The Ultimate Guide to Online Poker in 2023

Explore the ins and outs of online poker, from basic rules to complex strategies. Pick up tips and jargon that help you explore the best poker variants in Jamaica. Enjoy free poker games in the best Jamaican online casinos, which were ranked and reviewed by our in-house experts, and play real money poker today!

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Overview

The world of gambling was forever changed in 1994 when InterCasino was launched. With it appeared numerous online casino games, including online poker. The latter has always been a fan favorite, as it is an unparallel mix of skill and luck. Numerous skilled punters have earned unfathomable riches, with some even making it to the World Series of Poker and achieving eternal fame. While the poker variant that you play varies depending on your experience and personal preferences, the basic gameplay remains largely the same. Join us in this exciting dive into the world of Jamaican poker and discover handy tips, tricks, and a breakdown of the most common poker variants.

Bluffing Your Way to Victory

Poker is based on a deck of 52 cards, with some variants adding or subtracting a fair number. The entire process is highly reliant on your mannerisms, with bluffing being a great way to win. The game loop is quite straightforward, consisting of the following:

  1. Each player is given 5 or 7 cards, based on the poker variant.
  2. Players are forced to place an initial bet.
  3. Participants are then required to bet, call or raise the current bet.
  4. After the initial betting is completed, punters may be allowed to discard or replace cards. This segment is called the flop.
  5. The flop is followed by another round of betting with the same bet, fold and raise options.
  6. The game ends with a showdown that sees all players reveal their hands.
  7. Note that a winner is automatically chosen is every participant except for one fold.

Pros & Cons

Pros
Rounds can be quicker
Game knowledge can make or break a round
You can bluff your way to victory
Cons
Usually only live games boast dealers
Testing all variants takes ages

History

Poker's origins go all the way back to ancient China and Persia, appearing in different variations. There are records of it resurfacing in France in the 1600s along with another game called Poque, which stuck to the game of Poker.

Poker was brought to America by French colonists, who originally played it in New Orleans. Its popularity skyrocketed in the 1860s, specifically during the United States Civil War. That was when many of the rules as we know them were established, as well as the different versions of the game such as Draw Poker and Stud Poker.

As its name suggests, Texas Hold’em was invented in Robstown, Texas in the early 1900s. In 1967, a small Las Vegas casino called the Golden Nugger catapulted this version of Poker into the limelight, and it gained immense popularity. The first Texas Hold’em tournament was held in 1969 at the Dune Casino.

The World Series of Poker was established by the Binion brothers in 1970; today it is the world’s largest poker tournament. They chose to feature Texas Hold’em as the main event, and this decision revolutionized the industry of gambling.  Texas Hold’em became the most popular version of poker around the world. When internet gambling came into style in the 1990s, hundreds of millions of people gravitated towards this game and secured its spot as the most popular.


Terminology

Because of the popularity of Texas Hold’em, much of the terminology below deals specifically with that game. There are also some basic terms included that apply to all versions of Poker.

Blinds: A term for a required bet that is made by the two players to the left of the dealer (the player to the immediate left places the small blind, and the player two places away from the dealer places the big blind).

Bluff: A strategy in which the player has a weak hand, but he bets as if he has a strong hand, thereby attempting to cause the players with stronger hands to fold.

Buy-in: Different games have different buy-ins; it is the amount of chips a player must buy in order to join the game.

Community Cards: Specifically in Texas Hold’em; these are five cards that are dealt face-up and from which all the players make their card combinations.

Flop: The first round in a game (not Texas Hold’em), in which three community cards are dealt face-up.

Flush: Five cards of the same suit.

Hole Cards: These are the two cards dealt to each individual player.

Pair: Two cards of the same value; for example, a pair of 2s or a pair of Kings.

Pot: The total amount of bets placed on a hand; this is what the players stand to win.

Rake: This is the House commission from every pot, and the way the House capitalizes on poker games.

River: This is the fifth and last community card that is dealt.

Round of Betting: There are four bet options in a round: check, call, raise or fold.

Royal Flush: This is a flush (five cards of the same suit) with an Ace high. This is the best (most rare) hand in Poker.

Straight: Five consecutive cards of any suit, for example, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

Trips: Three-of-a-king, for example, three Jacks or three 4s.

Turn: This is the fourth community card dealt.

 


Rules

Poker is played with one deck of 52 cards that is shuffled in the beginning. The player to the left of the dealer places the small blind (half of the minimum bet) and the player to the left of him places the big blind (minimum bet). In Texas Hold'em, the dealer then deals out two hole cards to each player.

The first round of betting begins before the community cards are dealt; the bets start with the player to the left of the big blind (three to the left of the dealer). The betting options are: fold (when players do not match the bet placed on the table), check (when a player already matched the bet and then doesn’t wish to bet more), raise (when the player matches the bet and adds more to the pot) and call (matches the bet and gets to stay in the game).

The flop comes out: the dealer burns the top card on the deck and puts out three community cards. Another round of betting takes place, starting with the player to the left of the dealer. The fourth community card is dealt, and another round of betting ensues. Then the fifth community card is dealt (the river), and this is the final round of betting before players show their cards.

Sometimes, players fold after the river and there is one player left, who is the winner. If there are two or more players left after the river card has been dealt, the dealer reveals the five community cards and the player with the best hand wins.

These are the possible Poker hands, in descending order:

Royal Flush: A flush (five cards of the same suit) with an Ace-high

Straight Flush: A flush of five consecutive cards (for example, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

Four of a kind: Four cards of the same number – for example, four Kings, or four 5s

Full House: Three cards of the same number plus two of another number (for example, 7, 7, 7 + King, King)

Flush: Five cards of the same suit (not in any order)

Straight: Five cards in consecutive order but without matching suits (for example, 2 of clubs, 3 of spades, 4 of hearts, 5 of clubs and 6 of diamonds)

Three of a kind: Three cards of the same number

Two pair:  Two sets of cards with the same number (for example, two Jacks and two 10s)

Pair: Two cards with the same value (for example, two 5s)

High Card: If none of the players have a pair or better, the player with the highest card wins the round (Ace is the highest card)  


Strategy

There are many factors that need to be taken into account in a complex game like Poker; it is not just about who has the best cards. Players need to be able to read each other’s body language, be able to tell who is bluffing and to devise a strategy about which hand to go for. If you are just starting out playing Poker, you should learn the basic strategy of how to decide to play a hand or not.

The rule of thumb is that if you get two non-pair cards whose values are less than 10 (individually, not together), you don't have a very high chance of winning, so folding is advisable. If you get a pair or one card valued at 10 or higher, it can be worth staying in the hand. (Remember, these are generalizations based on statistics, and obviously there are exceptions.)

Once you've decided how you will play the hand based on your two cards, the remaining strategy really depends on the cost-risk assessment of how good/bad your cards are and how much you stand to win/lose. If you're cards are so-so but the amount you need to put in to stay in the game is low, it might be worth it to fork in that amount. If the amount is high and your cards are terrible, you can fold or try bluffing – but be careful! Bluffing is a complex move and requires experience and skill.

Keep in mind:

  • You don't have to play every hand. Of course you might want to, because what's the fun in sitting out? But the laws of probability dictate that you will not win every hand; therefore, if your cards are not up to par, don't feel bad about sitting out. Even the experts know when to fold and wait for the next hand.
  • Just because you've placed high bets on a hand doesn't mean you have to continue if you see that the cards that are coming out are not to your benefit. If you started out with a pair of threes and you've upped the ante, but then two Kings come out on the flop and your opponent also has a King, you can bow out even though you've already put in money. Better to lose some of your money than all!
  • Remember that the community cards belong to everyone. With the proper concentration, you will be able to figure out your best card combination , and even predict those of your opponents! This can give you insight into how you place your bets.
  • Remain calm. It's easy to get excited, angry, happy or upset, but the best Poker players keep their emotions under wraps. It's not that they are angry and stuff it inside; they train themselves not to get distracted by emotions. This way they are able to keep clear heads and focus on winning the game.

Tips

Playing online casino poker might seem incredibly simple, especially thanks to various prompts and suggestions that point you in the right direction. However, there are certain tips and tricks that can help you maximize your gaming experience and play better. The latter include:

Kicking Things Off

Those of you that are trying to change scenery with a dive into the world of poker and those of you that simply want to play your favorite card game again will find the following breakdown incredibly useful. It will help you get started with online poker the right way:

1 Pick Reliable Venues

The best online poker venues feature amazing poker titles, generous bonuses, quick customer support, and various payment methods. Moreover, your chosen gaming venue should boast the best security solutions and licenses around. Check out our guide on how we rank and review online casinos to learn exactly what a reliable venue should consist of.

2 Manage Your Bankroll

Budgeting is crucial to a healthy and fun gaming experience. Set a budget before your session even starts, and always stick to it. Note that you should budget for time and money, as both are incredibly valuable resources. Moreover, always invest what you can afford to lose.

3 Try Free Mode

Casino poker games come in various shapes and sizes. We recommend that you try out a couple of variants and see which one tickles your fancy. Doing so in free or demo mode will help you avoid unnecessary costs.

4 Start Small

While high-roller poker is amazing in its own right, it might not be the best idea for the average punter. We recommend that you start with small deposits and wagers that allow you to ease into online poker.

5 Keep Calm

The second that you become angry, annoyed, or upset, you need to hang up your hat and take a break. Gambling when in emotional distress will only ever incur additional losses.

Terminology

Online poker is an amazing gaming space with almost unlimited entertainment. However, this popularity and gaming potential has given rise to various terms and phrases that might not be self-explanatory. Check out our poker glossary and learn the jargon that you need to sound like a poker pro.

Poker Glossary

Poker Variants

Choosing your next poker variant is incredibly difficult, especially with the hundreds of titles in dozens of subgenres that the average Jamaican online casino hosts. We have, therefore, prepared the following breakdown of a few online casino poker variants that you will probably encounter.

Ante Up 21 Blackjack

This game combines poker and blackjack. The ante, or initial bet, part is from poker, while the goal of 21 is from blackjack.

Poker

This classic casino game allows you to bet, raise, fold, and bluff your way to victory. Outwit your opponents and have fun in this amazing card game.

Live Poker

Digital gambling can often be lonely, which is where live games come in. Live poker allows you to play with a live dealer and your fellow punters.

Pai Gow

This Chinese gambling game is comprised of 32 dominoes and two hands, a high and a low hand. The objective is to beat the dealer.

Red Dog

The premise of this game is that the third card has to fall between the values of the initial two cards. A simple game with unexpected win potential.

Texas Hold 'em

One of the most popular poker variants comprised two face-down and five community cards. The objective is to produce the best five-card hand possible.

Bullfight

This Mexican take on poker tasks players with forming the best hand possible with the use of only two cards.

3 Card Poker

3 Card Poker sees punters making the best hand possible with just three cards. While the concept is simple, the fun is endless.

Caribbean Stud Poker

The name of the game is beating the dealer’s five-card hand. Note that this game variant occasionally sports progressive jackpots.

Tequila Poker

Tequila lovers the world over adore this game. The goal is to choose between playing high tequila and tequila poker, and each has its own rules.

Let It Ride

This game changes bets a bit by allowing punters to bet on their own hand or on the dealer’s hand. Use this flexibility to achieve new types of gaming fun.

Stud Poker

Stud poker sees players receive various face-up and face-down cards. The goal then becomes forming the best five-card hand.

Five Card Draw

Punters are initially given five cards and allowed to replace up to three with fresh ones. The replacing mechanic can produce some exciting twists.

Irish Poker

This take on five-card stud sees players making the best possible hand with the help of four face-down and one face-up card.

Open Face Chinese Poker

The objective of this poker variant is to create three different hands with a set of 13 cards. This game is perfect for those who love a challenge.

Pineapple Poker

Try Texas Hold ‘em in a different light with this three-card variant. Remember that one card must be discarded prior to the flop.

Short Deck Hold 'em

The premise of this Texas Hold 'em variant is that every card lower than six is discarded from the deck, which makes the action more fast-paced and thrilling.

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FAQ

Online casino poker is only as safe as the venue where you are playing it at. Your chosen casino poker venue should be licensed, regulated, and audited by leading regulatory agencies, such as the UK Gaming Commission. Every casino poker venue that OCR recommends excels in security, so check out our list to join the best today.

No, these games are not rigged as long as you play at a verified venue. Games that are based on computer software have RNGs (random number generators) running in the background. These guarantee randomness. Those with live dealers have multiple prying eyes examining an expert dealer, so it is impossible for the games to be rigged.

Counting cards is, in contrast with popular perception, completely legal and acceptable. However, it might not be the best move when playing online casino poker. Online poker games often shuffle multiple decks, which makes counting cards impossible.

Yes, you definitely can! All you have to do is load up a live casino poker game. Note that these are only available when playing with real money wagers.

Yes, there are. You can expect everything from standard welcome and reload bonuses to no deposit and freeroll gems. Freerolls are especially exciting since they allow you to partake in tournaments without paying an entry fee.

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