Adjusting From Home Games to Online Poker Games

Most people who play poker just played in a typical home game at first. The structure of these games was simple. Generally, everyone would ante a certain amount (say 10 cents) and then the betting was structured as to have a minimum and maximum bet. For example, everyone would ante 10 cents and then the bets/raises would range between 10 cents to $1 each round.

The play at the home games was generally bet, call or perhaps bet,raise, call. Internet poker/casino poker is very different from this in 3 ways: the ante structure, the betting structure, and the competition.

Ante Structure

First, unless you are playing 7 stud, there is no ante. The person to the left of the dealer must pay the small blind and the person after him must pay the big blind. These are forced bets. All the other players are not forced to bet anything to receive cards (they do not need to ante), but they must match the big blind or any raise to the big blind to see the flop. Thus, a typical game, involving 6 people, with a small blind (sb) of 50 cents and a big blind (bb) of $1 would go as follows preflop:

• Seat one: SB ($.50)
• Seat two: BB ($1)
• Seat three: Fold
• Seat four: Calls BB ($1)
• Seat five: Raises BB ($2)
• Dealer (Seat six): Fold
• Seat one: Fold
• Seat two: Calls raise ($1)
• Seat three: Calls raise ($1)

Then the betting would begin with the big blind (since the small blind folded) after the flop

Betting Structure

In addition to the blind/ante structure being different in online games, the type of betting differs. The most similar to the spread limit (i.e. the min/max bet) would be 'no limit.' In other words, there is still the minimum bet, however the maximum bet is the amount of chips in front of you. The best place to play no limit is Redlight Poker or Bikini Poker.

There is a common myth at no limit that if someone bets more chips than you have, you must fold. THAT IS NOT TRUE. If Joe bets $30 and I only have $15, I only must put in $15 to call. Thus, Joe is essentially only betting $15 dollars if I'm the only person in the pot. However, if the pot is between me, Joe, and Sally and both Joe and Sally have $50 dollars, Sally must match Joe's bet of $30. The extra $15 would be in a sidepot. So, at the showdown, I would be in contention for $45 dollars and Joe and Sally would be in contention for the $45 plus the extra $30. Thus, if I have the best hand and Sally has the second best hand, I would win $45 and she would win $30. If Sally hand was in fact better than mine, she would win the entire $75.

Closely similar to no limit is pot limit, where you can bet any amount from the minimum bet to the size of the pot.

Finally, the most popular form of betting is known as limit. This type of game has fixed bets. For example, in a $2-4 game, the size of the bets are $2 or $4, depending on which round it is. In Texas Holdem and Omaha, each bet preflop and at the flop (when the 3 cards come out) is $2. If someone wishes to raise, he or she must do so by $2 dollars. Thus, in a 4-handed situation, this would be a typical case:

• Seat one: Check
• Seat two: Bet $2
• Seat three: Raise $2 (to $4)
• Seat four: Call $4
• Seat one: Fold
• Seat two: Call $4

The bets on the turn (when 4 cards are out) and the river (when all cards are out) would be the higher amount- $4. So, taken the above example, this is how the turn betting may happen:

• Seat two: Bet $4
• Seat three: Fold
• Seat four: Raise $4 (to $8)
• Seat two: Call $4

Competition

Finally, skill pays off more on the internet/casino than bad luck. People actually try to win because the money exchanged is often more than just nickels and dimes. You must use strategy to expect to win in the long run. Someone who plays his typical home game strategy may win at first, but will probably lose in the long run (unless his or her home game is particularly tough). So just keep adding skill to the game while learning all you can and little by little you’ll become an increasingly better poker player.