How to Play Online Poker
Keen to play online poker at Stake.us? Read our beginner guide to learn how to play this classic game, and discover the different types of poker you will find at our social casino.
Find out why we're the top choice for poker players worldwide!
History of Online Poker
Poker has ancient roots, and is thought to be traced back to over 1,000 years ago. Some historians suggest that a tenth-century Chinese Emperor played the earliest type of poker, while others claim that it dates back to sixteenth-century Persia, with a game known as “As Nas.”
In the early 1800s in the United States, initially the game was played with just 20 cards in the deck. It wasn’t until the American Civil War that other poker variants were added, including five-card poker.
Throughout the 20th century, poker became more popular, and the World Series of Poker was established in 1970 to organise elite-level poker games.
With the Internet boom in the mid-1990s and early 2000s, online poker became available to players in different parts of the world, and with ti emerged a range of poker slang terms and new vocabulary, which you can learn about with our guide. As a result, online poker rooms were created, and game providers launched poker-specific games for social casino fans to enjoy at virtual poker tables.
Today, you can find practically every poker variation available online on popular poker sites, from classic 5-card Texas Hold’em to exciting video poker titles and Stake Poker online tournaments. If you’re a poker fan, you’ll find a good selection of titles on our online poker site.
What is Online Poker?
Online poker is the virtual version of the legendary card game that has been played for centuries. You can play many variations of poker online, including our very own Next! games, Texas Hold’em, Caribbean Stud, and Omaha.
You can also enjoy variants like video poker, a fast-paced and fun-filled game perfect for beginners and experienced players alike. Read on to find out more about the online poker options for the ultimate poker experience at Stake Social Casino.
How Does Online Poker Work?
Poker is extremely popular online because there are many varieties available and ample opportunities for recreational players and more experienced poker players alike.
Overall, in-person and online poker games share similar principles, with poker chips, community cards, and a prize pool. The key thing to remember with online poker is that every game has its own rules. For instance, Texas Hold’em is different from Caribbean Stud. However, the aim of practically every poker game is the same: to have a higher-ranking hand than your opponent.
Therefore, to play online poker, you need to understand how to play and what the best poker hands are, as we explain below.
How to Play Poker Online
To play online poker, first decide which type of poker game you want to play. At Stake.com, you can enjoy popular games like Video Poker by Stake Originals.
The next thing is to decide how much to play. Each poker game has playing limits, and you can bet as little or as much as you like, provided that your stake is within the range permitted by the game in question.
After placing a qualifying move, the cards are dealt, and your job is to make the best possible poker hand. In video poker titles at Stake.com, you only need to form a winning poker hand for a payout, and you don’t need to worry about what other players have in their hands.
Basic Poker Rules
As mentioned, several variations of online poker are available, each with its own rules. That being said, there are some key terms and rules that feature in most online poker games that you need to be aware of:
Blinds or antes – These are mandatory plays players must make to join a game (this does not apply to video poker games).
Fold/Play/Raise – For each hand, you must decide whether to fold, play or raise. If you fold, you leave the game. A bet sees you match the required chance to stay in the game, while a raise is where you raise the stakes to increase the bet amount.
Limits – some poker tables have stake limits that are made clear before the start of the game.
One of the reasons that video poker is so popular at Stake.com is that you can focus on forming a strong hand with the cards you’re dealt, as we explain below.
What are Winning Poker Hands? - Poker Hand Rankings
In practically all poker variations, the following poker hand rankings can earn you a win at the table (in order from worst to best):
Pair – two cards of the same rank (e.g. 2x 10s)
Jacks or better – a pair of Js, Qs, Ks, or As
Two pairs – two cards of one rank alongside two cards of another (e.g. 10, 10, 4, 4)
Three of a kind – three cards of the same rank (e.g. 3x 7s)
Straight – five cards in a sequence, not suited (e.g. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
Flush – any five cards in the same suit, not in sequence (e.g. J, 10, 4, 5, 8 of spades)
Full house – three of a kind and a pair (e.g. 10, 10, 4, 4, 4)
Four of a kind – four cards of the same rank (e.g. 10, 10, 10, 10)
Straight flush – five cards in sequence, suited (e.g. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 of hearts)
Royal flush – A, K, Q, J, 10 in a sequence, suited
What are the Types of Poker?
There are lots of variations of poker, including:
Texas Hold’em
Caribbean Stud
Omaha
3-card, 5-card, and 7-card Poker
Video Poker
Live Poker vs. Video Poker
Live poker (played online or in-person) are live social casino games where you play a game directly against other players. So, you might sit at a table to play a Texas Hold’em cash game against eight other players in a social casino or poker room. You need to establish a higher-ranking poker hand than your opponents to win a hand – or force them all to fold.
In video poker, you don’t play against other people. All you need to do is create the best possible poker hand with the cards you’re dealt. You have one opportunity to change one or all your cards, and if your hand ranks, you’re awarded a pre-determined payout.
Popular Online Poker Games
If you’re keen to get started with online poker at Stake.com, some of the best games to try include:
Stake Poker- Gather your friends around the virtual poker table for the ultimate poker night and try your luck as you play live poker online at Stake Social Casino!
Stake Original Video Poker– one of our best games, this Stake Originalvideo poker game has a house edge of just 1% and invites you to form the best possible 5-card poker hand to earn a payout.
Triple Card Poker- this live social casinooffering from Evolution Gamingallows you to experience immersive online poker while seeking to form the best three-card poker hand.
You can also try Evolution’s Caribbean Stud Poker and Extreme Texas Hold’emfor something different, particularly if you’re a fan of live social casino games.
Return to Player (RTP) & Max Win
Many video poker titles offer a high RTP that can exceed 99%, making it one of the best value games to play at Stake.com. Live social casino poker games tend to have a higher house edge, typically 4-5%. It’s always a good idea to check a poker game’s RTP and edge before placing your move.
Online Poker Strategies, Tips & Tricks to Win
Keen to win while playing poker online at Stake.com? Here are some top tips to help you:
Our how-to guidesare filled with helpful tips and information. Learn how to play live social casino games, video poker, card gamesand table gamesat Stake.com.
Consider playing some hands of free poker before playing so you understand how the game works and what to look for.
While you don’t need to be an expert in playing poker at Stake.com, it does help if you understand how poker hands rank.
Having emotional control is a key element to playing poker, so whether you have an advanced poker strategy, or consider yourself a weak player, try to keep your emotions out of the equation and focus on the game at hand. This is especially the case when being faced with aggressive or elevated plays like the 3-play poker strategy.
As well as poker, you can enjoy other games at Stake including slots, blackjack, baccarat, and cards. Check out our latest releases to enhance your online social casino experience.
Social Casino Promotions & VIP Club at Stake.us
Here at Stake.us, there are plenty of big bonuses and social casino promotions waiting to be claimed. You can dive into our new online game releases or explore live dealer titles with a bonus boost to make playing even more exciting.
More than just fun promos, weekly giveaways, and hair-raising challenges, we also have a fantastic VIP Club that you can join. As an exclusive VIP, you’ll have access to the hottest rakebacks, big reload bonuses, and the perks of a VIP host at your side.
If you want to know more, take a look at our VIP program FAQs and have all of your important questions answered.
