Hand rankings
From strongest to weakest: royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, high card.
Start small and simple
- Play micro stakes or freerolls while you learn.
- Play one table at a time.
- Fold most hands. Strong starting hands such as high pairs and ace-king are where beginners make money.
- Use demo or play-money tables to learn the software.
Why position matters
Acting last in a betting round lets you see what others do before you decide. Play more hands from the button and the seats next to it, fewer from the early seats and the blinds.
Simple betting habits
Raise rather than call when you enter a pot. Bet your strong hands for value; do not slow-play them at low stakes, where opponents call often. Bluff rarely and against few opponents.
Common beginner mistakes
- Playing too many hands.
- Calling down with weak pairs.
- Moving up in stakes after one good session.
- Playing while tired or upset.
Choosing where to play
Check that the casino has a real poker room with player traffic at your stakes, not just casino poker games. Verify the licence and read the withdrawal terms as for any casino. Our new poker sites page is a starting point.