While there are many different types of online poker available, some of the most popular are:
The aim of the online poker game ‘Texas Hold’em’ is simple: win more chips than your opponents. Unlike other card games, however, there are only four rounds for you to prove your poker prowess. These rounds are the ‘flop’ (the 1st three community cards), the ‘river’ (the 4th community card) and the ‘turn’ (the 5th and final community card).
Online poker games begin with the two players to the left of the button (the dealer) putting in a small and big blind. These are two pre-determined bets entered at the start of each hand, with the big blind acting as the minimum bet and the small blind equalling to half that value.
Each player at the table then receives two cards face down. Moving clockwise around the table, players decide to check (match the big blind bet), raise (increase the bet) or fold (forfeit their hand) based on the strength of their first two cards. Once this round of betting has occurred, three community cards are dealt to the table; this is also known as the ‘flop’.
Players must use these three community cards to build the best possible poker hand, making combinations with the first two cards they have received. Based on the strength of this poker hand, another round of betting occurs, with each player either checking, raising or folding.
The dealer then places the fourth community card, or the ‘turn’. The remaining players now decide to check, raise or fold, based on the current strength of their hand.
Now is when the final community card (the ‘river’) is dealt. No more cards are dealt after this point in the game, making this the make or break moment for the strength of your hand.
If more than one player is remaining in the game after this round of betting, a showdown is triggered.
The climactic moment of online poker, the showdown sees all remaining players show their cards to the table. The best five-card hand takes the glory – and all the chips betted from previous rounds.
On rare occasions, two players with hands of the same value will share the winnings – also known as a ‘split pot’.
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Calculating poker (or ‘pot’) odds is the mathematics that tells the player whether a call, raise or fold is the correct course of action, given the ‘risk to reward ratio’ (potential cost-benefit of risking a bet).
There are a lot of variables at play when calculating poker odds, but the simplest formula to follow is Pot odds = [pot size : amount to call].
Let’s put this into context. Imagine there is £75 in the pot and your opponent bets £25. Your poker odds would then be calculated like this:
Pot odds help players decide what to call. In this case, the cost to call would be £125/£25 = 20% of the pot. As a rule of thumb, the bigger the pot odds (i.e. a bigger number in the left side of the ratio), the better price for calling.
Once you understand online poker odds, you can then move onto learning hand percentages and probability. View our helpful table, below, for a breakdown of all potential card combinations and their value.
Table: The best poker hands
Rank | Hand name | Hand description |
1 | Royal Flush | 10, J, Q, K, A of the same suit |
2 | Straight Flush | Five consecutive cards of the same suit |
3 | Four of a Kind | The same card in each of the four suits |
4 | Full House | Three of a kind and a pair |
5 | Flush | Five random cards in one suit |
6 | Straight | Five consecutive cards in mixed suits |
7 | Three of a Kind | Three of the same cards |
8 | Two Pairs | Two pairings of the same card |
9 | One Pair | One pairing of the same card |
10 | High Card | No matching of either card or suit |
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Get the edge over your poker opponents with these insider tips, below:
Are you ready to put your skills to the test? Play Texas Hold’em and other online poker games at Mr Green today. If you want to further your playstyle, take a look at our poker strategies too.
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There’s been a war waging over which poker is better: online poker or video poker. Of course, there are strong similarities, as they’re both derived from the same game. They aren’t without their differences, either, however. Let’s explore those differences in detail.
Online poker is a virtual version of the game, typically played with strangers, although it could be against the website’s CPU system. Online poker offers beginners a way to start playing the game and get to grips with its rules and strategies. It also provides certain benefits such as free games and practice rounds. This helps to teach beginners the game and give them the confidence to take their game to the next level. It’s also a simple game that uses graphics of cards. Online poker does, however, focus on a stringent rulebook that enforces how the game is played and what players can and can’t do. Depending on which version of poker is being played, these rules dictate the player’s decisions, which is sometimes an unappealing aspect to complete beginners.
Video poker is also played online, and with a dynamic appearance and added graphics. Sometimes, the gameplay is modified to resemble a slot game, and is typically centered around a five-card game style, which minimizes a need for any advanced strategy. Ultimately, it’s a solo game that allows players to get their feet wet in a casino environment without worrying about what other players might do should they struggle in the early stages of their play. Real money video poker offers players the chance to win a jackpot, as well as take advantage of a bonus through the existing and colourful style of gameplay. There are also multiplayer versions available. Due to the game’s simplicity, only a small amount of poker knowledge is needed, but it’s a great way to learn for beginners.
Strategy is one of the best aspects of poker, and is an aspect of the game that appeals to those who love to pit their wits against others, and increases the brainpower of those who play on a regular basis. The game calls for critical thinking, quick decision-making under pressure, and forward planning. Online poker requires more strategic thinking than video poker, especially when it comes to variants that provide a live dealer experience with additional time constraints.
Less strategy is involved in video poker. It does provide other benefits in terms of thinking, however. To make this easier, you will need to ensure that you can carry out simple tasks without even thinking about them. Being successful in video poker can benefit your strategic thinking before you progress to more advanced forms of poker, as it provides basic education in the game, allowing your brain to think strategically. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t any strategy involved at all, however. When it comes to choosing hands and anticipating the next move, it’s a solid game for beginners. It also often lists the winning hand combinations, which is a nice reference point for anyone still becoming familiar with the rules of poker.
There are advantages to both video poker and online poker, and so it really comes down to whichever version you prefer. The two games provide different game styles, with each providing something different to cater for whichever mood you’re in. Both games are easier than their counterparts found at a brick-and-mortar casino, which calls for an advanced knowledge of poker and its variants. Video poker and online poker also feature progressive jackpots that appeal to those who play regularly, as the better the player, the more chance they have of winning than at a traditional poker table.
If you think you have what it takes to play Online Poker at Mr Green, play now!
Mr Green has won numerous titles and awards, including Socially Responsible Operator of the year at the EGR 2012 awards and Casino Brand of the Year from the very same organisation in 2014. One aspect of its casino that Mr Green is most proud of is poker. The casino offers several variants of the game, such as Casino Hold’em, Caribbean Stud Poker, and Three Card Poker. Many of Mr Green’s players enjoy live casino poker and video poker, which we’re going to take a closer look at here.
Mr Green’s live dealer poker offering is a major attraction for many of its customers. Live dealer poker is unlike other poker games available at the casino, as it involves real-life dealers who deal the cards to you in real-time.
The live dealer poker interface makes it simple to browse through the open tables, join with other players, and just generally, have fun.
Check out this full guide on live casino poker, so even if you’re new to live dealer poker, you’ll get the hang of it in no time!
Mr Green offers several variations of video poker, with the most prominent being Jacks or Better, available in two variations. One was developed by NetEnt and allows you two bet on anything from one hand at a time to up to 25 hands simultaneously. Another variation, from IFT, offers an optional side bet that requires you to match three colours in order to get a multiplier on all winning hands. Each of these variants is full-play.
Joker Wild and All American are also available. Both variants are from NetEnt, which means that they can be played in multi-line format, and you can double your wins on all qualifying hands. A number of other variants from IGT are also provided, including Triple Play Draw Poker and Double Bonus Poker.