POKER FUNDAMENTALS

WHAT IS POKER?

Poker is, at its most fundamental, a game where rounds of cards are dealt, with betting during each round. The winner is either the last player standing, or the one with the highest-ranking five-card hand. The game may seem superficially simple, but don’t be fooled: it’s a magical reality where mathematics, psychology and chance all weave together to create a sophisticated, colorful tapestry. It may take only a brief while to understand the game’s basics, but to win regularly at it will take considerable time and practice.

There are a number of different poker ‘variants,’ or ways of playing poker. These can be classified by the type of game, such as ‘flop’ or ‘draw’ games. Popular variants include Five-Card Draw, Seven-Card Draw, Five-Card Stud, Texas Holdem and Omaha. To become a well-rounded player you should make an effort to learn how to play all of these. Other ways to categorize poker games can be by betting limits and structure (for instance, Fixed-Limit, or No-Limit).

Texas Holdem is currently the most popular variant and it’s what’s played at the World Series of Poker (WSOP). This is a good variant to start with, before moving on to the others. Go to PokerStars.com for their free video tutorials that show you how to sign up, deposit money and play in tournaments so you can use their software with ease. These clear and easy-to-follow tutorials will get you up and going in no time. When you’re comfortable with the fundamentals, these sites will let you participate in games using ‘play’ money. It’s a great way to start out before moving on to higher stakes with real money.

It seems you can find poker most anywhere and everywhere these days. Not just in casinos and poker rooms, but at charity events, large-scale tournaments and in private homes. It’s so ubiquitous now that many people find it embarrassing not to know how to play. Go to our step-by-step Texas Holdem game instructions and strategies page, which can provide you with careful guidance by teaching not only how to play the game, but how to play it well, and then how to win money at it. That’s really what it’s all about, isn’t it? Maximize your winnings and minimize your losses.

One wonderful feature about online poker is that it’s available 24 hours a day and is just a click or two away from wherever you and your computer are. You meet people from all over the place, not just across the country but from all around the world. These are people whom you can play Texas Holdem against, and win against, any time of day.

Having such a big pool of talent to play against makes for a wide range of competitive levels (right up to the very best). Another great feature about online poker is its variety of casinos, some of which pretty much ensure huge payouts and rich sign-up bonuses. Go to UltimateBet.com, which periodically has a first-time sign-up bonus of 111% (up to $1100 in real bonus money)! Hone your skills playing against competition online and then return to your next poker game with friends and shock them with how much better you’ve become!

WHAT ARE THE FUNDAMENTALS OF PLAYING TEXAS HOLDEM POKER?

To win at Texas Holdem poker you have to either have the strongest five-card hand at the end of the game, or be the last player standing since everyone else has folded. In either case, you get the money in the pot. Poker hands are ranked according to their probability, with the least-likely as the strongest, and the most-likely as the weakest.

• Players ante or place blind bets to initiate play

• Cards are dealt to each player who then can look at his or her cards

• Betting then begins, during which players can check, bet, raise or fold, depending on how they feel about their hand and what kind of hands the rest of the players might have

• To have a claim on the pot, you must stay to the end of the game when remaining active players show their cards to each other, and this means matching the amount of money that’s been put into the pot by other remaining players (calling the bet); if you don’t want to do this, you must fold

• There are a number of rounds of cards being dealt, followed by betting, continue until the showdown

• Players form the best hand they can from five cards, no matter how many may be in their hand or on the table, whether it’s their own cards (stud games) or community cards (flop games)

• The game ends when either only one active player remains, or the player(s) with the strongest hand is determined at the showdown

• The winner(s) gets the pot.

As with anything, practice makes perfect. Since it’s not always easy to meet up with friends to do so on any given night of the week, here’s where online poker casinos can become truly good friends; online poker is there for you every minute of every day.

AbsolutePoker.com offers free games for beginners. You won’t have to worry about losing money there before your skills are up to snuff! You can even play right on their site without downloading any software. Once you’ve gained confidence, you then can move on to pay poker. Winning real money – that’s what the game’s ultimately about, isn’t it? What are you waiting for? Sign up at AbsolutePoker.com and get in on the excitement and skill-building now!

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