Online poker is the game of poker played over the Internet. It has been partly responsible for a dramatic increase in the number of poker players worldwide. The major online poker sites offer varying features to entice new players. One common feature is to offer tournaments called satellites by which the winners gain entry to real-life poker tournaments.

Poker Games Review

5 Card Stud

1. Each player is dealt one card face down and one face up. The player with the lowest upcard makes a forced bet of either half minimum bet or full bet (player’s choice) to start the game. The rest of the players, in clockwise order, either call the opening bet, raise it, or not call and "fold" their hands back to the dealer.

2. All get a third card face up followed by a round of betting. From this round on, the player with the highest upcard(s) is always first to check or bet.

3. After the fourth card is dealt face up, the minimum bet goes to the higher minimum level.

4. Then the fifth card is dealt face up and followed by the final round of betting. The dealer then determines the highest hand and awards the pot.

7 Card Stud

1. Each player is dealt two cards face down and one face up. The player with the lowest up card makes a forced bet of either half minimum bet or full bet (player’s choice) to start the game. The rest of the players, in clockwise order, either call the opening bet, raise it, or not call and "fold" their hands back to the dealer.

2. All get a fourth card face up followed by a round of betting. From this round on, the player with the highest up card(s) is always first to check or bet.

3. After the fifth card is dealt face up, the minimum bet goes up in value.

4. The sixth card is dealt face up and there is another round of betting.

5. The seventh and last card is dealt face down and followed by the final round of betting. The dealer then determines the highest hand and awards the pot.

Badugi Poker

Each player is dealt 4 cards, after which the first betting round ensues, based on the strength of each player’s initial 4 cards. The betting amounts will depend on which variation of Badugi you are playing, Limit, Pot Limit, or Half Pot Limit.
•First bet round: In this round, the first player to act is the first participating player clockwise from the big blind. The player may fold, call, or raise. Each player in clockwise order is asked to bet (call, raise, fold, or check). Once everyone has had their turn and all bets are matched, you move on to the first draw.

First draw round: Players are offered the opportunity to draw zero to four cards, clockwise from the first participating seat to the left of the dealer button. Players select which cards to keep and which to replace through a draw. Drawing no cards is known as "Standing Pat".”

•Second bet round: Once players have completed their first draws, the second betting round is held. Again, the bet increment uses the low stakes.

Second draw round: Same as first draw round.
•Third bet round: Same as second bet round, only exception is that on this round, the high stake is used for the betting increment.

Third draw round: Same as second draw round, applying reshuffle of discards as is necessary.
•Final bet round: The final betting round follows the same rules, using the high stake and leads to a showdown if more than one player remains standing.

Texas Hold’em

1. Before each player is dealt two down cards, the player at the immediate left of the button, called the "Small Blind" is forced to bet £1 (half the minimum bet). Then the player to his left and two seats to the left of the button, called the "Big Blind", is forced to bet £2. Each player is then dealt a two card hand. Then the player at the left of the big blind is first to act and he must either call the big blind’s £2 bet, raise, or fold his hand. Continuing in turn clockwise, all the players around the table either call, raise or fold. When the betting gets back around to the small blind, he or she can fold and lose only the half minimum bet of £1 placed earlier, call the amount necessary to get up to the betting level or raise £2 if there is a raise left. The big blind is then the last to act before any cards are turned up in the middle. The blinds are played in the first round only

2. The dealer turns three cards up in the center of the table. This is the "Flop" in Hold’em. As always, the player at the left of the button is first to act. There are no more forced bets and the players can all check around if they want to. Bets right after the flop are at the £2 minimum bet level.

3. Now comes the "Turn" card with more betting that now goes to the higher level: £4.

4. Finally the last, or "river" card is turned up. The last £4 betting round takes place. The players still in the contest reveal their hole cards and the highest hand wins the pot.