ONLINE POKER

Poker not only has become one of the most widely played casino games, but it has also birthed one of the biggest sports events in the world. It is one of the few card games that is both incredibly entertaining and highly competitive, as evidenced by the myriad of online poker tournaments popping up at every turn. But, poker is not always the most inviting to newbie poker players, which is where online poker comes in. 

Playing poker online allows poker players to enjoy all the creative possibilities of gaming at online casinos without the stresses of a real table setting. 

If you’re new to this fantastic card game, join us as we cruise through online poker gameplay and rules and give you a quick look into some of our favourite online poker games.

VIDEO POKER VS FIRST-PERSON TABLES

Out of all online table games, online poker is pretty unique. Casino players will spot a number of different first-person tables, but poker takes things a step further. 

As you browse through your selection of online poker games, you’ll likely come across a few RNG tables. But, what is really interesting is that online poker sites will also feature video poker, which is not something you see every day. 

So, what is video poker, and how does it differ from first person tables? And, why would you need to know the difference between them at all? Video poker and first-person poker are drastically different games, even though their foundation is the same. Familiarising yourself with how both games are played will help you navigate online poker sites better and ultimately have the best online poker experience possible.

Professional players would know that first-person poker uses a computer algorithm rather than a live dealer. Video poker is based on five-card draw poker but has fixed odds. 

Both video poker and first-person tables are games that are played solo, but video poker shares more similarities with online slots than anything else. Poker players can make their own choices, suggesting that they may hold sway over the outcome of their hand. Video poker is one of the only games that players can potentially beat, which is further supported by the game’s low house edge — though this depends on several factors, including the player’s strategies.

Regardless of the type of poker game you choose to play, the best part about playing poker online is that you don’t have to have a good poker face — online poker is a one-man show!  

HOW TO PLAY POKER GAME ONLINE

While online poker features many characteristics that stand out, the overall gameplay isn’t all that different from land-based poker games. The aim will always be to form the strongest hand possible; how you do that all boils down to luck! Poker strategies may have a part to play too.

GAMEPLAY

FIRST-PERSON POKER

To understand how a typical online poker game works, you need to familiarise yourself with the general gameplay. But, because there is so much versatility online, different online poker games may come with different game rules. So, we’ll take you through the main set of game rules based on Texas hold ‘em poker, a popular game of poker. 

At the start of a typical community poker game, you’ll receive two hole cards once you’ve placed a bet. From there, you must decide whether to fold, call or raise. Your knowledge of hand rankings would shine through here. 

If you’ve decided to keep playing, three community cards will be dealt to the table. During this time, you can get an idea of where your hand is headed. If your hand isn’t looking so promising, you can choose to fold and start again.

A fourth community card will be dealt, followed by a fifth. Remember, you need to place a bet to continue to the next round. With the fifth community card, you’ll be all set to try and form a winning hand. You’ll win a payout if your hand is stronger than your opponent’s.

When playing land-based poker games against other players, you can also try to win the game by bluffing. However, that’s a different skill set entirely and arguably useless in online poker rooms.

If you’re interested in playing community poker live, we recommend Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker and Ultimate Texas Hold’em. 

VIDEO POKER

A typical video poker game starts with players receiving a five-card hand once they’ve placed their wager. Players must then decide which cards to hold and which to discard and replace in hopes of forming a stronger hand (whether they want to discard one card, two or more is up to the player). The video poker interface is very easy to use as poker players can simply click on the cards they wish to keep. Players will earn a payout depending on their final hand — and that’s that. There are no community cards, no rounds of betting and no opponents to face. 

HAND RANKINGS

Although being well-versed in the general gameplay is always a plus, mastering poker hand rankings is what will take your gaming to the next level. Your knowledge of hand rankings will become especially handy when it comes to transforming a low-ranking hand to a better one, which can ultimately turn the tides in your favour. So, if you really want to become a poker ninja, get those hand rankings down! Take a look:

Royal Flush: This hand is the highest-ranking hand in poker. It consists of an ace, king, queen, jack and 10 of the same suit.

Straight Flush: This hand is built with a series of five consecutive cards of the same suit. 

Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank.

Full House: Three cards of one rank and two of another — a combination of a three of a kind and a pair. 

Flush: Five cards of the same suit.

Straight: A series of five consecutive cards of different suits.

Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank.

Two Pair: Two cards of one rank and another two of another rank.

One Pair: Consists of either two jacks, queens, kings or aces. 

High Card: Also referred to as the ‘no pair’, the high card is a hand that does not fall into any of the above categories. It is the lowest-ranking hand you can earn. 

ONLINE POKER GAMES

Now that we can check all the poker basics off the list let’s get to the fun part — the games! The digital revolution of online games only opened the door for more possibilities, so expect your poker game selection to be a large one. Different online poker sites may offer different poker games, but we’ll take you through a few top video poker games as well as a couple of great first-person online poker rooms.

HOLD’EM POKER 2

Hold’em Poker 2 is the fantastic sequel to the well-loved Hold’em Poker. Microgaming is all about releasing the flashiest of casino games, and Hold’em Poker 2 is no different. Poker players can enjoy all-new features, including multiplayer mode, and might also be able to win a whopping jackpot prize on top of sweet payouts!

JOKER WILD

Joker Wild is an outstanding video poker game that puts a fun twist on classic poker gameplay. In this variation, jokers act as Wild cards that can replace any other card in the deck to help form winning hands which is pretty cool if you ask us!

TURBO POKER

Turbo Poker is the perfect poker game to amp up your gaming experience. Enjoy all the best elements of classic poker but with supercharged gameplay! Try and form the strongest hand possible, but beware — you have a limited time to act. 

ACES AND FACES POKER

Aces and Faces Poker is based on Jacks or Better, but the amount of money you earn will be tied to the combination of face cards and aces. There aren’t any Wilds like in Joker Wild, but this game is one of the best poker games that might offer boosted payouts. 

PLAY ONLINE POKER FOR FREE AT ONLINE POKER SITES

While poker is a pretty fun card game to play, learning the ins and outs isn’t as easy as picking up cards and placing a few chips — but there is a fix. When you play poker online at EnergyCasino, you may notice a sneaky ‘DEMO’ button when hovering over a game’s thumbnail. What’s a demo? We’re glad you asked! 

The demo mode is a free-play version of the game that offers the exact same gaming experience you would expect when playing for real money. You’ll find the same features, graphics, mechanics and overall gameplay; the only difference is you play using virtual funds rather than real cash. 

Virtual funds are basically fake money that you can use to place bets. They only exist within the game and cannot be withdrawn, but they can be used to feel out the gameplay without putting down real money. 

All winnings obtained from the demo are completely virtual and not real. But, if you’re not quite ready to dive in, free poker games are the perfect stepping stone! You can even use the demo to practise the best poker strategies and set up personal preferences so you know which poker games to look out for in the future.

Access the demo mode by simply logging in to your EnergyCasino account, scrolling through our brilliant collection and selecting a table. Then, hover over the game’s thumbnail and select ‘DEMO’. 

If you want to take your gaming a step further, try out live poker! EnergyCasino is a pretty awesome poker site, so you’ll find hot poker games like Ultimate Texas Hold’em Poker, Side Bet City and Three Card Poker! Bear in mind that since these tables are streamed live, you can only play for real cash.

PLAY ONLINE POKER AT ENERGYCASINO 

So, out of all the top online poker rooms to visit, what makes EnergyCasino the poker site to be? Many reasons actually; allow us to give you a quick tour. 

As you flip through our gaming catalogue, you’ll quickly discover that our selection is packed with more than just poker. On your left, you’ll find thousands of vibrant slot machines featuring some of the most unique themes you can imagine. Snack on a couple of fruity reels, or feast your eyes on Megaways™ and jackpots!  

To your right, our Live Casino is bursting with totally immersive live tables. Take a crack at live baccarat, live roulette and live blackjack. Or, if you’re a poker player at heart, then we’ve got you covered there too. If you really want to kick things up a notch, then give our live game shows a gander! 

If you want to leave spinning reels and playing cards behind, sprint over to our Sportsbook. We’ll give you the full scoop on all things sports as you sit courtside at some of the hottest matches of the season. From football, basketball and baseball to figure skating, ice hockey and alpine skiing, we have it all. You can even take a look at a few virtual sports events and esports competitions!

Our online casino experience stretches beyond games as EnergyCasino players can bite into a few casino bonus rewards, loyalty prizes, casino tournaments and promotional events. 

Claim our Welcome Bonus upon placing your first deposit or head to our ‘Promotions’ page for a full list of our current offers. On top of a swanky Welcome Bonus, you can claim the hot Free Spins Bonus, Reload Bonus, No Deposit Bonus and more! The Terms and Conditions would list everything you need to know about the bonus and how to collect the bonus winnings. These may include wagering requirements, deposit limits, jurisdictional limitations and expiration dates, so make sure you give them a solid run through. 

If our current offers don’t really pique your interest, you can try your luck at one of our tournaments — we organise them EVERY SINGLE DAY. Before you opt in, be sure to check out the Terms and Conditions (even the highest value tournaments have them!). 

Our loyalty programme also has a few cool prizes, and we sometimes award a bonus code or two to our most loyal players. 

At EnergyCasino, we strive to deliver the best poker experience possible. Our Responsible Gaming policy ensures that your experience with us will be safe and secure as we uphold the industry's highest standards. 

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