Poker

There is a common illusion that poker is largely a game of chance, but nothing could be further from the truth. Poker originated, according to David Parlett (A History of Card Games, Oxford 1991), in New Orleans in 1803. It has evolved a lot since those early days of crooked dealing on Mississippi steamboats. The Binion's Horseshoe Casino in Las Vegas now holds an annual World Championship with a first prize of over a million dollars!

Advantages of Playing Poker Online

Online casinos hold poker games 24 hours a day and a skillful player can make a comfortable living at the game. The advantage of playing in online casinos is that a dealer is provided and the game will therefore be fair unlike many illegal establishments where stacked decks and dealers who can deal from the bottom or even second card at will are a danger to the unsuspecting player. Of course, other than the fairness, there are other great benefits to playing online, such as the speed and security of the action. You can play right now from wherever you are.

Tips for Serious Online Poker Players

If you are intending to play online poker for serious stakes, we strongly recommend that you learn as much about the game as possible and that you only play in reputable online casinos such as those listed on this site. It is also worth bearing in mind that there are many different variations of the game, such as Texas Hold'em, Omaha, and video poker, so ensure you learn the same variation that you play to save yourself from any nasty surprises.

Poker Tournaments

Check out these exciting poker tournaments:

Poker Hand Rankings

It is important that you know the rules, the rank of the cards, and the order of the hands. Here are the standard poker hand rankings from highest to lowest:

• Royal Flush: A, K, Q, J, 10, all of the same suit
• Straight Flush: Five cards in sequence, all of the same suit
• Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank
• Full House: Three of a kind and a pair
• Flush: Five cards of the same suit
• Straight: Five cards in sequence
• Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank
• Two Pair: Two different pairs
• One Pair: Two cards of the same rank
• High Card: When you have no other hand, your highest card counts