Best Poker Sites Available to You

How We Rated These Online Poker Sites

When rating these online poker sites, we focused on the listed key factors (see below) to give you, as a player, a fair comparison of what each poker site has to offer. To help you find the best-rated online poker site that matches your criteria.

Traffic

The online traffic is an import factor to consider when choosing the right site to play on, the more traffic the easier it is for you to find the game you are looking for. Game selection is crucial for a winning poker player.

Security

To ensure we help you find one of the best-rated poker online sites, we rigorously tested security protocols, prioritizing sites that are encrypted and using trusted licenses that can protect your funds and data.

Stake Levels and Limits

Stake levels in poker refer to the blinds you play, for example, € 1-2 No limit Hold’em. The small blind is then € 1, and the big blind is €2. For each stake level you play there is also a limit of minimum and maximum buy-in. The minimum buy-in for a €1/€2 cash game is usually set at €40. This represents 20 big blinds (20x €2). The maximum buy-in is typically set at €200. This represents 100 big blinds (100x €2). To meet the demand of players who want deeper buy-ins of 200 big blinds or more, the top-rated poker sites typically provide this option.

Freerolls

As a popular type of poker tournament, freeroll tournaments allow players to enter for free but still have the opportunity to win real money, buy-ins to bigger tournaments, or package deals for live events. Freeroll options were evaluated for the chance to play and win without risking your bankroll. Most of the best-rated poker online sites offer a wide variety of freerolls with lots of value to be found.

Bonuses

Bonuses in poker are promotions offered by online poker rooms to attract new players and retain existing ones. These bonuses can significantly boost a player’s bankroll and provide added value, but they usually come with specific terms and conditions. The best-rated online poker sites usually offer lucrative offers for both new and existing players. We compared all the site’s bonus options, looking for the best value.

Tournaments

Poker tournaments are one of the most exciting and popular forms of poker, attracting players of all skill levels. Players especially enjoy the tournament format because of its competitiveness and different phases, it has a beginning and it has an end. Compared to cash games, which are often described as an endless grind. Online poker tournaments also offer a wide range of formats, buy-ins, and prize pools. We analyzed tournament options for variety, frequency, prize pools, and added value.

Deposit and Withdrawing

When playing poker online, you should look for the top-rated sites that offer a wide variety of payment options for both deposits and withdrawals. The ease of smooth money deposits and withdrawals and fast and hassle-free transactions are a must regardless of whether you are a recreational- or a professional poker player.

App and User-interface

Lastly, we reviewed the app and user interface for smooth, intuitive gameplay across all kinds of available devices. Which interface players tend to like is highly subjective, some prefers a clean and simple design when ether others are looking for a poker experience full of interaction with cool avatars and special functions. The best-rated online poker sites usually offer both mobile poker apps and desktop versions, where you can decide for yourself which design or player experience you are looking for.

How to Start Playing Poker Online for Real Money

It’s exciting to play online poker for the first time with real money, to be able to play comfortably at your own pace in a safe environment at home, and potentially score a big win. It’s easy to start, but there are a few things to consider before you start playing poker for real money. First, choose a safe and reputable site that suits your needs in terms of game selection, bonuses, and security. It’s also crucial to set a budget or, in poker terms, your bankroll. Your bankroll is your budget for poker; always keep it separate from your private spending, and don’t gamble with more money than you can afford to lose. A lot of truths can be found in the famous quote from the legendary poker player Mike Sexton – “Poker takes five minutes to learn but a lifetime to master.” With that said, it’s important to stay constantly updated on the rules and strategies of poker to increase your chances of success.

Assess Your Skill Level

Beginner Players’ Criteria	Advanced Players’ Criteria
Choose a Reputable Site	Traffic
Check Bonus Offers	Rake Structure
Find out what games you are looking for	Advanced Tracking Tools
Test the User Interface	VIP Programs and Rewards
Check Payment Methods	Security and Fair Play

Here are a few key points that a beginning poker player should consider before choosing a poker site:

1. Choose a Reputable Site: Make sure that the poker site is licensed, secure, and has positive reviews from other players.
2. Check Bonus Offers: Pay attention to welcome bonuses, freerolls, and other promotions that can boost your bankroll and give you extra value as a beginner.
3. Find out what games you are looking for, whether it’s cash games (Texas Hold’em, Omaha, etc.), Sit & Go Tournaments (SNGs), or Multi-Table Tournaments (MTTs)
4. Test the User Interface: Ensure that the poker client interface is user-friendly for laptops and/or smartphones.
5. Check Payment Methods: Verify that the site offers the deposit and withdrawal options you are looking for.

Here are a few key points that an advanced poker player should consider before choosing a poker site:

1. Traffic: Make sure the site you choose has enough active tables running during the hours of the day that you prefer to play.
2. Rake Structure: Analyze the rake (the small fee that the site charges to run the games) to ensure it’s reasonable to beat over time, as this can significantly impact long-term profitability.
3. Advanced Tracking Tools: Check if the site allows poker tracking software like HUDs (Heads-Up Displays) to help you analyze opponents and improve your game.
4. VIP Programs and Rewards: Evaluate the site’s loyalty programs, this is especially important for high-volume players when maximizing your profits. It’s common that sites reward their VIP (high volume players) with weekly or monthly cash rewards or with higher rakeback (rakeback is a rebate or refund of the rake taken by a poker room back to the player).
5. Security and Fair Play: Especially as an advanced player with a lot of money at stake, you need to ensure the site employs strong security measures and has a reputation for fair play, including protections against bots and collusion.

Ensure the Site’s Poker Offer Aligns with Your Preferences

Find a poker site that offers what you value most in terms of playing style and expectations. While we’ve touched on this in previous sections, it’s crucial to emphasize the importance of selecting a site that offers the variants of poker you enjoy most. Before signing up, be sure to check the daily number of active players to gauge the site’s player traffic. Additionally, consider the site’s peak hours and ensure they match your preferred playing times, so you can find the games you are looking for.

Consider the Bonuses and Promotions

When considering bonuses and promotions, it’s important for the serious poker player to take advantage of these offers as they can add significant value and boost your bankroll. However, keep in mind that these bonuses usually come with terms and conditions, such as wagering requirements or time limits, which must be met before you can fully benefit from them.

Ensure You Have one of the Accepted Payment Methods

One of the last things you should check before joining a poker site is to ensure that you have one of their accepted payment methods. Even if the site meets all your other criteria, it’s important to check if you can deposit and withdraw funds hassle-free to avoid any inconvenience later on. A trusted poker site usually offers the most common payment methods such as: credit and debit cards (VISA, MasterCard), e-wallets (PayPal, Skrill, Neteller), bank transfers (wire transfers or direct bank transfers), or cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum). Also look for potential fees associated with deposits or withdrawals, which can vary by method. Another factor to consider is processing times if you want to have access to your funds quickly, especially for withdrawals.

Online Poker Bonuses

Poker bonuses are incentives offered by online poker sites to attract and reward players. These bonuses come in various forms, such as poker welcome bonuses, poker no deposit bonus, tournament tickets, and free play coins. They benefit both new and experienced players by providing extra funds or opportunities to play without additional cost. For beginners, the best poker bonuses can be a great way to build a bankroll and explore the platform with reduced risk. Advanced players can also benefit from these bonuses to maximize their profits. By taking advantage of the best poker bonuses, players can boost their bankroll significantly. Below, we will describe some of the most common poker bonuses:

• Welcome bonuses – When you sign up as a new player on a poker site, you will usually be offered a poker welcome bonus. The site usually matches a percentage of your first deposit up to a certain amount. For example, a 100% poker welcome bonus gives you an additional €100 euro if you deposit €100. Claiming the bonus usually requires that you play a certain number of hands to unlock the bonus.
• No deposit bonuses – A poker no deposit bonus doesn’t require a deposit. The bonus will be offered just by signing up. These types of bonuses are generally smaller amounts and come with a stricter requirement before you can claim the bonus. However, the poker no deposit bonus is great for trying out a site without risking your own money.
• Tournament tickets – Tournament tickets can be described as vouchers that allow you to enter specific tournaments. Usually, the tickets you receive will be designated for a particular tournament, but they could also be valid for any tournament of the same value. Instead of using real money to enter (buy-in) you simply use the tournament ticket.
• Play money – Play money is virtual poker chips with no real cash value. They are purely used for entertainment or practice, to get used to playing online poker without any financial risk before you start to play with real money.

Poker Bonus Terms

When it comes to poker bonuses, it’s important to remember that most promotions come with specific terms and conditions that players must follow to be able to unlock the bonus. These terms can vary significantly between different bonuses, so understanding them is crucial to making the most out of these offers. In this section, we will cover the most important bonus terms and how wagering requirements work for online poker. So, you can maximize your bonuses while staying within the rules set by the poker sites. Whether you are a beginner or a professional, knowing these terms will help you avoid surprises and fully enjoy the benefits of your bonuses. Below, you will find the most important ones:

• Wagering requirement – The wagering requirement for a poker bonus refers to the number of hands you need or play (how much money you need to wager) before you can withdraw any winnings earned from a bonus. For example, if you receive a €100 bonus with a 20x wagering requirement, you will need to wager €2000 in total before cashing out. With this term the sites ensures that the players are committed to the poker site before they can claim the bonus.
• Time to complete wagering requirement – This term sets a time limit within which you must meet the wagering requirement. If the requirement isn’t met within the specified period, you lose the right to claim the bonus. Time limits are rare, though, and vary by promotion, but obviously, it’s important to read and fully understand all terms and wagering requirements before you start to wager your money towards a bonus. If the time to complete the wagering requirements is doable or not.
• Wagering restrictions – Some poker bonuses include wagering restrictions towards certain games that’s cannot be used to fulfill the wagering requirement. For poker bonuses, certain games, tournaments, or even stake levels may not qualify, or they might contribute at a reduced rate. Carefully read through all wagering requirements to fully understand these restrictions so you can meet the requirements as effectively as possible.
• Other terms – Other important terms might include minimum deposit amounts to qualify for a bonus. Some bonuses might also require a specific number of hands to be played. Always review these additional terms to ensure you can meet all requirements without risking to miss out on the bonus.

Online Poker Tournaments

Poker tournaments online are one of the most exciting forms of poker where you, for a fixed buy-in, can compete against other players with the chance to win big cash prizes. Even if the buy-in for the tournament is fixed most poker tournaments online allow rebuys (the rebuy period usually lasts until the 8th blind level) and or add-ons (usually available during the break after the end of the rebuy-period)

How to Enter a Poker Tournament Online

Each player that wants to participate in a poker tournament online pays a buy-in to enter, each player buy-in will contribute to the overall prize pool of the tournament. Every buy-in also includes a small fee called the rake. The rake is a fee that goes to the poker site as a service charge for hosting the tournament. Rake percentages vary but are usually between 5% and 10% of the buy-in. So, if the buy-in of at tournament is €100 the rake would be €10 if the rake is set to 10%. In that particular case, the total cost for the tournament will be €100 + €10, where €100 goes to the prize pool and the additional €10 is the rake.

Some tournaments have specific criteria that have to be met for players in order to be able to participate. Having enough funds in your account to cover the buy-in for a poker tournament online, needing a special invite to be able to join a tournament, holding a qualifying rank, or winning a ticket through a satellite can be examples of criteria that need to be met to join a specific tournament.

How Are Poker Tournament Prizes Distributed

Online poker tournament prizes are usually paid out to the top 10% of the field. The first players that reach the money will usually almost double their money, the buy-in back, plus some additional winnings. The higher you will reach in the tournament the higher the reward. A milestone for most players is to reach the final table of a tournament where the biggest prizes will be paid out.

The numbers of participants in poker tournaments online can vary greatly from a handful of players in a Sit & Go Tournament (SNG) to thousands of players in a large Multi-Table Tournament (MTT). How big the total prize pool will be is a combination of the buy-in times the number of participants in the tournament. In other words, online poker tournament prizes increase with the number of participants since each buy-in adds to the total prize pool.

Online Versus Live Poker Tournaments

Online Tournaments	Live Tournaments
+ Convenience	+ Fair play
+ Time-efficient	+ Unique experience
+ Multi-tabling	+ Physical tells
– Difficulties with tells	– Inconvenience
– Risk of cheating and collusion	– Time-consuming
– Technical issues	– High costs

Advantages with Online Tournaments

The convenience of playing poker tournaments online is unmatched. Joining a poker tournament in the comfort of your own home is ideal for those with busy schedules or if you live far away from the poker venues where the live poker tournaments are held. Not to mention all the travel and accommodation expenses you don’t have to worry about.

You can play significantly more hands per hour playing poker tournaments online compare to live poker thanks to automated dealing, this means that you can be more time-efficient and save hours of playtime. Poker is a highly competitive and exciting game but hours of concentration can leave players mentally exhausted. When playing poker tournaments online, a few more hours of rest can be invaluable. Also, you eliminate the risks for human errors that slows down the game by players, dealers and floor staff which often occurs in live poker.

A big difference between playing poker tournaments online compare to playing poker live is the possibility to play multiple tournaments simultaneously, this is called multi-tabling. An experienced

poker player can manage to play many tables at the same time, to maximize time and potential winnings. In contrast when playing a live poker tournament, you can only sit down and play at one table at a time.

Disadvantages with Online Tournaments

One of the biggest challenges with online poker is to find useful information of your opponents, the lack of personal interaction makes it difficult with tells. Instead, you will have to find other ways to figure out your opponents’ strategies by looking at tendencies like betting patterns and timing tells. Some poker sites also allow you to use tracking devices which can help you to find key stats on your opponents.

The risk of cheating and collusion is one of the biggest issues with online poker. Even if the poker sites are working hard to detect cheating players it’s easier said than done. They might detect suspicious behavior but they also need solid proof to be able to ban someone’s account. Colluding is one of the most common cheating methods, colluding means that players are working together on the same table and sharing their hole cards to get an unfair advantage. Another common type of cheating is the use of bots. A bot used for poker is a software program designed to play poker autonomously. They are programmed with algorithms which allow them to make optimal decisions based on other players stats.

Even though playing poker tournaments online is convenient and time-efficient it’s not entirely without flaws. As a player you rely on a stable internet connection, if you get disconnected you might miss out of the online poker tournament prizes. A disconnection can be a disaster with many missed opportunities and potentially even elimination depending on how long you are offline. Also, technical issues such as glitches or server crashes caused by the poker sites software can happened.

Advantages with Live Tournaments

One major factor for the growth of the live poker scene is the perception of fair play among players. The threats of bots and collusion in online poker scares a lot of players and naturally they stick to live poker. Live poker significantly reduces the risk of bots or collusion. Compared to online poker, live poker is generally perceived as more secure, with a dedicated staff present at the tables to ensure the game remains fair and safe.

Playing poker live is indeed a unique experience unlike anything else where you will be facing real time interactions. This face-to-face aspect of live poker creates a more personal and engaging atmosphere that sets it apart from online poker. The buzzing ambiance before the bubble burst in a big live-event adds to the experience. Many players consider the social part of live poker to be one of its most enjoyable features.

Unlike online poker, the live-poker scene gives you a rich social experience where psychology and body-language are a big part of the game. Whether you like it or not the social interactions in live poker like physical tells and table talk are unavoidable. The ability to accurately read other players is a great asset to have when playing live poker. To minimize your own potential tells consider the idea of watching videos of yourself playing poker or ask your poker friends for feedback. Another great tip is to study body language where you can learn a lot about yourself and others.

Disadvantages with Live Tournaments

Inconvenience is a notable disadvantage related to live poker for several reasons. First, playing live poker requires extensive planning and preparation before participating in a bigger live-event. For most players that includes long-distance travel and sorting with accommodation. Some people also find the physical environment in casinos annoying with crowded, smoke-filled rooms with a lot of noise. Furthermore, you will have to get used to be seated for long period of times which can lead to exhaustion and physical discomfort.

As we mention before live poker is very time consuming besides all planning and travel beforehand you will usually also have to deal with long waiting lists and delays. To fully participate in bigger live events, you will have to dedicate at least a week which can be inconvenient for those with irregular works hours or other commitments. Also, while sitting at the table everything has a slower pace compare to playing poker tournaments online where all the dealing is automated. Incidents caused by human error is common practice when playing live which naturally also slows down the game.

High costs are unavoidable as long as you don’t have the luxury to live close to a casino or poker venue. Travel expenses and accommodation is expensive when playing live poker. Additional costs can include tipping dealers, expenses for food and drinks at the venue and buy-ins and rake is usually higher when playing poker live.

Tournament Formats

• Freerolls tournaments – A freeroll is a poker tournament where you can enter for free without paying a buy-in. This is a popular poker tournament format for beginners to build a bankroll without risking their own money. Even if the tournament is for free it usually offers real cash prizes or buy-ins to larger tournaments. Freeroll tournaments are widely used in both online and live poker settings.
• High-stakes tournaments – High-stakes tournaments refer to poker tournaments where the buy-ins are significantly higher than the average poker tournament. These kinds of tournaments usually consist of a mix of professional players and wealthy amateurs that can afford a higher buy-in. High-stakes tournaments can be played both live and online.
• Freezeout tournaments – The freezeout tournament is a classic and straightforward format where you can only buy-in once and once you bust out you are eliminated with no second chance to rebuy. Freezeout tournament works perfectly both live and online.
• Re-buy tournaments – The rebuy poker tournament format allows you re-enter the tournament if you lose all your chips. However, this has to be done during the rebuy period which usually lasts for the 8 first levels of play. This format is popular both for online- and live poker.
• Turbo tournaments – The turbo poker tournament format follows the same principles as a standard tournament with the difference that the blind levels periods are shorter, so the tournament has normally the double speed compare to a standard tournament which means that you have to act faster and take more risks. Turbo tournaments are more popular online but also works perfectly in a live poker setting.
• Hyper tournaments – The hyper tournament format is even more extreme than the turbo poker tournament format. This format requires aggressive strategies in order to be successful due to the high variance, there is simply not enough time to wait for good hands. This fast-paced format is esp
• Knockout or Bounty tournaments – Knockout or bounty tournament is a popular poker tournament format that combines the format of a traditional tournament with a twist of rewards for knocking other players out. The price you get for knocking some out is called bounty. Bounty tournaments can be used for both live- and online poker.
• Mystery bounty tournaments – Mystery bounty tournament is a relatively new poker tournament format that has become very popular, it works excellent for both live- and online poker. It combines the traditional bounty tournament format with an additional element of surprise. Unlike the bounty from a traditional knockout tournament which has a fixed value the value of a mystery bounty is hidden inside an envelope. When you knock out an opponent you get the opportunity to open and reveal the mystery price.
• Satellite tournament – Satellite tournaments are used for qualifications to larger poker events. Through a satellite you can win a buy-in to a bigger tournament for a much lower cost than the initial buy-in. Satellites are a very common and popular poker tournament format for players who might not have the bankroll to buy-in with the full amount. Most larger poker events offer satellites as an option. Satellites are common both for online- and live poker.
• Sit & Go – The Sit & Go poker tournament format is usually played on one table with a predetermined number of players. The tournament doesn’t have set start time, it starts when all seats at the table is taken. Sit & Go is a popular format that works excellent for both online- and live poker.

Poker Variants

There is plenty of poker variants to choose from each with unique rules, strategies and appeal. Texas Hold’em and Omaha are the two most popular poker variants that can be used for cash games or tournaments live and online. If you are an enthusiast of more niche poker variants like Badugi, Razz, Five-Card draw or Seven-Card Stud, you’re more likely will to find these types of games online. Online poker sites usually feature a broader selection of more rare poker variants while live poker focuses more of the popular poker variants due to dealer experience and player demand.

Popular Poker Variants

Texas Hold’em – Texas Hold’em is without doubts the biggest and most popular poker variant. The main event of the World Series of Poker (WSOP), World Poker Tour (WPT) and European Poker Tour (EPT) is played out with Texas’Holdem. The simplicity of the game combined with complex strategies makes it appealing to most poker players. Texas Hold’em is very popular both online and live.

Omaha – Omaha is the second most popular poker variant. Unlike in Texas Hold’em where you only use two hole cards, you use four or more hole cards, and instead of no limit, pot limit is used in Omaha. Players who are looking for a lot of action and big pots usually prefers the game of Omaha. The game is widely found both live and online.

Seven-Card Stud – Seven Card Stud is a classic poker variant; it had its glory days 30 years ago. It used to be the most popular poker variant before Texas Hold’em became dominant. The style of the game differs a lot from other poker variants with the absence of community cards and an increased number of betting rounds. The game requires exceptional reading skills and abilities to construct hands by limited information. You will mostly find the game in a mixed game setting which can be played out both live and online.

Five-Card -Draw – Five-Card Draw is one of the oldest games of poker, often considered to be the foundation for all other poker variants. Even though it’s hard to find games with Five-Card draw in casinos or online poker rooms it’s still a popular game in home games. It’s a great game to start learning the nuances of poker to get a grip of hand selection and bluffing.

Razz – Razz is a poker variant where the goal is to make the lowest possible hand unlike most other poker games that aims for the highest hand. The game rewards patience, observation the understanding of hand rankings. Razz is often included in mixed games, it’s not as common in live-settings but some online poker rooms offer this poker variant.

Pineapple and Crazy Pineapple – Both Pineapple and Crazy Pineapple is a fun and popular poker variant very similar to Texas Hold’em but instead of the two-hole cards you will be dealt in Texas Hold’em you will be dealt three-hole cards. In Pineapple you will discard of the hole cards before the flop and in Crazy Pineapple you will discard one of your hole cards after the flop. This additional twist adds an extra layer of excitement with usually leads to bigger pots and more variance. Crazy pineapple is especially a popular poker variant often used in home games.

Chinese Poker – Chinese Poker is a unique poker variant that differs to most other traditional poker games. The game lacks of betting rounds and bluffing, instead it’s about creating best possible hand and comparing your cards to your opponents. Chinese poker isn’t usually played out in a casino or online, it’s more of a side game amongst friends.

Mixed Games (H.O.R.S.E.) – Mixed games is especially a very popular poker variant amongst experienced players and poker enthusiasts. HORSE is the most common mixed game format including the poker variants: Hold’em, Omaha Hi-Lo, Razz, Seven Card Stud and Eight-or Better (Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo). This format is considered as a challenging test for a poker players overall skill level because it requires a deep knowledge across all the different poker variants. Mixed games can be found both online and in live-poker settings.

Short Deck Hold’em (Six-Plus Hold’em) – Short Deck is a relatively new poker variant, closely related to Texas Hold’em. This popular poker variant removes certain cards from the deck, this creates more playable hands which in return opens up for more action. Short Deck is especially a popular poker variant in High-Stakes games and can be played both live and online.

Other poker games

• Badugi is a lowball poker variant with a unique hand ranking system and draws. The ultimate goal of the game is to create the lowest possible hand. Badugi requires a balance between hand reading skills and strategic bluffing.
• Triple Draw Lowball (2-7 Lowball) is another lowball poker variant where the goal is to draw to the lowest possible hand. It’s a game of skill and strategy including observation of your opponents.
• Five-Card Stud is a classic poker game that’s been around since the early days of poker. The goal of the game is to make the best possible five card hand using a combination of hole cards and community cards.
• Lazy Pineapple is rarely seen variant of Pineapple. In this poker variant players must discard one card after the first betting round before the flop is dealt. A new card from the deck will then replace the discarded card. After this process the game will continue as Crazy Pineapple.
• Tahoe Hold’em is another rare poker variant named after the Lake Tahoe, popular destination known for its casinos and poker action. The unique twist with Tahoe Hold’em is the presence of a “wild card”. One of the community cards is used as the wild card and it can represent any card value or suit.
• Irish Poker is closely related to Texas Hold’em with the distinction of being delt four hole-cards instead of two. After the flop players will have to discard two hole-cards and the game will continue as Texas Hold’em. Irish poker is a niche poker variant that can be hard to find in traditional poker rooms, but it could be a great game to introduce for friendly home games.
• Courchevel is another variant of Texas Hold’em named after the French ski resort Courchevel. In this game you will be dealt four hole-cards and the flop will consist of four community cards instead of the usual three card flop.
• Pineapple Open-Face Chinese Poker is a combination of Open-Face Chinese Poker and Pineapple. This unique combination of the two popular poker variants creates a challenging and exciting game perfect for poker enthusiasts.
• Razzdugi is a hybrid of the popular lowball poker variants Razz and Badugi. The mix of the two poker games creates enjoyable and challenging experience perfectly matched for lovers of lowball poker.
• Mississippi Stud is a popular casino table game, which means that you’re competing against the house and not to other players. The goal is to make the best possible five-card hand using two hole-cards and three community cards.
• Caribbean Stud Poker is another popular casino table game closely related to Five Card Stud and with the possibility to hit the progressive jackpot. It’s a straightforward game that is easy to learn and the offering of large payouts adds an extra layer of excitement.
• Hi-Lo Split (e.g. Omaha Hi-Lo, Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo) is a poker variant where the pot is dived between the best high hand and the best qualifying low hand. This poker format is highly complex and requires a deep understanding of rules and strategy. The ultimate goal is to “scoop” the pot by winning both the high and low hand.
• Double Board Hold’em is a variant of Texas Hold’em played out with two boards of community cards instead of one. If you win one of the boards you are entitled to 50% of the pot. Most of the time players will split the pot because it’s hard to win both boards but the ultimate goal is obviously to win both boards and “scoop” the pot.
• H.O.S.E is a mixed game variant which switches between four different poker games in a set rotation. It’s closely related two H.O.R.S.E with the only difference that Razz is excluded from H.O.S.E.
• T.H.O.R.S.E is yet another example of a mixed game poker variant. In this format Texas Hold’em is added in the mix together with Omaha Hi-Lo, Razz, Seven-Card Stud, and Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo (Eight or Better).
• 8 -game Mix is one of the most challenging mixed games variants, it includes: Limit 2-7 Triple Draw, Limit Texas Hold’em, Limit Omaha Hi-Lo (Eight or Better), Razz, Limit Seven-Card Stud, Limit Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo (Eight or Better), No-Limit Hold’em, and Pot-Limit Omaha. 8-game Mix offers diversity and complexity well suited for advanced poker players and poker enthusiasts.
• Guts is a straightforward and fast-paced poker variant which requires both skill and psychology. Guts poker offer an intense and thrilling experience often used in high stakes action.
• Chicago is an entertaining poker variant where you accumulate points based on poker hand rankings. Chicago is a great choice of game for casual play among friends at home.
• Anaconda is a unique poker game that includes multiple rounds where players draft cards with each other. These drafts where cards get discarded and passed by creates opportunities to both improve your hands and make strategic decisions with the cards you receive from your opponents. Anaconda is a entertaining and strategic poker variant mostly found in home games or private settings.

How to play poker?

To be successful in poker requires a passion and dedication to the game and a combination of certain traits and skillsets. We will break down the key traits you need to know, how to play poker successfully. All the traits we introduce below: (patience, mental strength, discipline, analytical abilities, math skills and psychology) how to play poker successfully is important to practice on a regular basis. The game of poker never stands still and you need to make sure that you are updated with the latest trends and strategies otherwise you are risking of falling behind.

Key traits for a successful poker player:

1. Patience: If you know how to play poker successfully, you certainly know the importance of patience. One mistake caused by an impulsive decision can potentially ruin your session. It’s important to understand that poker requires patience to be able to stick to a long-term strategy, most of the time you will have to wait for the right hands and moments before you act.
2. Mental strength: Mental strength is another key factor for every serious poker player. You can’t afford to let negative outcomes affect your mood or future decisions. Even if you play a hand to perfection the outcome could still be negative, it’s important to understand that’s it’s part of the game and especially don’t let it affect you. Sometimes it’s easier said than done and if you feel that it affects your ability to play you should immediately quit your session and go for a break. To be better prepared you should look for online poker tips about stress management techniques and mindfulness to improve your emotional control.
3. Discipline: Any poker player needs discipline in order to be successful. It’s crucial to stick to your strategy with set limits and also to remain calm and composed at all times. Only participate in games where you feel confident and stick to limits within the threshold of your bankroll. Avoid at all costs to jump up in stakes trying to chase losses. Aim to make the best possible decision of every hand you play, understand and accept the luck is part of the game. Downswings, when luck is not on your side will happen but if you constantly make good decisions, you will be a winner in the long run.
4. Analytical abilities: Most successful poker player possess impressive analytical abilities. As a poker player you should constantly strive to analyze your game and find ways to improve. Studying game theory is equally import as your actual time you set to play. You can find great online poker tips how to successfully study the game. By practicing hand analysis and break down hands you previously played will significantly improve your game. The more you prepare and practice the more confident you will feel before sitting down at the table.
5. Math skills: Poker doesn’t usually require advanced math skills but you should be able to grasp basic mathematics to calculate probabilities and pot odds. It’s easy to find good online poker tips how to properly use mathematics in poker. Knowing the basics will help you making the correct decisions.
6. Psychology: Psychology is a big part of poker, the ability to read poker and understand their behavior is a great skill set to have in poker. You can improve your psychological insight by observing other players, looking for tells or tendencies that can reveal something of their strength of their holdings. Drop your phone while playing and only try to observe what’s happening around you, you will be amazed how much information people give away not knowing about it.

Beginner’s guide	Poker Variants	Advanced poker tips and advice
Pot calculator	Player psychology	Hand ranking
Starting hands

General Online Poker Tips

• If you are new to the game start by playing with play money or low stakes with real money just to get a feel for the game without risking too much
• Be selective with the hands you play, aim for a tight-aggressive approach and widen your range the more comfortable you get.
• A brilliant online poker tips is to switch gears from time to time to you avoid being predictable to play against.
• Pay attention to position. In early positions you need to be selective with your openings. Later positions allow you to gather more information before you act, there you can open up your range and put more pressure.
• Study your opponents. Look for tendencies and try to figure player types. Take notes. Go into detail and look for potential timing tells, betting patterns etc. Later this information can be very useful if you frequently play against the same players.
• Keep a strict bankroll management is another great online poker tips. Set up a budget beforehand and preferably don’t risk more than 2% of your bankroll for any single game you decide to play.
• Never stop learning. Poker is a game of skill that continuously evolves, the best players know this and they dedicate countless of hours adapting to new trends and strategies. One of the best online poker tips out there is to find study groups or more experienced players to discuss hands and strategies with.

FAQs

Is online poker legal?

Most countries in the world either allow online poker, have specific restrictions, or operate in legal gray areas. Before you start playing poker online you should check the specific laws in the country or state which you reside. The safest way to make sure you’re complying with local laws is to only play on licensed and regulated online poker sites.

Can I win real money playing poker online?

Yes, it’s possible to win real money by playing online poker. Most online poker sites offer games for real money. You can either participate in cash games or in tournaments. In cash games you choose the amount of money you buy in for and in tournament every player pays a fixed buy-in that will be distributed to a total prize pool. To be a constant winner in real money games requires patience, discipline, analytical skills, strategic approach and a strong mindset.

How do professional players make money?

Poker players are able to make money by having a professional approach to the game. Nowadays it’s rare that poker players win money just by pure talent. To be a steady winner in the game usually requires hard work and dedication. Players make money by choosing the right games to play in, you don’t necessarily need to be the best player in the world to win at poker. You only need to be one of the best players in the games you frequently play in. Therefore, game selection is essential to make money in poker.

Can I become a professional player?

Any player with the right mindset and discipline can eventually become a professional player but be aware that it requires a lot of dedication and sacrifices a long the way. There are a few things you need to consider before choosing this career path. First you need a proper bank roll to start, be prepared for the risks of downswings both mentally and financially, understand the commitment, it’s more than just a card game – it’s a lifestyle where you need to spend hours playing, studying and reviewing your own game. If you are seriously considering playing poker professionally approach with caution, with realistic expectations and with a well thought out plan.

Is it safe to play online poker?

Playing online poker is relatively safe if you choose to play on reputable site which is licensed and regulated by authorities like the MGA (Malta Gaming Authority) which have strict standards for fairness, security and player protection. There will always be risks for bots and collusion when playing online poker but when you choose to play on a reputable site you will minimize the risks significantly. The best poker sites can detect bots and collusions with sophisticated programs and so that you as a player can feel confident that the game is fair and secure.

Can I play online poker with friends?

Yes, it’s possible to play online poker with your friends. You can both join the same games online for both tournaments and cash games. However, it might be restricted to play in the same cash game table if you share the same location (IP-address). Many poker sites also offer the opportunity to set up private games where you can invite your friends to join.

What are the best poker sites?

Which site that’s best for you depends on your preferences and what type of games you are looking for. Whether it’s regular cash games, tournaments or more rare niched poker games. You should also factor

player activity, regional availability and software quality into the decision when finding the best poker site. The safest option is to look for the one of the largest poker sites like PokerStars, GGPoker or Partypoker that most likely will tick most of the boxes you are looking for.