Poker has captured the hearts of players worldwide with its combination of strategy, skill, and the occasional dash of good fortune. Learning how to play poker shouldn’t take more than a few minutes, but mastering its many variants requires time and dedication.
Every newcomer to the game starts by learning how to play poker for beginners. Once that’s covered, they explore different variants and develop their skills and strategies accordingly. To help you understand the differences, we’ve summarised the most popular poker variants in the UK and explained what types of bonuses you can use whilst playing them online.
Before jumping into gameplay, it’s very important to understand the basics of the game. To keep things simple, we’ve split the basics of poker and how to play into three distinct parts.
Poker is a card game invented around the start of the 19th century in New Orleans. However, the game is inspired by European and Asian card and dice games dating further back. As such, there are many variations of the game, and while they are all referred to as poker, they follow different rules.
Generally, when players talk about poker, they are talking about Texas Hold’em, one of the world’s most popular variants of this casino card game. However, classic poker is what’s become known as Five Card Draw.
Before you can learn how to play poker for dummies or newbies, you need to decide which variant to focus on first.
While there are numerous poker variants available, they all have one element in common – the cards. No matter which version you’re playing, if it’s got poker in its name, then you’re most likely using cards to play. Most games use a traditional, 52-card deck, but some versions also include wild cards, such as jokers.
To ensure the game is fair, card decks are shuffled frequently at both online and land-based casinos. If you’re playing virtual games, the rank and suit of each card are determined by a Random Number Generator (RNG) programmed to replicate real-world results.
The playing cards determine the poker winner and are a basic element of any game. Classic decks are split into four suits, which are diamonds, hearts, spades, and clubs. Diamonds and hearts are red while spades and clubs are black.
Every suit contains cards ranked from 2 to 10, as well as face cards, better known as Jack (J), Queen (Q), and King (K). Finally, the deck’s highest-ranking cards are the Aces (A).
The rules of poker vary considerably, but the objective doesn’t. Using cards available to you, either in your hand or community cards, you need to create the strongest hand at the table. Beating your opponents, whether they are other players or the dealer, lets you claim the prize pot as the winner.
Throughout the game, you’ll have the opportunity to bet poker chips to increase the pot size. These represent currency in casino table games and can sometimes be used strategically through bluffing.
Some electronic versions of the game don’t feature any opponent, but your objective remains to create the strongest possible hand. As such, no matter which version you are playing, learning the poker hand rankings is vital, though memorising them is not.
After going over the fundamentals, your next step to learn how to play poker is to familiarise yourself with the classic poker hand rankings. Some variants may feature slightly different rankings, but these are generally the 10 card combinations you’ll use.
Helpful Tip: Memorising poker hand rankings is not necessary, especially if you are learning how to play at home using online casinos. Games at the best online poker sites in the UK include the list of eligible hands in their paytable or options menu.
Known as classic poker, 5 Card Draw is a straightforward game commonly played in casual settings, such as at home, but it’s also available in some online poker rooms. Learning how to play 5 card poker will allow you to progress to more complex variants, such as Texas Hold’em.
The best casino sites in the UK offer more than one version of poker, allowing you to put your skills to the test in different environments. Below, you’ll find a summarised overview of popular variants to help you identify which format best suits your preferences.
Texas Hold’em is the most popular poker variant worldwide and is mistakenly thought to be the classic game. Unlike in 5 Card Draw, Texas Hold’em rules dictate that players are dealt two private cards, called hole cards, and share five community cards placed on the table.
The objective remains to make the best five-card hand, but you can use any combination of hole and community cards. Moreover, as you learn how to play Texas Hold’em poker further, you’ll discover that betting takes place in four rounds, namely the Pre-Flop, the Flop, the Turn, and finally, the River.
Omaha Poker is very similar to Texas Hold’em but with two key differences. First, each player is receives four hole cards instead of two. The second difference is that every hand at the showdown must combine two hole cards with three community cards.
These rules make the game more strategic, so many players learn how to play Omaha after they are confident playing Hold’em. The game is also more complex than 5-Card Draw, which is why poker beginners don’t usually pick this variant to learn the basics.
There are several versions of Stud Poker, such as 5 and 7-Card Stud, where players are receive a mix of face-up and face-down cards over multiple rounds. Like in 5-Card Draw, there are no community cards, but unlike classic poker, players cannot exchange cards.
Strategy and bluffing play a significant role in the outcome of a game of Stud Poker. Unlike in other versions of the game, each hand’s outcome is entirely luck-based and there are no cards shared amongst players at the table.
In Three Card Poker, rules dictate that players compete against the dealer, not other players, so are similar to blackjack rules. No matter how many players are at the table, each one receives three cards and the goal is to have a stronger hand than the dealer.
Learning how to play 3 Card Poker is relatively simple since there’s no need for advanced strategy or bluffing. The only aspect that you have control over is deciding whether to stay in the game after your hand has been dealt.
Video poker combines the simplicity and mechanics of online slots with poker hand rankings. Players receive five cards and, similarly to 5-Card Draw, can decide which ones to hold and which to discard to form the best possible hand.
Unlike most other poker variants, there are no opponents, so learning how to play video poker is straightforward. Simply create a valid hand to win a fixed payout according to the game’s paytable.
Bluffing involves betting or acting in a way that suggests you have a stronger hand than you actually do. The goal is to make your opponents fold, allowing you to win the pot without a showdown. Bluffing works best when used sparingly and strategically, keeping your opponents guessing about your true intentions.
To bluff successfully, you need more than just boldness. Here are some essential tips:
Helpful Tip: Becoming competent in the art of bluffing is one of the most challenging aspects of learning how to play poker. Like any art, it takes time and patience to master and not everyone succeeds at the same rate. If you’d rather avoid it altogether, you might prefer casino-style poker games, such as 3 Card Poker or video poker.
Game rules and strategies are only part of the process of learning how to play poker online. Bonuses are another important aspect since using them correctly can boost your bankroll, provide you free entry into tournaments, or otherwise reward you as you play. There are many types of casino bonuses in the United Kingdom, but the following are the ones best suited for online poker games.
These are bonuses available to new players who sign up and place their first deposit. They often match the value of the deposit amount by a set percentage, providing additional funds for you to play with. These types of bonuses help new poker players explore the platform and its games without risking too much of their own money.
These casino bonuses are available to existing players to encourage them to add more funds to their accounts. Just like welcome bonuses, they typically match a percentage of the deposit. In some cases, they may instead provide poker chips or cashback, or unlock other prizes. Reload bonuses encourage continued play and reward player loyalty.
A rewards program where you get back a portion of the rake. The rake is the fee you pay to the house to participate in a game or tournament. This bonus effectively reduces the cost of playing over time. This bonus can be of great benefit if you’re a regular player by providing ongoing value. It’s typically found at platforms that offer regular poker cash games and tournaments where players play against each other.
Freeroll tickets provide free entry into poker tournaments that feature real cash prize pools. These bonuses let players compete without having the financial risk of the buy-in. They are ideal for honing skills and building a bankroll from scratch, especially if you’re fairly new to poker and don’t have significant playing experience.
Certain poker casinos provide special rewards that have no payment requirement. These rewards give players the chance to try the poker site and its games and features risk-free. It’s an excellent way for beginners to get a feel for online poker without financial commitment. Unfortunately, while popular, these offers are quite rare in the UK.
After reading how to play poker with simple instructions, you’re probably eager to start playing for real. Before you do, it’s a good idea to look at our top tips.
Even after learning how to play a poker game, it’s possible to make mistakes while playing, especially when you’re using real money. We’ve summarised the top five most common mistakes made by poker players in the UK, including experienced players, to help you avoid them.
Explore our full collection of useful guides to playing poker online:
Learning how to play poker in the UK requires mastering the game’s rules and developing strategic thinking and self-discipline. Whether you’re playing the classic poker game or modern favourites, like Texas Hold’em, spending a few moments learning hand rankings and optimum strategy can significantly improve your overall performance. Always remember to play responsibly and look out for suitable casino bonuses to grow your bankroll for free.