How to Play Online Poker – Beginners Guide & Poker Tips
Keen to play online poker at Stake.com? Read our beginner guide to learn how to play this classic game, and discover the different types of poker you will find at our online casino.
Find out why we're the top choice for poker players worldwide!
History of Online Poker
Poker has ancient roots, and is thought to be traced back to over 1,000 years ago. Some historians suggest that a tenth-century Chinese Emperor played the earliest type of poker, while others claim that it dates back to sixteenth-century Persia, with a game known as “As Nas.”
In the early 1800s in the United States, initially the game was played with just 20 cards in the deck. It wasn’t until the American Civil War that other poker variants were added, including five-card poker.
Throughout the 20th century, poker became more popular, and the World Series of Poker was established in 1970 to organise elite-level poker games.
With the Internet boom in the mid-1990s and early 2000s, online poker became available to players in different parts of the world, and with ti emerged a range of poker slang terms and new vocabulary, which you can learn about with our guide. As a result, online poker rooms were created, and game providers launched poker-specific games for casino fans to enjoy at virtual poker tables.
Today, you can find practically every poker variation available online on popular poker sites, from classic 5-card Texas Hold’em to exciting video poker titles and Stake Poker online tournaments. If you’re a poker fan, you’ll find a good selection of titles on our online poker site.
What is Online Poker?
Online poker is the virtual version of the legendary card game that has been played for centuries. You can play many variations of poker online, including Texas Hold’em, Caribbean Stud, and Omaha.
You can also enjoy variants like video poker, a fast-paced and fun-filled game perfect for beginners and experienced players alike. Read on to find out more about the online poker options for the ultimate poker experience at Stake Casino.
How Does Online Poker Work?
Poker is extremely popular online because there are many varieties available and ample opportunities for recreational players and more experienced poker players alike.
Overall, in-person and online poker games share similar principles, with poker chips, community cards, and a prize pool. The key thing to remember with online poker is that every game has its own rules. For instance, Texas Hold’em is different from Caribbean Stud. However, the aim of practically every poker game is the same: to have a higher-ranking hand than your opponent (or, in the case of casino game versions, the dealer).
Therefore, to play online poker, you need to understand how to place your bets and what the best poker hands are, as we explain below.
How to Play Poker Online
To play online poker, first decide which type of poker game you want to play. At Stake.com, you can enjoy popular games like Video Poker by Stake Originals.
The next thing is to decide how much to bet. Each poker game has bet limits, and you can bet as little or as much as you like, provided that your stake is within the range permitted by the game in question.
After placing a qualifying bet, the cards are dealt, and your job is to make the best possible poker hand. In video poker titles at Stake.com, you only need to form a winning poker hand for a payout, and you don’t need to worry about what other players have in their hands.
Basic Poker Rules
As mentioned, several variations of online poker are available, each with its own rules. That being said, there are some key terms and rules that feature in most online poker games that you need to be aware of:
Blinds or antes – These are mandatory bets players must make to join a game (this does not apply to video poker games).
Fold/Bet/Raise – For each hand, you must decide whether to fold, bet or raise. If you fold, you leave the game. A bet sees you match the required chance to stay in the game, while a raise is where you raise the stakes to increase the bet amount.
Limits – some poker tables have stake limits that are made clear before the start of the game.
One of the reasons that video poker is so popular at Stake.com is that you can focus on forming a strong hand with the cards you’re dealt, as we explain below.
What are Winning Poker Hands? - Poker Hand Rankings
In practically all poker variations, the following poker hand rankings can earn you a win at the table (in order from worst to best):
Pair – two cards of the same rank (e.g. 2x 10s)
Jacks or better – a pair of Js, Qs, Ks, or As
Two pairs – two cards of one rank alongside two cards of another (e.g. 10, 10, 4, 4)
Three of a kind – three cards of the same rank (e.g. 3x 7s)
Straight – five cards in a sequence, not suited (e.g. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
Flush – any five cards in the same suit, not in sequence (e.g. J, 10, 4, 5, 8 of spades)
Full house – three of a kind and a pair (e.g. 10, 10, 4, 4, 4)
Four of a kind – four cards of the same rank (e.g. 10, 10, 10, 10)
Straight flush – five cards in sequence, suited (e.g. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 of hearts)
Royal flush – A, K, Q, J, 10 in a sequence, suited
What are the Types of Poker?
There are lots of variations of poker, including:
Texas Hold’em
Caribbean Stud
Omaha
3-card, 5-card, and 7-card Poker
Video Poker
Live Poker vs. Video Poker
Live poker (played online or in-person) are live casino games where you play a game directly against other players. So, you might sit at a table to play a Texas Hold’em cash game against eight other players in a casino or poker room. You need to establish a higher-ranking poker hand than your opponents to win a hand – or force them all to fold.
In video poker, you don’t play against other people. All you need to do is create the best possible poker hand with the cards you’re dealt. You have one opportunity to change one or all your cards, and if your hand ranks, you’re awarded a pre-determined payout.
Popular Online Poker Games
If you’re keen to get started with online poker at Stake.com, some of the best games to try include:
Stake Poker - Gather your friends around the virtual poker table for the ultimate poker night and try your luck as you play live poker online at Stake Casino!
How to Deposit Funds to Play Stake Poker Online & Bet Responsibly
You can play poker at Stake online casino by depositing in a local currency or via cryptocurrencies.
Right now, you can play at Stake.com with the following local currencies – ARS, CLP, CAD, JPY, INR and TRY. Depending on your preferences, you can also view your balance in numerous other currencies too. You can find more information about our local currency options on our community forum, as well as our local currency payment guide.
Learn how to use theStake Vault to securely store your funds online for all future gameplay at Stake Casino. You can also read our crypto security guide to learn more about keeping your funds safe and secure at Stake.com.
Online Poker Odds, Payouts & Return to Player (RTP)
Many video poker titles offer a high RTP that can exceed 99%, making it one of the best value games to play at Stake.com. Live casino poker games tend to have a higher house edge, typically 4-5%. It’s always a good idea to check a poker game’s RTP and edge before placing your bets.
Online Poker Strategies, Tips & Tricks to Win
Keen to win while playing poker online at Stake.com? Here are some top tips to help you:
Consider playing some hands of free poker before placing your bets so you understand how the game works and what to look for.
While you don’t need to be an expert in playing poker at Stake.com, it does help if you understand how poker hands rank.
Having emotional control is a key element to playing poker, so whether you have an advanced poker strategy, or consider yourself a weak player, try to keep your emotions out of the equation and focus on the game at hand. This is especially the case when being faced with aggressive or elevated plays like the 3-bet poker strategy.
As well as poker, you can enjoy other games at Stake including slots, blackjack, baccarat, and cards. Check out our latest releases to enhance your online casino experience.
