Online Poker
How’s your poker face? If you like the idea of thinking critically, timing your bets to perfection, and trying to beat our dealers one-on-one, online poker is the perfect game for you.
This guide outlines the basics of online and crypto poker. And, as a bonus, we’ve given you some top tips on how to play online poker and win.
Short History of Poker
Online poker is a big deal at BigWins Casino. However, you'd probably want to know how did it get to the point where it’s ranked among our top table games. The story of poker started in the 16th century with an ancient Persian game called As Nas. Some historians trace the roots of poker back to 10th-century China, but the consensus is that the foundations were laid in Persia.
As Nas was played with a 25-card deck and the aim was to make a ranked hand that trumps another. This concept was picked up by players in 17th-century Europe, which led to the emergence of games such as Poque in France, Pochen in Germany, and Primero in Spain.
As Europeans colonized North America, these games merged, and, by the 18th century, a game similar to what we now know as online poker popped up in the US. Spreading up the Mississippi River and, eventually, across the US as a whole, poker was born and, with it, a whole selection of variants to be enjoyed.
Today, online poker tables keep the game alive and very popular in various forms, many of which you can play at BigWins. Thanks to the innovative software you can enjoy at BigWins, you can play this classic game in a modern, convenient way. In addition to live poker with actual dealers, we’ve got crypto poker for you to enjoy too. Games such as Bitcoin poker allow you to use the latest payment technology and play poker online for straights, flushes, and more.
Different Types of Online Poker
Before you dive in and play poker online, you should get familiar with the different types of poker available online. Remember, it comes in three main forms:
● Competitive poker
● Casino poker
● Video poker
Competitive Poker
Competitive poker can also be called table poker. Games within this category are what you see being played at events, such as the World Series of Poker (WSOP). It’s competitive because it’s you versus one or more players. Needless to say, if you play competitive poker, you’re not playing against a casino dealer. This is where the famous "poker face" comes to life - you can incorporate various online poker strategies, such as value betting, bluffing, checking, and raising.
Casino Poker
Casino poker is where you compete against the house (casino dealer). You should consider this type of poker as similar to online casino games such as blackjack and baccarat. You can’t bluff and make the dealer fold because there are strict rules that everyone has to follow. Instead, you have to make moves based on math and logic. This poker type usually takes place in online poker rooms where multiple players compete against the house simultaneously.
Video Poker
The video poker variety is the last type of online and crypto poker you can play online. These games are like casino poker but, instead of taking place on a table, the action plays out on a device screen. For all intents and purposes, video poker games are very similar to online slots.
BigWins Tips on How to Play Poker Online
The BigWins Poker doesn’t feature competitive poker games, so you won’t be playing against other poker players who are members of our casino community on our online poker site. What you can do, however, is take your chances against our dealers in a variety of online poker games developed by some of the best poker software providers in the business.
Before we give you some tips on how to play online poker, let’s run through the basics. You can go head-to-head with our dealers in a variety of online, crypto, and Bitcoin poker games by completing these simple steps:
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Click our sign-up button and complete the registration process to join the BigWins family and automatically join our daily cashback bonus.
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Go to the cashier page and choose a processor to make secure payments. (You can use a variety of currencies, including crypto tokens that allow you to play Bitcoin poker and other games).
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Open our online casino games lobby and choose one of our poker games. You can play free online poker games using our demo mode or jump right into playing real-money poker online by making a deposit.
At this point, the game is on. Regardless of whether you’re playing free online poker or real-money poker online, the aim is always the same: form a winning hand. Hands are made up of three cards in certain games, but, the majority of the time, a poker hand consists of five cards.
Each type of online poker has its own dynamics. It's important that you are aware that the way you make hands will vary. However, when it comes to the ranking of hands, the system is always the same. Therefore, if you’re going to have any chance of winning at online poker, you need to remember that this is how the hands rank:
Online Poker Hand Rankings (Strongest to Weakest)
● Royal Flush = 10s, Js, Qs, Ks, As (the same suit)
● Straight Flush = Five cards in sequential order e.g. 4s, 5s, 6s, 7s, 8s all the same suit
● Four of a Kind = Four matching cards
● Full House = Three of a kind + a pair e.g. Ks, Kh, Kd, Qs, Qc
● Flush = Five cards of the same suit
● Straight = Five cards in sequential order (suits don’t have to match)
● Three of a Kind = Three matching cards
● Two Pair = A pair + a pair
● Pair = Two matching cards
● High Card = no ranked hand
Poker Strategy and Rules
Understanding the hand rankings in online crypto poker is important, but there are other things you can do to improve your chances of winning. Our top three tips when playing online poker are:
1. Play Online Poker for Free
It would help you massively if you play free demo games to master the basic rules of online poker and how each variant has its own nuances. Remember, you can play free games to practice various strategies without risking your bankroll. Then, once you’re confident, you can play real-money poker online.
2. Manage Your Money
Never risk more than you can afford. Basically, you should always be betting a small portion of your bankroll so you can ride the natural ups and downs associated with all types of online poker, including casino and video poker when playing at online poker sites.
3. Think About Your Cards and What’s Possible
Perhaps the best way to become a better online poker player is to think about your hands and, in turn, what the dealer’s cards might be. As we’ve said, poker is all about making the best five-card hand. Therefore, you need to know what you’re holding and what potential hands you can make.
Once you know this, you can look at any cards the dealer is showing and think about the hands they can make. If their potential is greater than yours, the best move might be to not make any extra bets. If your potential is greater, it might be a good idea to make more bets (if possible).
Most Popular Crypto Poker Games at BigWins Casino
We offer a variety of video poker games at BigWins, including Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild. Alongside these unique poker games, you can compete against dealers in these table-based games:
Casino Hold’em
In Casino Hold'em, you place an opening bet and receive two starting cards. The dealer also gets two cards. Three cards are dealt in the middle of the table. You can use these cards on the table and combine them with the two in your hand to make a five-card hand. If you like your current position and think it’s good enough to win against the dealer’s hand in a showdown, you can make an extra bet. Needless to say, if you don’t like your hand, you can fold and give up your bet.
When you continue, a fourth (the turn card) and fifth (the river card) are dealt. After these final two cards are dealt, there will be five cards in the middle of the table. You can combine one or both of your cards with those in the middle. If the dealer qualifies (has a pair of 4s or better), a showdown takes place and the best hand wins. If the dealer doesn’t qualify, you win.
Three Card Poker
This version of online and crypto poker is almost identical to Casino Hold’em in terms of its aim and betting structure. However, instead of making a five-card hand, you use three cards.
To start, you place a bet and receive three cards. If you think your hand is strong enough to win a showdown, you make a second bet. The dealer gets three cards. It’s then a showdown to see who has the best-ranked hand.
Teen Patti
This type of online poker is extremely popular in India. It has a similar structure to three-card poker, but one of the notable differences is that you can look at your cards (play seen) or play blind.
Playing seen costs more but you have the advantage of knowing your cards. Playing blind costs less, but the risk is you don’t know what cards you have.
The Benefits of Crypto Poker
Crypto poker offers several benefits for you. For example, when you play Bitcoin poker and other crypto variants, you’re using the latest financial technology in online gambling. Blockchains are decentralized, which means no one controls the system. This makes them incredibly safe.
Moreover, because Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are universal, you aren’t subject to currency conversion fees and other charges. Therefore, if you want a safe, cost-effective way to play, crypto poker is a great option.
Online Poker FAQ
How to win at online poker?
You need to make the best three or five-card hand to win in online poker. One of the best online poker tips we can offer is to think logically about the value of your hand against what your opponent could have. Thinking like this will help you make better decisions.
Can I play poker with crypto?
Yes! You can join BigWins Casino and not only play crypto and Bitcoin poker but earn cashback rewards and great poker bonuses. Crypto poker offers a safe, secure, and cost-effective way to play one of the most popular card games online.
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