Perhaps you know how to play poker already. Or maybe not.
In any case, this is the ideal time for your mind to try something different, including playing online poker for the very first time or sometimes playing for real money in online poker.
Before, choosing a poker game was relatively easy, as there were not so many games played. Casinos tend to offer cash games and that’s about it.
Nowadays, players will be able to select from several various games namely Hold’em, Seven-Card Stud, Pot-Limit Omaha, Short Deck, Razz, and much more, in addition to various game formats such as cash-games, Sit and Go’s, tournaments, jackpot, bounty, etc..
Then what’s the best way to start for a beginner with that array of choices? It is very easy and we show some of the best ones below.
1. No-Limit Hold’em
No-Limit Hold’em is still the prevailing choice in the poker world, given the growing success of games like Pot-Limit Omaha and Short Deck Poker.
It is quite simple to see why Hold’em is perhaps the most competitive and engaging game to play. Every player begins in Hold’em with just two cards and then uses a community board, which each player could see.
When you’re a No-Limit Hold’em expert, you can always play a game anywhere you go. To someone who likes a Razz or Badugi game, this isn’t as easy.
This is not to imply that other games have little merit, some may be easier, but Hold’em is the best place to begin a poker education.
Decades ago, beginners started with Limit Hold’em, but in recent years they’ve been moving straight ahead to No-Limit Hold’em.
There seems to be no real risk playing No-Limit Hold’em directly. Hold’em indeed has a bit more uncertainty, but you have the option to play small stakes.
No-Limit Hold’em is indeed more enjoyable than its Limit Hold’em cousin.
2. Video Poker
We highly suggest that you begin with video poker if you’re new to poker but feel a bit overwhelmed to play against actual people. Many online poker sites have a large range of video poker games and you can start with Jacks or Better.
The game is straightforward. Start with your bet, five cards you will get, each face-up.
In Jacks or Better, you play against yourself, as opposed to other poker games in which you compete against the house or even other teams. Your goal is basically to get a hand in the ranking system of hands.
Jacks or Better needs you to have a couple of Jacks or any card better than Jacks. You’ll get paid as long as you’re keeping it. More and more money you will make if you take hold of a stronger hand.
You will be paid as long as you rank. Yet the best part is, your first five cards don’t have to be your hand. With Jacks or Better, you can drop all 5 cards and swap them with new cards.
If you have a pair of Jacks or other better cards, you would like to keep these cards, but the convenience of exchanging your cards comes with a very good deal.
3. Tri-Card Poker
Unless you think 5 cards are too many to fill your head, try out the Tri Card Poker. This is a poker game where you just have three cards. You challenge the dealer over a winner-take-all game.
Start with the placement of your ante. Say, that’s $5. You’ll get three cards once you hit Deal. When you get a strong hand and you like it, just press the Raise button, adding another $5 to the pot.
You will win 1:1 payouts on both the ante bet and raise the bet if your hand is stronger than the dealer’s hand.
Skip Big Tournaments
Take note that in this post we practically bypassed multi-table tournaments or MTTs.
MTTs are among the hardest types of poker, that even the star players face long periods to earn real money. The payoff may be immense, but the interval is longer.
For inexperienced players, MTTs are therefore a risky option. In 10 straight tournaments, you can always play well but still miss the money.
You’re probably going to play fewer hands, as you have to hold your chips a bit longer to be fully invested in the game.
There is a lot of uncertainty for major tournaments. You may need to wait until they begin, then wait for a strong hand and to wait again to earn actual money.
Also, there are times when it is reasonable to play conservatively in major tournaments but this isn’t the best atmosphere to improve in poker.
