Online poker is a classic card game popular among Kenyan online players. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, learning the basics of poker is vital to increasing your chances of winning. In this guide, we will discuss some of the key basics of playing poker. These include mastering poker hands, the rules, and understanding the poker betting systems.
Mastering Poker Hands
To develop a successful poker strategy, you must first know how poker hands are ranked. The rankings for these go from the strongest to the weakest.
Royal Flush: This is the most superior hand and comprises a 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace of the same suit.
Straight Flush: Consists of five consecutive cards of the same suit.
Four of a Kind: Features four cards of the same rank.
Full House: A hand with three cards of one rank and two of another.
Flush: Consists of five cards of the same suit.
Straight: Comprises of five consecutive cards of different suits.
Three of a Kind: A hand with three cards of the same rank.
Two Pairs: This hand features two sets of pairs plus one unrelated card.
One Pair: Comprises two cards of the same rank and three unrelated cards.
High Card: This is the last rank, and any other hand not qualifying as any of the above.
When you know how different poker hand ranking works, it is easier to decide which card to keep or discard. This also helps you understand the power in your hand compared to your opponent’s, enabling you to determine at which point to bet, raise or even fold.
Additionally, knowing the probabilities that underlie specific hands makes it possible to keep on playing and think through each step during a particular poker round.
Basic Rules of Poker
No matter the poker variation, specific rules remain the same. Generally, online poker’s main objective is to form the best hand or make your opponent fold.
Depending on the game being played, each participant receives a number of cards. Every time cards are dealt, betting has to follow suit so that each participant can make moves based on the strength of their hands.
In betting rounds, you can bet, call, raise, or fold at any point.
Bet: This involves putting chips into the pot.
Call: Calling entails matching the current bet.
Raise: If you raise, on the other hand, you’d be forcing other players to match the new amount or quit altogether.
Fold: As for folding, just let go of your hand and forgo whatever it had cost up until now in terms of chips placed.
Blinds
When playing online poker, there are instances when you are required to place bets before the game begins. These forced bets are known as blinds.
There are two types of blinds:
- Small blinds
- Big blinds
Small blind is posted by a player on the left side of the dealer, while the next player on his left posts the big blind. This is done to encourage action and ensure that there are always some chips in a pot for which people are competing.
Blinds require players to play instantly as they give a false sense of urgency, enhancing game participation. If they didn’t exist, certain players would keep waiting for strong cards, making the game slow and boring.
Antes
In some poker variations, such as Texas Hold’em, and Omaha, you are required to bet a certain amount of money before receiving cards. This initial deposit does not come from any specific individual, as is the case with blinds.
Instead, it comes equally out of everyone’s pocket as long as they are playing the game. The idea is to create a larger pot so the incentive for winners becomes more attractive.
In tournaments, antes are often used to speed up the game while pushing for pliers to make bolder moves.
It also adds another level of thought-provoking calculation because players have to weigh up how much they stake and the potential reward.
Limit vs. No Limit
Limit and no-limit refer to different betting structures that dictate how much you can bet or raise during a hand.
Poker can be played with different betting structures, the most common being Limit and No Limit. It is important to understand these betting models to help you choose the best poker game and adapt a specific strategy accordingly.
Limit
Betting limit: In Limit poker, betting is set, and players can bet or raise by a predetermined amount only. For instance, at the KSH 200/400 limit game, bets and raises can be made at the rate of KSH 200 during the first two betting rounds and KSH 400 during the last two rounds.
Structured betting: You can only play four rounds in this kind of poker, each with a set bet amount. If raises are allowed, they never exceed three to four each round.
Lower variance: Given its restrictive bet amounts, less money can be won or lost in a hand, making it a less risky kind of poker. Thus, as a beginner, this is a recommendable betting structure.
No Limit
Betting freedom
When it comes to No-Limit poker, any amount can be used as a bet. This provides an opportunity to play creatively and take more risks.
High stake potential
Here, you can make big raises against other players who want you to fold because they don’t want to risk losing too much money. Also, the pot increases quickly, which is potentially more rewarding for winners.
Higher volatility
No Limit poker has been famously associated with its high-stakes nature, so it is more a high-roller’s game. Consequently, it is favored by more experienced players who are comfortable with the increased risk and strategy involved. While No Limit poker can be potentially more profitable, it also demands a higher level of skill and emotional control.
Most experienced poker players believe that starting out with the Limit poker lowers the chances of losing a lot in one pot. Other advantages include an opportunity to concentrate on fundamental strategies and choose good hands without worrying about the huge amount of money at stake.
On the other hand, some poker experts argue that those who master No Limit find it more engaging since it offers more freedom in making decisions about their bets.
Poker Chips
In poker, bets are made using chips rather than cash. Poker chips used come in various denominations, each representing a specific monetary value.
Usage: Before the game begins, players exchange their cash for chips, which are then used to place bets and track winnings. The use of chips helps to standardize the betting process and makes it easier to manage the flow of the game.
Appearance and value: Poker chips used in land-based casinos are typically made of clay or composite materials and are designed to be durable and easy to handle. They come in different colors, with each color representing a different denomination. The values assigned to each color may vary depending on the casino or home game.
Where Can I Play Poker in Kenya?
Once you’re set to play poker in Kenya, there are several recommendable online poker casinos. We’ve tested several sites and narrowed them down to these top 5 poker casinos that accept Kenyan players:
1xbet: This casinos has the largest collection of poker games in Kenya. These games are powered by renowned developers. Some of the top poker games include Double Bonus Poker, Aces & Deuces, Casino Hold’em, and Joker Poker.
SportsPesa: Visit the casino’s table games section, where you’ll find up to 14 poker games to play. There’s a search bar to help you filter them by title, or you can scroll through to find what you like
Mozzart: Once you sign up with Mozzart, you can play two unique online poker games. The casino has Pixel Poker and Jolly Poker. What makes both games stand out, especially the Pixel Poker title, is their aesthetics. Rather than sticking to the glossy, life-like card art, the providers have added a fun touch to the looks of both games.
Betika: If you want to play different variants of poker, then consider Betika. These games are not grouped in a special category, but you’ll find them in the mix of table games. Simply use the search option, and you’ll be flooded with the available alternatives, including Caribbean Stud, and Three Card Poker.
22Bet: If you’d like a live dealer experience, then consider playing poker on 22Bet. The live stream is 4K quality. The poker game powered by Ezugi provides engaging gameplay.