In part two of the learn how to play poker for beginners free online poker lesson series we will step on from part 1 where we outlined the bare bones of the game.
In this lesson you will learn exactly how and hand of poker is played out and at the end will be able to start playing (if tentatively!)
We join the action once the blind bets have been posted by the Small Blind (SB) and Big Blind (BB) Now the cards get into action. If this means nothing to you go back to How To Play Poker For Beginners part 1.
Moving clockwise around the table from the Dealer (DB), each player receives two cards dealt face down, one card at a time. These are also called Pocket Cards or hole cards.
Now it is time for the betting to begin, that is after all, I imagine why you want to play poker! That is why I’m sure you now find yourself seated at a free online poker tournament table isn’t it? Isn’t that betting and winning buzz thing the reason why you’ve joined a free online poker site?
Of course that’s why you’re there, poker is all about winning money at the end of the day! With the possible exception of the social side anyway, the table and lobby conversations though if you are at all serious about money then this is a very minor reason.
At this stage in the hand (holding 2 pocket cards), each player is betting on what hand they feel their pocket cards could lead to.
The betting starts with the player to the immediate left of the Big Blind (BB).
This player is often referred to as the ‘Under The Gun’ (UTG) position at the table. He’s given the UTG label primarily because the Small Blind and Big Blind players were forced to put up bets prior to receiving any cards.
Thus, both the SB and BB are already engaged in the hand; albeit not voluntarily, at least not yet; they’ll have to wait until the betting comes around to them.
And, with this round of betting, each player has three choices:
1) To fold. You do this if you think you have rubbish cards, also called “rags” cards. You won’t lose anything as you have no chips in play but you will now sit out the rest of the hand.
2) To raise. Usually when they think that they hold really good pocket cards.
3) Or to call, (match) the Big Blind. Usually when they think that their pocket cards hold some potential.
A 4th option you may have heard about, checking, often available in subsequent betting rounds, isn’t a choice at this stage.
When the betting reaches the person who posted the Small Blind (SB), if they want to fold then they’ll lose the chips they were forced to put into the pot prior to the cards being dealt. Or, this player can call the Big Blind (by simply putting up the difference between the Small Blind and the Big Blind). Or as SB you can choose to Call whatever Raise has been made, make a new Raise or Re-raise the bet amounts to a new level, I advise you watch and learn this process at the start and as SB keep it simple and just Call the BB unless you have awful cards in which case fold them.
Next it is the turn of the BB (Big Blind). If there has been no raise then the BB can Check (do nothing and let the play pass by), or Call, Raise or Re-raise.
About Raises
As this is a No Limit Texas Hold Em tournament, the amount of any one raise is only limited by the number of chips the player who is doing the raising is in possession of. If his stack of chips is 1,500, he’s allowed to raise by any amount up to and including the 1,500 (all of his chips).
Should he opt to make a 1,500 chip bet, it would be called an All-In bet. It’s always an all-in bet any time a player raises by the total amount of chips he currently holds.
And, of paramount importance, especially since you’re at the how to play poker for beginners level of the game, make certain that YOUR usage of an All-In bet is tiny.
Please try not to become yet another free online poker ‘chip-flinger’ (someone who tosses chips around without regard to the quality of their cards).
When the opening round of betting is completed it’s time to see ‘The Flop’. Things will now start to get really interesting!
The Flop is the set of three cards that are dealt face up in the middle of the table by the Dealer.
1) Each player may use these community cards’ to build their hand. Be sure you read up on what card hands beat what so you have an idea of what you can build!
2) Again, as here-to-fore mentioned, the center of the table where these cards are dealt is commonly known as ‘The Board’.
3) With ‘The Flop’ exposed, it’s time for the next round of betting. And, the betting that will occur is based on the 5 cards now available to each player, i.e., 2 Pocket cards and 3 Board’ cards.
The betting starts with the player to the immediate left of the Dealer Button, regardless of whether the Dealer is still active in the hand or not.
The player to the left of the Dealer Button will keep the initial betting action throughout the hand. Later, you’ll come to learn that this is the worst position to be in at the table.
Apart from that, the betting process is the same as it was in ‘pre-flop’ betting. However, bear in mind, all of the players who have been dealt ‘Pocket’ cards may not be currently playing the hand as they could have folded during the opening round of betting.
So, whichever remaining player is ‘to the immediate left’ of the Dealer Button (DB), it is that person who will be the first player to act; throughout the hand providing he doesn’t fold.
He can check or bet.
A) If he checks, he’s simply passing the options of checking or betting to the player who sits to his left.
B) If he doesn’t check, and decides to bet, then those that follow will have 3 choices:
1) They can fold
2) They can call
3) Or they can raise. But, since a bet was made, those that follow do not have the option of ‘checking’.
When the round of betting has finished, it’s time for another card to be dealt face up on The Board.
This fourth card is called The Turn card, or 4th Street, and, again, the card may be used by all of the remaining players (those players who have not folded). It’s another ‘community card’.
Thus, each remaining player now has use of 6 cards, 4 Board cards, and 2 Pocket cards. Now there are 4 cards on The Board, one additional card to come.
It’s now time for the fifth and final community card to be dealt: The River, or 5th Street.
And, given that all the cards have finally been dealt, each player remaining in the hand can see what their finest five card hand is. Therefore, it’s now time for the final round of betting. And, once the betting ends, the hand is over.
It’s time to see who wins.
Each player who has remained in the hand shows their cards, starting with the last person to initiate a bet. At a cash or free online poker site the software will handle the process of showing the cards.
The winner is determined via use of the universal poker hand rankings. You’ll find that in subsequent chapter; entitled ‘What Beats What’.
If a player wins a pot because every other player has folded, he can decide whether or not to show his cards or not.
Most people don’t, and it’s almost always advised by me never to show your cards. If you’re not required to do so; keep ‘em guessing!
Yet, when you reach an ‘advanced level’ of play, you’ll get an entirely different perspective from me. You see, there are times when ‘deceitful strategies’ are going to be added to your acquired set of playing skills. And, a part of the ‘deceitful strategies’ will have you showing your cards. Not now though.
Summing up How To Play Poker For Beginners Free Online Poker Rules Part 2
In part 1 you learned the bare bones of poker, the structure and ideas of the game. Now that you’ve read part 2 you ought to now understand the specific mechanics of a hand of poker. In part 3 we will start working on more poker words and terminology, those crazy card and hand nicknames will be unveiled! But as long as you’ve understood the first 2 parts now you can go and start to play poker. It’s a very good idea though to firstly read and print off a sheet on what card hands beat what! Then you’ll get a feel for how to build your hand in the game stages and be able to think about whether to fold, call, raise or check.
At this point I strongly urge you not to try and play on sites where real money is involved, you cannot help but lose all or nearly all of it 99% certain!
Show patience (by the way that is a key poker skill it’s essential to master) and begin out on one of the excellent free poker sites you can find online. Later when you are more skilled there is lots of time for you to win lots of money and the time spent playing free online poker will set you up for this.
Nick is Marketing Manager for leading free poker site NoPayPOKER. www.NoPayPOKER.com is USA legal and uses faux currency which makes it totally risk free and so is the perfect place to how to play poker online as well as practice your game if you are more experienced or want a break from the stress of money sites!
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