Online Poker Guide

Despite entering the casino industry late, poker has established itself as one of the most popular games, online poker also is very popular and it’s not difficult to see why. At its basics, it’s a game that requires skill and strategy to play. You could easily win by bluffing your way on a high card or going all-in with a strong hand. Regardless of your choice, it’s a game that requires patience, skill, strategy, and nerves of steel to execute the gameplay.  

If you believe that you have the nerve but lack the strategy, Singapore casinos online is here to help. We’ve written this detailed guide to equip you with the basics of poker. There are also a few strategies, which will help you lower the house edge when you play online poker. Also included is a list of Singapore online casino sites where you can practice and get the skill required to outplay your opponents at the table.  

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History of Poker 

The exact origin of poker is widely disputed as there are several theories trying to explain where and when it was formed. For example, there’s a theory that explains poker was derived from several parts of different games played in ancient China, back in 900AD. 

There’s also another popular theory that peddles the roots of poker to be in a game referred to ‘as nas’. This was a game played in ancient Persia and one that used 25 cards with 5 suits and a total of 5 players. 

The other relatable theory, which is closest to modern day poker is that the game was derived from the popular French game, ‘Poque’. Given that the French had already invented many modern day casino games, it could be true as the French introduced ‘Poque’ in New Orleans in the USA at around 1480. This game involved betting and bluffing, just like modern day poker. 

All in all, the current poker game gained popularity in the 1970s when the Benny Binion’s WSOP tournament wad first played. Since then, the game has grown in popularity across the world, gaining a huge following both at the land-based and online casinos. 

Poker

How to Play Poker

Online poker game has gained recognition and popularity not only because it’s fun to play, but also it is an easy to learn the game. Not only will you be able to play against the dealer, but you can also play against the other players seated at the table and you can win based on how good or bad your cards are. You just need to perfect your poker face and you are good to go. 

Despite the different variations of poker games, there’s a standard procedure that you have to follow. It is as follows. 

  • Step #1: You are dealt two cards – face down 
  • Step #2: The first round of betting begins 
  • Step #3: The dealer deals 3 community cards. This round is known as the flop
  • Step #4: Second round of betting kicks off 
  • Step #5: The dealer deals the 4th card. This round is known as the turn
  • Step #6: Third round of betting kicks off
  • Step #7: The dealer deals the 5th card. It is the final card and is referred to as the river
  • Step #8: Final round of betting kicks off 
  • Step #9: If there’s more than one player in the pot, the players’ hands are revealed to determine the winning. 

How are the players’ hands valued?

There are nine possible poker hands that can be used to determine the winner in poker. They include the following. 

  • High hand
  • 1 Pair
  • 2 Pair
  • 3 of a kind
  • Straight 
  • Flush
  • Full House
  • Straight Flush
  • Royal Flush 

Types of Poker Games Online

There are more than 100 types of poker games that you can play. Yet, regardless of the wide variety of games, they are classified into the following two categories.  

Software Based Version Of Poker

As the name suggests, the game results for this kind are determined using software – usually referred to as the Random Number Generator (RNG).

Live Poker Version 

The live casino feature is in total contrast to the software-based games. The games are played in real-time, with real dealers, streamed straight from studios and land-based casinos.

Different Variations of Online Poker

From the outgoing section, we’ve just mentioned that there are 100+ online poker games to play. And while all the poker games are meant to pick your brain a little, the most popular form is Texas Hold’em. Not only will this game test your nerves, but it will also allow you to win large sums of cash. Besides this popular game, you can play other variations of the following poker games. 

  • Omaha Hi-Lo: Omaha Hold ’em is a community card poker game similar to Texas hold ’em, where each player is dealt four cards and must make his or her best hand using exactly two of them, plus exactly three of the five community cards.
  • Three Card Poker: The best thing about playing Three Card Poker? The chance to win $100,000 through the six card bonus paytable, which hits if the dealer’s and player’s cards combine nine through Ace in a royal suit of diamonds.
  • Five Card Draw Poker: Five-card draw poker may be old hat in the world of poker, but even so, it has managed to play an important part. Up to now, the various poker communities out there cannot afford to ignore this particular variation of the game, due to the simplicity of its rules, and the thrill the gameplay offers; and they really do love and respect the 5-card draw.

Other types of poker

There are hundreds of different variations of poker. Of course, we will not consider all of them in this article. So, we have reviewed some of the most common types of poker that can be played in poker rooms, you should also consider also those poker games: 7-Card Stud, 5-Card Omaha, Pai Go Poker, Razz, Badugi, Caribbean Stud, and more. Choose the most suitable variety for you, in which you can best realize your potential.

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Video Poker’s House Edge

Much has been said about this popular casino game, but nothing baffles us more than the rumor that the game has a 0% house edge. According to many, as long as you use the right strategy, you could be playing video poker without any house edge. 

But this is far from the truth. Since online casinos are in the business of making some money, it wouldn’t be accurate to state that the game has a 0% house edge. Rather, video poker has a house edge that ranges from 5% to 0.5%. There are different variations of the game but those that offer the best chance of winning are Deuces Wild and Jacks or Better. 

Online Poker Software Providers

Firing up your favourite online poker game is now possible because of the software providers. Yet, there is more to great software than smooth animations, a slick interface, and beautifully rendered graphics. Every deal of the card is dependent on the software provider powering the game you pick. And while there are hundreds of software providers in the industry, not all develop or power online poker games. The current crop responsible for developing poker games includes the following. 

Some of the companies that develop software based poker games include RSoftech, 888 Holdings, GammaStack, SoftSwiss, and Real Time Gaming. These companies design and develop games that use the RNG software to determine the game’s results. On the other hand, Evolution Gaming, Ezugi and Red Tiger Gaming design and develop live casino games. 

online video poker

Winning Strategies in Poker

Playing poker online for the first time can be challenging. It doesn’t matter whether you are a beginner or switching from the land based setting to online, it can be a daunting task. But it doesn’t always have to especially when you have winning strategies at your fingertips. If you’ve mastered the basics of playing poker, these strategies will help you increase your winning chances.

Be The Aggressive Type of Player

A sure way of winning in poker is to bet – and the best way of winning tons of cash is betting a lot! Poker is a game of times and focuses aggression. When you identify an opportunity don’t hesitate to capitalize on it! 

…But It’s Also Important To Be Patient 

As much as playing aggressive is the best strategy, throwing your cash away on weak hands and going all in anticipating to catch a great card on the river isn’t the best play. If you want to go broke fast, this is the surefire way. 

Instead of throwing around your hard earned cash, wait patiently for a situation where the odds are favouring you. Then snap the opportunity and play aggressively

Play for the Long Term

While playing poker, you are bound to lose some money – at least some of the time you’ll be playing. But don’t let this get to your head. Instead, develop your skills using this poker guide, while keeping the above points in mind as you play. 

Develop Your Skills By Researching 

Poker isn’t a game that you learn simply by playing it at the table. Rather, do a lot of research by reading books and blogs to get the much needed skills required to give you an edge over the casino

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Picking the Best Online Poker Casino – What Factors To Consider

Online casino gaming has become sensational over the past few years. This is evident by the number of ever-increasing players, looking to try out some of the poker and other games offered online. With the growing demand, there’s an ever-increasing number of platforms willing to offer their services to players. 

At the time of writing this, there are more than 200 licensed online poker casinos operating. With such a huge number, it can be difficult even for some of the most experienced players to find the right platform. Therefore, if you are new to online casino gaming, here are some of the factors you consider when picking the best online poker casino. 

  • Licensing 
  • Number of games on offer – poker plus other games
  • Payment options supported 
  • Bonuses and promotions available 
  • Terms and conditions for the bonuses and promotions 
  • Site’s reputation among players 
  • Mobile compatibility 
  • Customer support services 

Play Poker on Your Mobile 

You can now take the poker fun and entertainment with you wherever you go! Online casinos have developed mobile platforms that ensure you have a mini-casino in your pocket. The mobile casino offers you everything you can get at the PC platform – just in a conveniently sized package. The mobile casino offering comes in two main formats: 

Instant Play Format 

Through this, you get to play and enjoy games through your device’s browser. The only thing that you need to have a terrific gaming experience is an up to date Adobe Flash player

Download Format 

The name says it all – you’ll need to download software in order to enjoy the poker games. This is mostly common with online casinos that have a mobile platform 

Regardless of the option that you choose, you are assured of enjoying a seamless, fun and entertaining experience. In fact, downloading the application gives you access to additional games that are not available on the PC platform. 

Mobile poker

Free to Play Poker vs. Real Money Poker

Wondering if you can play poker for free? Yes, it’s possible! But you can only do this by playing the software based version of the game. Since there’s no cost involved in running the free to play games, online casinos let you play the software based games to familiarize yourself with the game mechanics. Once you are accustomed to the game’s features and workings, you can then switch to playing real money poker. 

Does this also apply to the live casino game? Absolutely not! Live poker can only be played using real money. 

Make Full Use of the Poker Bonuses and Promotions

While you can play poker for free, there’s not a single chance that you can win real money in the process. However, with the various bonuses on offer, and frequent promotions, it’s possible for you to win real money. Casino bonuses are awarded in different formats, ranging from free money, comp points among others. You can use these bonuses and promotions to your advantage once you’ve met the terms and conditions, heck you can withdraw them as real money to your account. 

Popular forms of poker bonuses and promotions you can opt in include: 

  • Welcome bonus offer
  • Cashback bonus, awarded through the cash back promotion 
  • Comp points, which you can redeem for free money
  • Special promotions for VIP players. It could free money, cashback bonus or surprise gifts

Conclusion

If you’ve read this far, you are clearly ready to play poker online. But as we’ve said, it’s highly recommended that you take a software tour of the game, familiarizing yourself with all the game rules, features and any other aspect that’s important to ensure that you’ve had a seamless gaming experience. Afterward, you can play the game for real money at the recommended Singapore online casinos

FAQ

As long as you are visiting a licensed and regulated online poker site, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about the safety of your personal or financial information. These sites use state of the art SSL encryption technology to ensure your gaming sessions are safe at all times.

Yes, it is possible. Online poker sites have partnered with a multitude of payment options including Skrill, Neteller, Paysafecard and Entropay to facilitate the safe and secure movement of money in and out of your casino account. All these mentioned options are available for Singapore players to use.

Yes, there are plenty of free to play poker games. Unlike the land based casino games, online casinos have software based games. These games are usually available in free to play mode, which enable you to familiarize yourself with the game rules and playing format.

It is possible to win real money, but not while playing the software based free games. To win real cash in online poker, you have to enroll to the free poker tournaments. Only then can you have a shot at winning the prize

Besides the classic poker game, online casinos offer plenty of other variations. Popular games that you can play include 3-Card Draw, 5-Card Draw, 7-Card Studd, Texas Hold’Em, and Omaha.

Yes, it is usually applicable especially in online tournaments and cash games as it’s the main way through which an online casino makes its cash. The rake structure varies from one online casino site to another, but you’ll generally pay less when playing live casino games

Of course there is. In fixed limit poker, you can only bet or raise a fixed amount of cash based on the house’s rules. However, for no limit poker, you can bet or raise any amount of cash as long as you have the required number of chips to do this

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