In this section, we'll teach you the fundamental concepts of poker necessary before you start playing online poker for real money. You will learn about the different positions at the poker table and the four primary betting stages.
Seat positions
- Dealer: The dealer is one of the most pivotal positions in an online poker game. Since the Dealer Button rotates clockwise around the table, starting from the left of the dealer, this position greatly influences the flow of the game.
- Blinds: The Blinds are the two players required to make initial bets before any cards are dealt. These players sit directly to the left of the Dealer Button. The first player to the left is called the Small Blind, and the player next to them is the Big Blind. They are the first to act once the cards are dealt.
- Early position: The term ‘Early Position’, commonly abbreviated as EP, refers to the three seats to the right of the Blinds. The position known as Under The Gun (UTG) is particularly important as it is the first position to act after the cards are dealt. The players in these positions are usually the first to act in the pre-flop betting round.
- Middle position: This involves the three seats located in the middle of the table. Players here include MP, MP+1, and MP+2, reflecting their relative positions to the Blinds.
- Late position: The two players seated on the immediate right of the Dealer Button fall into the Late Position category, abbreviated as LP. The first player, known as the Cutoff, sits just after the Button, with the Hijack sitting immediately to the right of the Cutoff. These players are the last to act during each betting round, which gives them a strategic edge as they can observe the actions of other players before making their decisions.
Betting stages
As previously mentioned, the two players to the immediate left of the dealer—Small Blind and Big Blind—must post these mandatory bets to kickstart the action. Meanwhile, all other players at the table wait their turn, paying attention to the ongoing hand. After each hand concludes, the Dealer Button is passed clockwise to the next player.
Pre-flop
Pre-flop refers to the betting stage that occurs right after players receive their hole cards (two cards face down). This stage is followed by a round of betting where players can choose from three options: check, bet, or fold.
Since the Small Blind and Big Blind have already placed initial bets, the UTG player gets the first opportunity to act. They can call the current bet, raise it, or fold, based on their assessment of the situation. This process continues around the table until all players have made their decisions, upon which the second betting round commences with the total chips in the pot.
Flop
Post the first round of betting, a second round begins, known as the flop, where three community cards are revealed face-up. Players then aim to utilize their two hole cards and the three community cards to form the strongest possible five-card hand.
Initially, players start with the Small Blind, who can check, bet, or decide to fold. Following them, the Big Blind takes their turn, making decisions based on their own strategy. Once all players have contributed their bets, the third betting round ensues.
The Turn
After the second round, the Turn—also referred to as Fourth Street—occurs, and a fourth community card is placed face up on the table. At this point, players hold two cards and have access to four community cards, allowing them to construct a five-card hand to their advantage. The betting action unfolds in the same manner as it did during the flop.
The River
The River, which is the final community card in an online poker game, plays a crucial role in determining the winner, making it an essential part of the action.
The Showdown
The Showdown is the final phase where remaining players reveal their hole cards to declare the winner. This is where hands like royal flushes, straight flushes, 4-of-a-kind, and one pair come into play.
