Online Poker

This poker guide focuses on unique versions, some of which can only be found online. The games of Holdem, Stud and Omaha are well known and well played online but gamerisms strives to go the extra mile to inform poker players of other playing options, features and benefits thus presenting a comprehensive online poker games guide.

Additionally, gamerisms provides ample poker information at the site along with this guide. See the links for multiplayer games, glossary, poker software reviews, facts trivia, a poker quiz and online poker tips at the end of this guide.

It cannot be denied that online poker has become the #1 card game worldwide with a mammoth increase in poker players that has developed as the result of this popularity. Worldwide online poker revenue in 2012 was $6.7 billion. It is estimated that there are more than 60 million poker players in the United States and more than 100 million worldwide with an increase yearly.

Online Poker Versions & Variations

There is something for every poker player including the unusual and unique. Your poker adventure online can include the standards and classics of Holdem, a favorite, along with 7-Card Stud, Omaha or Hi-Lo. Then there are the poker game choices of Razz, SitNGo, Let It Ride, Pai Gow Poker, Baccarat and Caribbean Stud Poker.

Games played in certain countries or locales previously are now available to online players worldwide 24/7. Examples are the poker versions of Badugi, Pusoy/Chinese Poker, Red Dog and Chemin de Fer.

Alternatively, there are exclusive or proprietary online poker games available. Examples are Poker Pursuit, Cyberstud and Pineapple Poker.

Irish Poker: features No Limit and Pot Limit arrangement and is a variation of Holdem where initially players are dealt four hole cards instead of two pre-flop. Two of these must be discarded after the flop round of betting at which time, the round proceeds according to Holdem.

Onine Poker Mixed Games

Mixed Games provide an assortment of games to players at the same table. When you play at a Mixed Games table, the game type will change in 1 of 2 ways. This change-over is determined by time or number of hands. There are a number of different betting limit types, such as Mixed limit betting: a different limit type for each round.

Examples are: Each game in the group is played for 10 hands or each game is played for a half-hour at which time, the pattern is repeated. All games utilize a standard 52-card deck shuffled before every hand.

Click on one of the Online Poker games below to read more about the betting arrangement and order of play.

HORSE
limit betting

Arguably, the favorite mixed game online.

  • Limit Holdem
  • Limit Omaha Hi-Lo
  • Limit Razz
  • Limit Stud Hi
  • Limit Stud Hi-Lo (Eight-or-better)

HOSE
limit betting

  • Limit Holdem
  • Limit Omaha Hi-Lo
  • Limit Stud Hi
  • Limit Stud Hi-Lo (Eight-or-better)

HEROS
limit betting

  • Limit Holdem
  • Limit Stud Hi-Lo (Eight-or-better)
  • Limit Razz
  • Limit Omaha Hi-Lo
  • Limit Stud Hi

HOE
limit betting

  • Limit Holdem
  • Limit Omaha Hi-Lo
  • Limit Stud Hi-Lo (Eight-or-better)

HO
limit betting

  • Limit Holdem
  • Limit Omaha Hi-Lo

HA
Pot limit betting

  • Pot Limit Holdem
  • Pot Limit Omaha Hi

7-Games
Mixed limit betting

  • Limit Holdem
  • Limit Stud Hi-Lo
  • Limit Razz
  • Limit Omaha Hi-Lo
  • Limit Stud Hi
  • No Limit Holdem
  • Pot Limit Omaha Hi

8-Games
Mixed limit betting

  • Limit Holdem
  • Pot Limit Omaha Hi
  • Limit Stud Hi-Lo
  • Limit 2-7 Triple Draw
  • Limit Stud Hi
  • No Limit Holdem
  • Limit Omaha Hi-Lo
  • Limit Razz

9-Games
Mixed limit betting

  • Limit Holdem
  • Limit Stud Hi-Lo
  • Pot Limit Omaha Hi
  • Limit 2-7 Triple Draw
  • Limit Razz
  • No Limit Holdem
  • Limit Omaha Hi-Lo
  • Limit Stud Hi
  • No Limit 2-7 Single Draw

10-Games
Mixed limit betting

  • Limit Holdem
  • Limit Stud Hi-Lo
  • Pot Limit Omaha Hi
  • Limit 2-7 Triple Draw
  • Limit Razz
  • No Limit Holdem
  • Limit Omaha Hi-Lo
  • Limit Stud Hi
  • No Limit 2-7 Single Draw
  • Limit Badugi

Top 10 Benefits
of Online Poker

This Online Poker Players Top 10 benefits describes why millions of players choose online poker play and the reasons why poker is the #1 card game worldwide. This Top Ten List begins with the convenience and comfort level enjoyed by online players.

Online play cannot be surpassed for comfort and convenience in that no traveling is involved other than the few steps required to reach the nearest PC with an internet connection. Informal is the rule here and becomes the new comfort poker. Also, your chosen comfort level helps you relax and concentrate on the game at hand.

There is no time restraint for online poker. You can play against real opponents any time, night or day and never have to worry about time running out.Toss in the benefits of saving gas and food costs, plus no tipping is required.

You call the shots with online poker and choose your favorite poker games. As you can see from above poker versions info, the playing options are both limitless and varied. Toss in the Mix Game option and your playing time reaches the top level of excitement.

In comparison to offline poker games; online play overhead costs are not as high.For thrifty or new players, there is low betting available. Free rolls, free play and low priced tourneys are great values that entice more online poker players worldwide.

There is a wealth of rewards for online poker players. Welcome bonuses are yours at sign-up that include joining the players club for your entry card to additional loyalty rewards.
Here are examples of the long line of promotions online: daily/weekly bonuses, free rolls, free play, cash awards, guarantee pays, re-load bonus and day of the week specials like Super Tuesday.

There's more: 50% rake back, bad beat progressive, coupons offers, gift cards, Match & Win and VIP club cards for frequent players.
While this may seem like promotion overload, every poker site has a separate menu detailing their promotions and players club awards where you can pick and click your personal choices.

Poker free rolls are worthy of additional mention on this benefits list. Free Rolls allow beginners to learn the rules and strategies of the game and play poker with confidence while winning real money.

If you would like to get into a free roll poker tournament, the internet has the answer for you, however, make sure that your casino choice does not charge a fee to participate. There is no risk factor when you play freerolls, thus allowing the player to concentrate on what they are doing throughout the game instead of thinking about how much money they are losing or winning. This poker option combined with free play is an excellent way to practice.

No waiting, 24/7 action, plenty of tournament choices, qualifying events and guaranteed payouts are all part of the game for online poker players participating in tournaments. Some tournament types are Bounty, Turbo, Friday Bounty Guaranteed, Pro Tables, Sunday Guarantee, SitNGo, Shootout, Satellites and WPT qualifying tourneys. Most poker tournaments pass on a set amount of the registration fee to entrants.The majority of poker sites offer free tournament entry with their players club card rewards program. Also, there are single table, multi-table and heads up tourneys.

Live dealer casinos are recent and here to stay. The advantages of playing at the live dealer casinos include playing with a live dealer via web cam streaming, a 100% secure atmosphere where you can play worry free and online poker action that offers more control.
Players applaud the live dealer option that provides the comfort of knowing that the cards dealt are completely random. The advanced technology of live web cam games allows players to see the game table accurately as if you were there in person.

You can play poker faster and thus participate in up to 50% more hands per hour than you would offline. Additionally, trust and security is very important to all online poker players. Transactions during play online are guaranteed safe and protected. The best online poker rooms are connected with Verisign or Thawte Security. These are two of the most trusted security certificates in the world. Additionally, cards cannot be marked in this safe environment. Checks and balances are part of security. For example, a poker player's IP address can be determined in order to avoid players at the same address or an unknown proxy server from playing the same tables.

Online poker players should use these valuable tools to run reports, show statistics and display information about your game by saving their hand histories in a database. Analyze every aspect of both your hands and your challengers' hands to gather vital insights into strengths and weaknesses in order to determine what aspects of your game that needs improvement, the best move forward and exactly how to beat your opponents. The majority of online poker rooms support these poker tools.

The professional players do it, so why not other online poker players? Think of the advantage in that you no longer give away tells about yourself, and you can create a fictional ID to lure your opponents into overconfidence and add some mystery to the game.

Online Poker Betting Tips

Poker player use different betting systems. They range from the most simple to the most complicated systems.

The most common is the positive progression betting system, where the player usually increases the bet whenever he or she wins. This kind of betting system requires less capital.

However, there is also the negative progression betting system where the player increases the bet whenever he or she loses. Unlike the positive progression betting systems, this one requires additional capital. This system can be very painful.

Also, there is the Insurance betting system wherein you can decrease the amount of your bet in the event that you win which normally follows a high preliminary bet.

Online Poker Player Types

When you are playing online poker, you will associate with several types of poker players and their style of play. There are 4 playing styles listed below along with tips to adjust your poker game strategically.

Loose Player

The loose poker player is characterized by their inexperience and usually plays many hands. Seemingly, the loose player is always in the thick of the poker game. Even with a poor hand, he/she will play until the end of the game believing that luck is with them.

You can counter the loose poker player without difficulty by playing very aggressively with decent cards. Thus, a loose player will likely reward your efforts.

Aggressive Loose Player

An aggressive loose player raises the pot with nothing and bets no matter what card he has. He will always call your bluff at every opportunity and is talkative and over-confident. Don't play his game by calling his bets just to expose the weakness. Relax and when you have the cards to do so, challenge this player.

Tight Player

In contrast to an aggressive player, there is the tight player that folds at every hand and strives for pocket Aces. They can be taken by a bluff, however upon signs of intimidation, they fold. Be cautious if they don't fold.

Aggressive Tight Player

This style and type of play oozes self-confidence but will likely fold several times. When he plays his cards, he tends to play like a loose player and is knowledgeable about receiving profit for his strong cards.

Additionally, he will relax and allow other players to battle when his cards are not good enough. You will need some luck and attention to successfully bluff an aggressive tight player. Be vigilant and don't allow yourself to be played.

Watch for these playing styles when you are playing the personality of your opponent more than your card. Master these styles and quickly identify these players during your online poker playing session.

Tournament Strategies

Playing online, you connect to a gambling site and play with a hundred players. These tourneys are quite common and anyone can join. Online poker tournament players concentrate more on betting patterns and reaction time. They can also view statistics of their game flashed on the monitor.

Whereas, traditional tournament players focus more on other players' reactions and body language, tracking the card play in their heads.

Therefore, online poker tournaments are much faster than traditional tournaments. The pace online is at blazing speed for dealing, shuffling and collecting cards.

Traditional venues are generally for the big-time gamblers, high rollers and celebrities. While online poker tournaments are usually for novice players. Bets can go very low, but can get as high as thousands of dollars.

Online Poker Tips

  1. Picking a Casino: It's wise to pick about 5 online casinos in order to move quickly from one to the other during play. An informed selection should consider the casino's reputation, speed of payouts, ease of depositing and outstanding customer support.
  2. Picking a Betting Limit: Specifically $1/2, $2/4 or $5/10 blinds. Knowing that high-stakes limit tables are not the wisest choice, poker players are likely to get a better return on their investment at medium limit tables.
  3. Pick Your Stake: Considering that players must have a bankroll that is 50 to 100 times the Big Blind, a larger bankroll not only improves your table reputation, it also intimidates weaker players.
  4. Picking a Table: It is best to take 15 minutes or more watching the poker play and players at each table. Additionally, survey at least three tables before you play and choose the loosest table. If all tables are tight, regroup and refer to Tip #1.
  5. Play for 1 Hour: This strategy allows for a time out resulting in a sharper focus. Other players not taking this advice will be exhausted while waiting for that one last win. Check out the Online Poker Guide
  6. Picking a Position at the Table: Locate the most cautious player at the table and plan to take the seat to the left of him/her. The strategy is that these players rarely bet on weak hands.
  7. Take Notes: Detail the playing styles/types of other players. Examples of questions are: Does he/she raise before the flop? What is the size of his stake? Does he/she react quickly or slowly when his/her turn comes up? A Player Notes option is available at some online poker sites.
  8. Turn Off Chat: For total concentration, it is wise strategy to turn off Chat when playing online poker.
  9. Turn Off Other Distractions: Chat is not the only distraction that should be avoided in the interest of increasing your bankroll. Eating, listening to music and cell phone distractions to name a few, can reduce your stack when you lose your main focus.
  10. Play Tight: Use your acquired knowledge and skills by learning the rules, acknowledging the odds and betting like a shark, not a fish. Additionally, a wise strategy is to be on the lookout for quality poker tournaments, specifically with low entry fees.