Poker is a world famous card game that is played between two and up to ten players. There are a variety of types of poker games which include Omaha Poker, Texas Holdem Poker, 5 Card Draw and 7 Card Stud. Each of these poker game types requires a standard deck of 52 cards. In some games like Draw Poker and “lowball,” the Joker or “bug,” can be used as an additional ace, or to complete a straight flush.
The primary objective of poker is to win the pot, or the money or chips that are placed as bets and kept in plain view at the center of the table. Poker can be played between two people for a more intimate tête-à -tête, or, to have an exciting tournament, eight to ten players are needed. Many poker players today find that much of what they are looking for in a poker game can be found in <u>poker tournaments</u> online. In fact, for poker players who earn their livelihood from <u>high stakes poker</u>, this means that a job that used to required time and travel can now be accomplished from the comfort of the player’s home.
Innumerable <u>free online poker</u> games are available for the novice and the expert alike. Usually these online poker venues encourage potential players to reap the benefits of online poker by offering a <u>poker download</u> and other useful <u>poker software</u> absolutely free. Many sites are generous in their offers of <u>poker tips</u> on all varieties of poker and the types of tournaments that may be played as well.
When a poker player decides to take his game online, he is certain to discover poker lessons that he would never be able to get if he only played at a weekly or monthly game.
In addition to being able to play a <u>free poker game</u> to get started, many online poker venues encourage sign up for free accounts by offering deposit bonuses. In some cases, a <u>poker bonus</u> may be as high as $500, meaning the website matches your initial deposit up to the amount of $500. The idea is to give you the opportunity to explore the differences and similarities in <u>poker rules</u> and to encourage you to play more. For example, if you can grasp Omaha Poker, then Texas Holdem Poker will not be too far of a reach. Both games require that the winner have the highest hand from a combination of three cards that belong to the player and two cards known as “community cards,” meaning they can be used by everyone to raise a bigger hand.
Also, when you play poker online, you can become well informed on the aspects of <u>poker strategy</u> that are less technical. Meaning, becoming familiar with the art of bluffing, or controlling your body language, especially the involuntary movements and expressions that may give away whether or not you feel your hand is successful. Developing a skilled “poker face” is just one of many poker tricks you can study online.
By Gene Marshall
Gene Marshall is a distinguished online poker expert that works for a few different recognized poker sites. The author concentrates on commentaries about online poker games and poker online. Additional resources and articles by Gene Marshall related to online poker can be found on the internet.