Most punters aren’t interested in playing poker at traditional online casinos because they’re all into crypto poker sites. The popularity of Bitcoin casinos has led to the rise of crypto poker and other blockchain-based games.
So, newbies are now going into crypto poker, but many of them don’t know how to play. Hence, this article will show you how to play crypto poker like a pro by teaching its basics.
What is Poker?
Although poker is one of the most popular casino games around, there’s no concrete information regarding its origins. The first recorded scene of modern poker is from the 1700s, from the Mississippi River Delta Game. This game uses a deck of 52 cards, just like modern poker.
By 1970, poker had already become a household name in America, with the World Series of Poker tournament being held that year. With the advent of online casinos video poker became a thing, and live poker games came along after that.
Further down the line, Bitcoin poker also came along. Bitcoin poker plays the same as regular poker, with the main difference being the cryptocurrency used in placing bets.
How Does Poker Work?
Poker is a game that involves one dealer and five participants. Of course, the number of participants could be higher depending on the poker variant.
Then the dealer deals each player at the table one card at a time. Before these cards are dealt, however, a round of betting takes place. Here, all players must match the biggest bet to stay in the game.
After the cards are dealt, another round ensues. Another round of cards is then dealt, and players must still match the biggest bet to stay in the game. The dealing of cards and the placement of bets continues until the fifth round, where all remaining players reveal their hands.
The player with the biggest hand wins the game. Of course, if a player can convince others that they have the best hands early on, they can win.
Poker is a game where the player with the best hand wins. Each round of betting that goes on increases the amount of money in the pot. This is the money that the winner eventually takes home.
So, a player with a strong hand early on in the game benefits from getting more bets into the pot. However, each successive card that the player receives could spoil that winning hand, so it’s a risk.
That’s why players with strong hands would pressurise others with their confidence, so they lose hope and bow out. When a player shows others that they’ve got good hands, other players will leave the game to minimise their losses. Of course, a deceptive player can bluff that they’ve got strong hands, and get others to still bow out.
How to Play Crypto Poker
Texas Hold‘em is the most popular poker variant at Bitcoin casinos. So, this guide will be based on it. Except for some special cases, you can still follow this guide when playing other poker variants.
- The first step in a Bitcoin poker game involves the dealer dealing each player their cards.
- When the bets have been placed, the dealer deals two face-down cards (called a “two hole”two) to each player. Here, players can either check, call, bet, or fold. “Check,” means that a player declines the chance to start the round of betting.
A player who “bets” increases the bet in the pot (the sum of money wagered for that game). A player that “calls” matches the wager of the player that “bets.”
Players who “fold” are those who believe they have a weak hand. So they retire from the game early to save their funds.
Anytime a player “checks,” the right to bet is passed to the next player in the counterclockwise direction. This player can decide to “bet” or “check” as well. When a player eventually “bets,” other players must match that bet to be able to remain in the game.
- Once the first round has been concluded, the second round of cards is dealt to the players. These cards are called community cards, and they’re face-up cards. They allow players to get a better understanding of the strength of their hands.
After dealing the cards, another round takes place, with some players “betting,” others “calling,” and others “folding.”
- Another round of cards is dealt; this round of face-up cards is called “turns.” This allows players to build up their hands and understand their position in the game.
Here, another round of bets occurs, with more players “calling” and others “folding.”
- The last round of cards, face-up cards called the “river,” is dealt. This round will show the remaining players the strength of their hands.
Another round of bets occurs here, after which the most confident players begin their final showdown. The remaining players all reveal their hands for the dealer to calculate the highest card. The player with the biggest card wins the pot, and if there’s a tie, a “kicker” will break it.
The Ranking of Poker Hands
Poker hands (which comprise 5 cards) are ranked in a particular order. Strong poker hands beat weaker poker hands. So, all players always strive for the strongest cards to secure their winnings.
The ranking of these card combinations, from the strongest to the weakest, is shown below.
- Royal Flush: A similar suit of 10-J-Q-K-A.
- Straight Flush: Q-J-10-9-8 of the same suit.
- Four of a Kind: Four similar cards.
- Full House: Three similar cards and 2 similar cards.
- Flush: Five cards of the same suit.
- Straight: Five cards in a sequence, and they could be of different suits.
- Three of a Kind: Three similar cards.
- Two Pair: Two pairs of similar cards.
- One Pair: Two similar cards.
- High Card: This is the worst hand, and it’s judged by the highest card, with the Ace being the highest.
Final Thoughts
To play Bitcoin poker like a professional, you need to understand how the game works. This article will help immensely in that area, as it explores all that a poker player should know. With this knowledge, you’ll have a high chance of winning games on Bitcoin poker websites.
