Quick facts about real money online poker
Before we talk about real money poker, here are some quick facts about the game:
- The most popular poker variant is Texas Holdāem
- A standard poker deck has 52 cards without a joker
- You can win a poker game hand by having the best five-card hand or by making others fold
- Poker hands are ranked from High Card to Royal Flush
- Poker game sessions can have up to 5 rounds
What is poker?
Poker is a popular card game that combines strategy, skill, psychology, and a bit of chance. Itās usually played in a competitive setting where you enter with chips or based on the strength of your hand or your ability to bluff others into folding better hands.
Your objective in poker is to get the best five-card hand according to specific hand rankings (like a royal flush, straight, or pair) or convincing your opponents to fold with your moves. The game is typically played with a standard 52-card deck, and there are numerous variations, including Texas Holdāem, Omaha, Seven-Card Stud, and more.
Each poker session has up to five rounds, during which players choose to check, bet, call, raise, or fold depending on their cards and their read on the other players. In many variations of the game, the player who either holds the best hand at showdown or successfully convinces all other players to fold wins the pot.
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How to play poker
The gameās most popular variant is
Texas Holdāem poker, which is widely played in many traditional and sweepstakes casinos. Weāll be focusing on this particular variant, starting with the objective of the game.
Your objective in Texas Holdāem is to win chips either by:
- Forming the best five-card hand at showdown, or
- Making other players fold before showdown
However, in order to achieve either of these objectives, you must understand the poker hand rankings.
Poker hand rankings
Here are the poker rankings from best to worst:
- Royal Flush (A-K-Q-J-10, same suit)
- Straight Flush (five consecutive cards, same suit)
- Four of a Kind (four cards of the same rank)
- Full House (three of a kind plus a pair)
- Flush (five cards, same suit, any order)
- Straight (five consecutive cards, any suit)
- Three of a Kind
- Two Pair
- One Pair
- High Card (none of the above).
The game starts when each player is dealt two private, face-down cards, known as hole cards. For the single-player version, the cards will be dealt by the computer, compared to the live dealer versions where a non-player handles the task.
Based on your hole cards, you can either call, raise, or fold. After everyone has taken turns, the dealer deals three face-up cards in the middle (community cards). Players can use them to build their hands. Afterwards, the second gaming round commences. Again, you can either Call, Raise, Fold, or Check, which means to do nothing.
Next, a fourth community card is dealt face up, and the next round commences. After which, the fifth and final community card is dealt, paving the way for the final gaming round.
If, by the end of the final round, two or more players remain, they all reveal their hands. The best five-card hand emerges victorious.
Some common poker terms include:
| Term | Description |
| Fold | To forfeit the round |
| Call | To increase the current highest chip amount |
| Raise | To match the current chip amount |
| Bluff | Raising with a weak hand to make opponents fold stronger hands |
| Flop | The first three dealt community cards |
| Position | Your place at the table in relation to the dealerās button |
| Tight | A style of play involving playing fewer hands |
| Loose | A style of play involving playing many hands |
| Turn | The fourth community card dealt face up |
| Pot | The total value of chips contained in a hand |
Poker is easy to learn but takes time to master. Hence, I recommend starting with the basics. Master these terms and more; youāll pick up the nuances as you go.
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Pros and cons of poker
As I mentioned earlier, poker is a game that combines skill and chance. The game has different variants, thus offering varying experiences. With poker, you also get to play live with other players. However, the game can be time-consuming since each session can have up to 5 rounds. That said, hereās the summary of the pros and cons of real money poker:
Pros and Cons
- Comes in different variants
- Offers live and multiplayer options
- Room for skill expression
How to play Poker online without real money
With sweepstakes casinos, you donāt play real money poker because these sites run on virtual currencies such as Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins, which you can use to play the game. Thankfully, you can obtain these virtual currencies through bonuses and promotional offers without needing to make a purchase.
Youāll typically find the game listed among table games or live dealers in sweepstakes casinos. If Texas Holdāem is listed among the former, then itās a single-player game, and your only opponent is the computer. If listed among the latter, then expect to play against other players in a live game.
Without wasting time, letās see my top 5 recommended sweepstakes to play poker online.
Top 5 sweepstakes casinos to play poker online without real money
Here are some sweepstakes sites I turn to to play the best online poker without real money:
RealPrize ā Offers the best social gaming experience
RealPrize: Pros & Cons
- Over 500 games
- Slots from top developers
- Table games and live dealers
- Inclusive rewards program
- No mobile app for Android
RealPrize is one of my favorite sweepstakes casinos for playing online poker without real money. The site offers a welcome bonus of 100,000 Gold Coins and 2 Sweepstakes Coins, which I could use to play the game immediately after signing up. The best part is that I didnāt need a promo code to claim the welcome offer. Just create an account by providing the necessary details, and the freebies are yours.
What I enjoy most about RealPrize is its social casino features. There are tons of tournaments to participate in alongside other players. You can also explore and follow other usersā profiles. Trust me, youāll be hard-pressed to find another online brand that offers a better social gaming experience. Additionally, RealPrize has one of the
best poker apps Iāve seen. Check out this sweepstakes casino if youāre looking for a premium social casino experience on a mobile app.
Stake.us ā The best poker sweepstakes casino for bonuses
Stake.us: Pros & Cons
- Modern social casino
- Legit and trustworthy
- Excellent game selection
- Cool promo offers
- No Stake.us app for Android
Stake.us remains a leading sweepstakes casino thanks to its reputation, intuitive website, and extensive game library, which also includes online poker. However, the site takes things a notch higher with its bonuses, offering new users 560K Gold Coins, 56 Stake Cash, and a 5% rakeback for signing up using the code STFSOCIAL. Only a select few sweepstakes brands can offer such a substantial welcome package while also providing additional bonuses, along with top-notch games and services. Check out Stake.us today and see what the site has in store for you.
Clubs Poker ā Offers the best poker experience
Clubs Poker Sweepstakes Casino: Pros & Cons
- Free-to-play online poker platform
- Generous welcome bonus
- Log in every day to claim free Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins
- Impressive first-purchase bonus
- Fully compliant with US sweepstakes laws
- Clubs Poker doesnāt have a mobile app
If youāre looking for a brand that primarily focuses on poker, then you should check out Clubs Poker. The name alone tells you that this online sweepstakes casino focuses on providing a premium poker experience for its users. Youāll find tournaments and even promotional offers focused on the
free poker
game.
My only gripe, however, is that the welcome offer requires a first-time GC purchase, which in itself isnāt bad since youāll get 100% of your acquired Gold Coins, giving you a total of 200k GC along with a 40 SC bonus. Regardless, you can still play poker on the site without making any GC purchase since you get a daily reload bonus of 2500 Gold Coins + 0.5 Sweeps Coins.
Keep in mind that these arenāt real money poker sites. However, you can redeem Sweepstakes Coins for cash prizes once you meet the siteās redemption requirement.
Top tips to play poker online without real money
Even if you donāt play poker for real money, youāll still need to become a better player in order to enjoy the game to the fullest. Itās why Iāve carefully handpicked these five tips to help you maximize your gaming experience:
Play fewer hands, but play them aggressively š²
One piece of advice Iāll never fail to give to newbies learning
how to play poker
is to avoid playing too many hands. Instead, stick to strong starting hands and fold the weaker ones. When you do play, I recommend raising rather than calling. Doing so pressures your opponents and maximizes your good hands.
Pay attention to your opponentās moves š
Poker is a game that requires strategies, and one of the best and simplest strategies you can have is to observe how your opponents play. Are they loose (playing many hands) or tight (playing few hands)? Are they passive or aggressive? With this information, you can adjust your strategy and capitalize on their weaknesses.
Adopt proper balance management š°
Balance management is vital even if youāre not playing online poker for money. Sure, sweepstakes casinos offer free Gold and Sweepstakes Coins, but these freebies are limited. Hence, there is a need to manage them properly. Set a budget for how many GC or SC youāll use per round. I also recommend starting with your Gold Coins balance, especially if youāre new to poker and need to familiarize yourself with the game. Also, if youāre ever on a losing streak and feel tempted to increase your GC or SC amounts in an attempt to recover what you've lost, I recommend taking a break from the game to cool off. Otherwise, you might part ways with even more of your precious Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins.
Donāt be afraid to fold, even if you have a decent hand. This method can save your chips for a better spot if youāre confident you donāt have the best hand at the moment. The best poker players know when to let go.
Keep practicing and learning š
Poker requires skill and strategy, which can be improved by constant practice. Hence, I recommend observing and learning the computerās best moves in single-player poker. Also, donāt hesitate to try the live dealer versions, which allow you to play against actual players and introduce a different difficulty level.
Conclusion ā Try out online poker today
Overall, poker is a fun and engaging game that requires strategy, skill, and a bit of chance. Youāll find the gameās most popular variant, Texas Holdāem, in many sweepstakes casinos where you can play without making a purchase. Some of these sites include Stake.us, RealPrize, MegaBonanza, McLuck, and Jackpota.
I recommend exploring these sites to see which one suits your tastes. While youāre at it, try out the tips I recommended to make your poker gameplay more enjoyable.
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Poker online real money FAQs
š What is the most popular poker variant?
The most popular poker variant is Texas Holdāem, which is available in single-player and multiplayer versions depending on what your chosen sweepstakes casino offers.
š How do you win at poker?
You win a poker hand either by making other players fold before the showdown or by having the best five-card hand.
š° Can I play online poker for real money at sweepstakes casinos?
No, you canāt play poker for money at sweepstakes casinos since they operate on Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins. However, you can redeem your accumulated SC for real prizes if you meet specific requirements.
š² What are the best sweepstakes casinos to play poker online without real money?
Some of the best sweepstakes casinos to play poker without real money include RealPrize, Stake.us, McLuck, MegaBonanza, and Jackpota. These sites allow you to play the game without making any purchase.
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