How to Choose the Right Poker Game & Get Started on the Right Foot

Poker is one of the most well-known card games, and with the option to play online, the popularity of the game is still growing.

New online poker sites are opening regularly, and the existing ones continue to add new features to make them more competitive and appealing. While the poker boom years may be behind us, the game remains very popular across the globe.

Thus, it is only natural that there are new players joining the fray. If you belong to this group, it’s natural to have some concerns, knowing you’ll be going against the people, some of whom have been playing for well over a decade.

With the potential of Maryland online casinos going live soon, more of us will have the opportunity to place our bets and try our hand at poker.

If you’ve never played before, making sure that you’re familiar with the rules of the game is important if you’re looking to win some cash. Read on to find out the basics of poker, including how to choose the right game for you.

Choosing the Right Stakes & Tables

Whether you’re playing online or physically, choosing the right table can mean the difference between booking a small win or walking away with an amount that you’re happy with.

It can seem tempting to choose to play at the high limit or no-limit table, thinking that this means you’ll automatically make more money. But this is not the case.

Your high limit table is more likely to be home to experienced poker players, so you’re more likely to lose money.

Choosing to play at a lower table means that you’re more likely to play against other players of your caliber, meaning you stand a chance of winning.

Choosing a Game Format

There are different types of poker games that you can get involved in that all have slightly different rules. Generally, if you’re discussing poker, you’ll be talking about Texas Hold’em, which has become increasingly more popular over the last few years.

Holdem as a good starting point

There are ‘friendly’ tables at which the dealer will decide the game, but when it comes to more serious tournaments, you usually know what to expect before you enter.

Texas Hold’em – The Cadillac of Poker

As we’ve previously mentioned, this game is the most popular poker variation, played in the World Series of Poker Main Event.

In Texas Hold’em, players are dealt 2 ‘pocket’ cards and then wait for 5 community cards to be shown to them.

The betting takes place in four rounds, and players must make their best hands using any combination of the communal and pocket cards.

Texas Hold’em is a good place to start if you’re just a beginner when it comes to poker, but once you’ve mastered this game, you can try a few of the variations, too, like 7 card stud and Omaha.

7-card stud – this variation is one of the most popular across the US, especially in Eastern parts of the country. In this game, players are dealt 7 cards – 3 down and 4 up. From this, players must make their best hand with 5 cards from their 7.
Omaha – This variation is like Texas Hold’em in the way that there are 4 rounds of betting. Each player is dealt 4 pocket cards, and 5 community cards are revealed during the round. Players must then make their best 5 card hand from 2 pocket cards and 3 community cards.

Online Poker – Play Your Favorite Game With No Restrictions

Playing poker online has never been easier. All you need is a laptop or smartphone, and you can play no matter where you are, at any time.

There is a huge variety of different games you can play to win cash, take part in tournaments, challenge your friends, and play fast poker.

Knowing the basics is essential before you start, and knowing how to choose the right game for you could help you on the way to winning your games and earning some chips!