Deals - UTG +1
The dealer deals out all two cards to each player on the table. In the example above player "HerreraUO" is the button (the player who was last to act) so the dealer starts from his left, which is Under the Gun (UTG), and moves clockwise around the table.
Notice that the hole cards are dealt face down and are visible only to each individual player. Only the board cards will be visible to all players at the table. Also, since we're playing , there are six cards dealt here rather than five.
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Now that all players have their two cards the first round of betting begins. In our case the player under the gun has to make the first decision of the hand and they have two options:
- Fold
- Call/Raise
Since the stakes are so low in this particular example there is no risk of going broke so we'll just "call," or match, the big blind of $0.10. After the player in UTG+1 calls the action moves clockwise to the next player.
Each player now has the option to check, bet, call, raise or fold. Remember, if it's your first hand you might receive a pop-up offering you a free bonus or deal (this is just for play money sites).
4. Continuing Around the Table
As the action continues around the table players will either fold their hands (and lose the call amount from their stack), stand pat and wait for the next hand (by folding they forfeit any chance to win this pot) or make a bet/call/raise.
In the image above the player in the Big Blind has now checked. Since it's my turn I could choose to check as well (there would then be no bet and the next player to act would have the same options) or I could bet.
5. The Flop
Once the first round of betting is complete the flop is dealt. Three community cards are placed on the board that anyone at the table can use to make the best possible poker hand. The player who acted last before the flop is first to act.
Even though the flop brings a lot of information into the hand the order of betting still follows the same structure as it did before. When it's my turn I opt to check again. The player after me also checks so the board continues like this with no bet until we reach the button.
The button pops all-in for about $3 (we started with a $5 stack) and everyone else folds. Since I have a pretty good hand I call and the other player tables pocket queens, meaning he has a pair of queens and his cards are connected.
I on the other hand have a straight, or five consecutive cards, meaning mine is a better hand. I collect the blinds and antes to add to my stack.
6. Turn & River Run the Same
After the flop comes the turn and river but for the sake of brevity we'll skip ahead. The only difference between the flop and these two streets is that instead of three community cards being shown, there will now be four (turn) or five (river) depending on the action.
These cards are shared by everyone at the table and can be used by anyone to make the strongest possible poker hand. Again, the action continues the same way with a betting round after each new card is dealt.
7. Showdown and Winning the Hand
Once the final betting round is finished all that's left is to reveal any hidden cards and name the best hand. In our case only two players were left in the hand so when the betting was complete the best hand automatically won.
In a scenario where more than two players remain in the hand after the last betting round the remaining players enter a . Each player reveals their cards and the winner takes the entire pot.
In our case I called the all-in bet from the button so my card were revealed regardless of whether I won or not. Sometimes it's better to ask for !
And there you have it! That's how you play a basic online poker hand. It might seem intimidating at first but as you can see the process is actually much simpler than live poker. As far as taking down pots, identifying good hands and bluffing effectively? Stay tuned to PokerListings for more.
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Online Poker Controls & Features
So now that you know the general flow of an online poker hand let’s dig a bit deeper. On closer inspection you’ll notice there are a ton of different features, buttons and functions in modern poker software. Don’t worry, you don’t need to figure everything out at once. Just focus on the basics and get comfortable with the software before you try to multi-task or use advanced features. Below we breakdown some of the key buttons and features you’ll see at most regulated online poker sites. For this exercise we’re using the - and it’s pretty close to the standard these days.
1. Online Poker Lobby / Table Selection
This is the main menu where you can browse through all of the available games on the site. Every poker room will have slightly different menus and filters but the gist of it is that you can select the game type, number of players, stakes, speed and other factors to find a table or wait list that suits you.
2. Online Poker Tables and Seats
This is where the poker action happens. When you click on a game in the lobby it will open in a new window and you will be seated at the table. Each player has their own seat at the table with their stack, chips and betting options.
Everyone also has access to the muck, the blinds/antes and the board cards in the middle. Above the table are buttons to change your avatar, view cashier, settings, help, history, multi-table functions and more. Some of those are locked until you sign up for an account.
3. Seat Selection / Table Customization
One of the biggest advantages online is the ability to customize your viewing experience. You can have the poker client maximized on your computer and be seated at 4 tables, if you so chose. But the beauty of online poker is that each table can be customized to show you exactly what you want to see.
You can enlarge certain seats to see more of your chips and less of other players. You can “close up” on certain seats during big hands so you never miss the action. And you can arrange the tables in cascade, quadra-view or tile-view to maximize the amount of action you see.
4. Online Poker Action Button
This is basically your control panel for acting in a hand. All of the decisions you would make at a live poker table are represented here digitally. Here you can fold, check (if it’s your turn), bet, raise or go all-in (when it’s allowed).
Depending on the poker site the design of these buttons may differ. Sometimes there is a slide bar if you want to make a specific sized bet or raise. Other times you just click on the word “raise” and type in the amount you want to add to the pot.
5. Player Information / Cashier / Settings
On the left side of the screen is a vertical column with various tabs. One displays your player card and cash balance, another takes you to the site cashier for deposits and withdrawals and the third offers a drop-down menu for account settings, help files, multi-tabling functions, etc.
6. Online Poker Chat Box
Most regulated poker sites offer table chat where you can converse with the other players at your table. It’s a good place to kill time, chat strategy or just shoot the you know… can’t shut up. You will need to enable the chat box if it’s not already on.
pa casino sign up bonus7. Rebuy / Bounty Options
Some tournament formats offer a rebuy period where you can re-enter the tournament if you bust out. Alternatively, some tournaments have a bounty on each player’s head that you can attempt to collect. During the rebuy period you can click the "rebuy" button to re-enter the tournament for the same buy-in you originally did.
Meanwhile, if there are bounties on players heads, you can hover over their stack to see how much they’re worth. Then, if you knock them out, you can collect the bounty by clicking the "claim bounty" button.
8. Casino Games / Promotions / Upgrades
To help supplement their income, online poker sites will often feature other casino games that you can play alongside poker. These could include blackjack, roulette, slots, sportsbook and more.
They will also promote any ongoing poker bonuses, freerolls, leader races, achievement rewards or special events in this column. Lastly, some operators may offer upgraded seats or packages for purchase.
9. Quick Fold / Table Steats
Another advantage of online poker is the ability to immediately fold your hand and get dealt a new one at a fresh table with blinds and players of your choice. This means you can basically play your own sole SNG game if you wanted.
Meanwhile, in the bottom right you can see the current table stake and how many people are currently waiting to get in at that level. Finally, the yellow text alerts you to the current table steak.
That's a broad overview of the controls and features you'll typically find on a major regulated online poker site. Again, the exact layout and design may vary slightly from operator to operator but most adhere to this format.
Basic Online Poker Etiquette
Yes there are unwritten rules to following online just like anywhere else in life. It may be a computer screen away but you're still playing with and against humans. And humans expect a certain degree of respect and manners. So read up on these basic tenets of online poker etiquette before you sit down at the table. Trust us, it will make the experience nicer for everybody.
1. Don't "Hello!"
Best Miami Casino Boats (2023 Islands of Fun) - Come Join Us!When you sit down at a table, especially an empty one, don't type "hello" in the chat box. Nobody will respond. If you want to speak to everyone at the table, don't. It's considered tacky and makes you look like a fish. Rather, just sit down and play your poker. If someone else aso greets you with a “hello” it’s OK to reply if you really must.
2. Don't Type in All Caps
This is equivalent to yelling or SHOUTING in an effort to get attention online. While it may have been acceptable in AOL chat rooms it isn’t cool anymore. Try to limit your use of caps to when you really want to emphasize a point.
3. Use Good Grammar and Spelling
Nobody expects you to writing a thesis but please try to use proper grammar, punctuation and spelling in the chat box. It’s hard to take someone seriously if they write like a 12 year old. Download a spellchecker if necessary. It will go a long way.
4. Don't Be Offensive
Try not to offend other players at the table. Obviously jokes and good natured teasing are part of the fun of playing poker. However, crossing the line into offense territory will get you reported and possibly banned from the site. Keep it light and keep it friendly.
5. Don't Be a Chatty Kathy
Conversely, not everyone at the table wants to hear your life story or read a running commentary on why you’re raising now and checked the hand before. Try to keep the chat relevant and to the point.
6. Don't Rage Quit or Rage Chat
Nothing is more frustrating than running a hot player who suddenly hits a bad beat and decides to go ballistic. This can be verbally abusive chat, table jumping or deliberately playing poorly just to tilt people. None of it is acceptable and will only hurt your own game in the long run. Try to stay calm and collected at the poker table. That's step one of being a successful poker player.
7. Don't Collude or Multi-Account
Colluding with other players at the table to gain an unfair advantage is strictly prohibited and can get you banned from the site. This includes sharing holes cards, coordinating plays or using someone else's account to play in games. Period.
8. Tip the Staff
It's customary to tip the dealer (known as a flood-man in online poker terms) a buck or two every 100 bucks you win. It's just good karma. Besides, it could always make the dealing job a little easier on you.
Tips for Tracking Your Online Poker Actions
As mentioned previously, moving from live poker to online poker can be somewhat jarring at first. One of the bigger differences is the absence of a chip trap, physical betting rounds and discard mold for peeling and disposing of losing hands.
Obviously you don’t need chips and change in front of you to track your actions online. But it helps to get into the habit of mimicking the motions you would make at a live table to make sure you don’t accidentally “miss” your action or perform an action by mistake. Here are a few tips to get you in the habit of properly tracking your online poker actions.
Poker Chips = Left Mouse Click
When you want to call an bet simply left-click on the raised amount to automatically input the correct bet amount. This is equal to picking up the appropriate amount of chips in a live game.
Tip: If the person before you bets a amount that’s not convenient for you, like an amount that’s too large, you can use the to modify the bet amount before you call.
Raising Equivalent to Raking and Throwing Change
When it comes time for you to act and you want to raise simply type in the desired bet amount in the chat box or use the sliding scale (if the option is available). This is similar to waiting to rake a pot after a player before you puts in a small bet. Instead of waiting you just go ahead and raise.
Tip: Be careful not to accidently try and rake the pot online. Some sites will think you want to raise and bring up the bet slip. At this point it may be slow enough that you miss your opportunity to raise before the bet timer runs out. It’s better to just type in your raise amount.
Also beware that if you try to rake the pot while another player is still acting (ie. Deciding whether to call, fold or raise) it will take the pot chips away and force everyone to reopen their actions. This could be costly if you were about to hit the fade button!
Checking/Folding = Right Mouse Click
When it comes time to check/roll over (waive your right to bet) or fold (discard your hand) you can use your right mouse click button. Simply point at your stack and right-click to fold or check-fold (when it’s needed).
This is the same motion you would make at a live table reaching for your drink or stretching your legs by standing up to fold your hand.
Tip: Get in the habit of using the key shortcut to fold hands directly from your cards. That way you don’t have to point all the way across the virtual table to your chips.
This is similar to mucking your hand from underneath. It’s faster! To do this simply click on the card symbols beside your stack to reveal your cards and right-click fold.
Accidents Happen! Don't Beat Yourself Up
Despite your best efforts there will no doubt be times when you accidentally fold when you meant to check or bet or raise when you wanted to fold. It can be costly, especially in a tournament. But try not to freak out or get upset. Everyone does it. Even the pros.
Sometimes the lag or delay from a poor connection can cause you to act differently than you intended. It’s just part of the game. Shrug it off and move on.
Starting Stacks for Online Poker Tournaments
Starting stacks can vary wildly depending on the type of tournament you’re playing.
Typically cash games have more chips because they’re designed to be longer events and players can always buy more chips as needed. Meanwhile satellites and steps usually have the lowest starting stacks because they’re designed to get you to more expensive events for cheaper.
Here’s a rough breakdown of what to expect from common types of online poker tournaments:
SnGs
Single Table Sit & Go’s (SnGs) offer the widest range of starting stacks. They come in all shapes and sizes from super small, ultra turbo SnGs with starting stacks of $300 up to massive $1 million plus champ ion-top Super Tuesday SnGs.
Generally the larger the field and higher the buy-in the more starting chips you’ll receive. We’d say anything under a $500 buy-in should be safe for a starting stack of $1,000-$1,500. Above that it becomes increasingly important as you’ll have a higher percentage of variance in the early stages.
A good rule of thumb for medium buy-in SnGs ($500 - $10k) is 10BB (big blinds). That means if the starting blinds are 25/50 BB you’d want to start with 500BB (10x50BB). For extremely high-stakes SnGs (over $10k) you might even consider 12-15BB just to absorb the swings.
Multi-Table Tournaments
Multi-table tournaments (MTTs) generally offer more starting chips the lower up the food chain you are. Micro-stakes MTTs with $1-$10 buy-ins usually start at 1,000BB up to 3,000BB or more. Small-stakes MTTs with $10-$100 buy-ins usually start at 3,000BB to 5,000BB.
Medium buy-in MTTs with $100-$500 tend to hold steady at around the 5,000-6,000BB range. And finally big-buy in MTTs ($500+) tend to start at 8,000BB up to 15,000BB or more.
Again this all factors in the size of the field as well. The smaller the field, the greater the percentage of players you’ll have to outplay.
Satellites and Steps
Satellites and steps qualify players for more expensive tournaments for a fraction of the cost. Naturally the further away you are from the event the fewer chips you’ll start with.
For low-cost satellites with a $10-$30 buy-in you can expect to start with 500BB to 1,500BB. Meanwhile for big-ticket steps that cost $500+ to qualify for $10k+ championship events you’ll likely start with 8,000BB to 15,000BB.
slots online play freeRemember that the later stages of multi-table steps have proportionally less players so the survival rate goes down significantly. It takes equally skilled players to win a step tournament as it does the real event so don’t get too down on yourself if you buzz-saw through a couple of steps and bust a live final table.
Difference Between Live Poker and Online Poker
Aside from the obvious differences in atmosphere, distractions, social interaction and skill-level, there are several technical facets of live poker that don’t exist in the online world and vice versa.
Understanding these nuances can go a long way in helping you transition smoothly between the two forms of poker.
Reading People vs. Reading Statistics
In live poker you can observe people’s body language, tone of voice, clothing, demeanor and other non-verbal cues to help ascertain their probable poker hand strength. Online you have no such luxury. Well except for emojis and the occasional all-in ramble.
Instead you have to rely on a player’s statistics. How many times do they raise? From which positions do they raise most? How often do they call before the flop versus after the flop? Do they bet every street or only on certain boards? What's your -based opponent like? Do they 3-bet light or only vs. a raise? Do they 4-bet bluff at all?
Casino Review UK - Games & Slots Approved by Expert'sStudying stats is obviously a learned skill in online poker but it’s a vital tool to understanding your opponents. Fortunately you also give off statistics online, which your opponents can study to their benefit. Equally fortunate is that your opponents can't see your facial expression or tension in your body when you're bluffing.
Drinking and Smoking vs. Breaks
In live poker players are permitted to consume alcohol and smoke cigarettes at the table during play. Of course this can lead to erratic behavior, tilt and general impairment. Online you can take a break whenever you like and stretch your legs. Or not play at all if you're tired, hungry or sleepy.
Live poker also tends to move much slower than online poker. So it’s possible to take a walk, get food or smoke a cigarette without missing out on hands. Conversely online poker moves quickly so you have to be vigilant or you’ll miss out on opportunities.
Physical Chips and Change vs. Digital Currency
In live poker you can see the size of a bet or stack by the amount and denomination of chips. For example a professional player with a stack of $15,000 in blue chips (1,000 BB) looks vastly different than a novice with the same stack in a mix of white, red, blue and green chips (probably only 300BB).
Similarly you can instantly see how much someone is betting or raising by the color and amount of chips going into the pot. Online you have to manually read the numbers to assess the same information.
Verbal Raises and Capping vs. Slider and Bet Calculator
In live poker players have the option of announcing a raise before they put in the chips or declare "cap" when they're calling a raise. This gives opponents time to fold or re-raise before wasting chips.
Online you have to act quickly or you'll miss your action. Unless you have a hyper fast internet connection there is inevitably a delay between you telling the site to call and the timer allowing you to fold. That split second can be the difference between capping and Disneyland.
Fortunately, online poker clients have bet sliders and bet calculators that allow you to accurately gauge the size of a bet, raise or all-in before you actually commit to the action. Live poker doesn’t really have an equivalent unless you count saying “think about it for a minute.”
Act Now Timer vs. Floor Decisions
At a live poker table there is a 25 second clock counting down from the moment it’s your turn to act until you’ve made a decision or time ran out. If you don’t make a decision in time the dealer will moving the pot along anyway, forcing you to fold.
This can give rise to situations where players rush a decision or force a clock just to avoid breaking the flow of the game. Not to mention tilt more patient players behind who are missing their turns.
Online there is also an act now timer but it’s set to 20 seconds. Worse yet, the timer stops when you're thinking. So you can take as long as you like without pressure. However, if you time out or fold the pot will move on anyway.
The major distinction between live and online time banks is the rail. In live poker dozens, if not hundreds, of people are watching your session and commenting on every move via the rail. The rail can be a huge asset for help with calculations, reading and advice in general.
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Best Beginner Poker Resources
Learning the fundamentals of poker is one thing. Putting them into practice in a live setting is another. Eventually you’ll have to take your online poker game to the felt and test your mettle against human beings. Here’s a brief guide to help ease the transition and make your first live poker experience a pleasant one.
Choose the Right Poker Room
This largely depends on where you live. If you have legal, licensed poker within a 20 mile radius, that would probably be your best bet for a first-time experience. Nothing can beat the convenience of driving to a brick and mortar room anytime you want. That being said, depending on where you live, that may be Las Vegas or some other poker hotspot.
If you’re stuck somewhere without any poker, like the Middle East or Antartica, your best option is to look for major tourist spots with EPT-sized poker rooms (like Prague or Barcelona). Otherwise you’ll have to fly to a major poker hub like Las Vegas, Atlantic City, New Orleans, London, Madrid, Paris, Sydney, Melbourne or Tokyo.
Once you’ve identified a potential room, the next step is researching its reputation among regulars. Google and can offer some insight into the quality of games, rake, promotions, staff, comps and overall ambiance. Just remember to take most Internet reviews with a grain of salt. People are much more likely to post negative comments than positive ones.
Consider the Games
Another factor to weigh when selecting a first-time poker venue is the quality and variety of the games offered. While Las Vegas may be the poker capital of the world it has some of the toughest cash games 24/7. So if you’re a novice who prefers to grind, you may be better off elsewhere.
Fortunately there are poker rooms all over the world that spread very soft games. Especially in the wee hours of the morning. You might have to do some digging or ask around to find out where they are but they’re out there.
Additionally you may want to consider mixed games, Omaha, Draw games or other variants besides Hold’em. As a newbie to live poker it can be very intimidating sitting amongst a table full of PokerStars Sunday Million winners. So it’s nice to find some softer Hold’em games or softer players playing other poker variants. Outside of Las Vegas the Bahamas (AT&T Poker Championships), Prague (EPT), Paris (IPSEC), Barcelona (EPT), San Remo (WSOPE), Foxwoods (FPP), Hollywood Florida (WPT500), Nice (UEPN), London (APAT), Moscow (Russian Poker Tour) offer a good cross section of Hold’em games for all bankrolls.
Arriving at the Poker Room
When you arrive at the poker room you’ll likely have to register with the casino, which may involve showing ID and filling out a form with your name, address, phone number and email address. This only needs to be done once and gives you the benefits of players club, including free play and drinks.
When you arrive at the poker desk you’ll likely have to pay to get into a game. This is known as a buy-in and usually ranges from 60 to 100 big blinds for cash games and 40-60x the buy-in for tournaments. Some rooms may have shorter buys or straddles but they’re going against the Lawyers of Poker. So they’re rare.
Best Casino Games for Real Money in Georgia - Top Sites and GamesYou’ll also have to pay a per-hour or daily rental fee for the chair, known as a floor fee or tax. This usually ranges from $5-20 per hour/day. Unfortunately there are no +BB or rakeback options in live poker yet.
Getting Seated at a Poker Table
There are generally two ways to get seated at a live poker table — through the casino poker room or via a third-party site like .
Through the Casino
If you show up at the casino poker room you’ll have to join a list, known as a waitlist, to be seated at a table. This can vary widely from city to city and even from room to room in the same city.
In Vegas on a weeknight you might not even have to wait. Elsewhere it could be a half hour to an hour wait. On weekends in major poker destinations the wait can extend to 2-4 hours or more. Saturday night primetime is the holy grail for poker and the greatest challenge to your patience.
One perk to getting seated through the casino is that they’ll give you a roughly estimated time to wait and a pager to alert you when a spot opens up. The pager is especially handy because you can wander around the casino, go to the hotel pool or even leave the property without worrying about missing your turn. The pager will vibrate and let you know it’s your turn to be seated.
Via a Third Party Site
Using a third party site to get seated at a poker table has become increasingly popular because it allows you to bypass the lengthy waitlists at busy rooms. For a fee, usually 10% of your buy-in, the site guarantees you a seat at a table within a matter of minutes.
Sites like guarantee the quality of the games by only having a set number of seats available in the room. Sometimes it can take 30 minutes to an hour to get a seat but it’s usually much faster than waiting on the casino list. iPokerLive also lets you reserve a seat for specific events, like the late night low-stakes games, so you can enjoy a meal or gamble elsewhere before you have to report to the table.
Buying In and Exchanging Chips
When you’re finally seated at a live poker table you’ll have to exchange cash for chips. This is a one-time process for that specific game. If you want to move up or down you’ll have to go through the buying-in process again.
The dealer or floorman will ask you how you want to represent your chips at the table. Traditionally poker chips are represented by cash equivalents like $1=1 chip, $25=1 chip, $100=4 chips and so on.
This is entirely up to you but we recommend going with the most complicated system possible — Negative American Street Odor Notation ( NASON ). This is how professionals represent their chips and it allows you to keep accurate counts and values at a glance.
With NASON white is $1-$24, red is $25-$100, blue is $500-$2,499, green is $5k-$14,999, black is $25k-$100k and camo is $250k+. As soon as you cash out you go in reverse order so your table will know whether you had a winning or losing session.
Placing a Bet in Live Poker
Placing a bet in live poker is actually relatively easy because the dealer controls the action. He or she will announce when it’s your turn to act and how much you have to call, raise or fold.
First the dealer will indicate that it’s your turn to act by pointing to you and saying "your turn". If you want to check (there's no free card in live poker!) you don’t need to do anything. If there’s a bet before you then a check is the same as a fold unless you specifically say "check-raise."
If there’s a raise before you and you want to just call, you merely pile your chips in the middle and say "call". You don’t need to state the amount. The dealer will verify that you’re calling the right amount and move the chips to the correct spot on the table.
To raise in live poker you must first announce the amount of the raise before you put the chips into the pot. This gives your opponents a chance to pause the action, think or even cap the raise.
Once you’ve declared the raise and everyone is satisfied with the amount, you can then put your chips into the pot. They’ll be counted again for show and moved to the proper location on the
