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Playing Poker Online

The game of poker is without a doubt one of the best-known and probably most iconic card games you can find at the casino games table. Starting in the gambling halls of New Orleans, this American legend has spread via the Wild West to become one of the favourite card games to be found in the US. Thanks to more recent Hollywood movies such as Maverick, Rounders and The Cincinnati Kid, the game of poker is now better known than ever. Thankfully it has now moved out of the dingy and smoky back hall and saloons into the new era of live dealer poker played online.

Play Live Poker From Anywhere

Huge advances in internet streaming technology have taken place over the last couple of decades. So we can find modern versions of online poker at many casinos based on the internet. Though going to the real brick and mortar casino still has a certain cache, in reality, many gamblers prefer to use their portable devices and gamble at online casinos. With their phones, they can do this whilst sitting on their sofas at home. Obviously, internet gambling has become a lot more convenient and accessible. In fact, there’s no need to even leave the house, let alone change out of your pyjamas! By visiting the best site to play poker, you’ll be able to play all types and variations of poker games, including live poker tournaments. We’re certain that you’ll find that once you start playing live dealer games there’s no going back.

How Is Live Dealer Poker Different?

You’ll find that there’s a huge difference between live poker and standard poker when compared to live dealer poker. For a start, the live dealer games actually come from a live casino environment. In other words, real humans are sat at real tables in a video studio that’s dedicated to gambling. Other online poker games involve computer-generated simulations. Another difference is that both online poker and live poker will have you playing against other players. But in a live dealer game, it’s just you and the dealer. As you can imagine, this has a huge effect on playing style and strategy. For example, let’s have a deeper dive into the live dealer game of Ultimate Texas Hold’em poker.

Playing Live Dealer Poker

casino dealer

We should start by saying that the playing concept remains true to the traditional game of Texas Hold’em poker. As you already know, you will need to find a winning hand with two hole cards and three community cards. At the opening of the game, you’ll meet your dealer.  They will be sitting behind a real casino felt table and you’ll see the shoe of playing cards next to their elbow. All live dealer games feature a chat box that allows you to either message or speaks directly to the dealer as the game proceeds.

First, start your play by placing blind bets or equal ante. Providing you’ve got a winning hand, and before the flop, you can then bet 3 or 4 times the ante. Or you can just check to see the flop. Now on the flop, if you haven’t yet wagered, then you’re allowed to bet twice your ante. At this point, the dealer will flip the turn and the river. If you previously checked, then you still have a chance to place a bet which is equal to your ante. But if you choose not to bet, then you’ll have to fold.

Of course, it goes without saying, that the action is going to be much faster than in our description. Also, we should point out that live dealer games tend to go faster than real brick and mortar one’s, as it’s just you and the dealer who is playing. In many ways, this can only help increase your jackpot winning chances. The pots that you win will be automatically sent to you, and you’ll be able to see your updated bankroll balance at the end of each round. To help your bankroll go further, we recommend you take the fantastic welcome bonus of 200% Up to €1000 from 32Red Poker. They have a great selection of live dealer poker games. And if you want a change, then they also have live dealer roulette and blackjack.

Qualification And ‘Trips’

At the beginning of a live dealer poker game, the dealer will have to draw a pair in order to qualify. Now if the dealer fails to do so, then you will win your play bet and your blind. But at the same time because you’re on the ante. On the other hand, if the dealer succeeds, you win or lose all your bets. Although this depends on whether your best hand of 5 cards beats the dealer.

You’ll find that all life dealer variants of Ultimate Texas Hold’em poker will present you with an optional side bet called  “trips.” Here you will bet on getting trips that are making 3-of-a-kind with 1 card in your hand whilst having a pair on the board. Or better still, use your whole card and the community cards. With this bet, you’re able to win the jackpot online and get some great payouts.

Live Dealer Strategy

poker

You can view live dealer poker as a Wild West showdown between the dealer and the player. This means there’s a lot of traditional casino poker strategies that won’t be of use to you. Obviously, there’s less to worry about as you don’t have to think about the other players’ positions. Nevertheless, you will still be under considerable pressure. As with most casino gambling card games, an effective strategy involves both common sense and probability. So if you have a King or an Ace before the flop, as well as a Queen/8 or higher, and a Jack/10,  then you should raise. 

Keep in mind that if you decide to pair up on a flop then you should raise. The same strategy goes if you have an “over-card” i.e. a whole card that is of higher value than any other card on the board, along with a flush draw. We also consider it wise to bet if you think the dealer has nothing in his hand. Now, this does take a huge amount of confidence and experience to get to the point where you can call a draw. We don’t suggest doing this if you’re a beginner as you may well see your bankroll quickly be reduced to zero. A great place to try out your poker strategies is at 32Red Poker. They have a huge variety of poker games, and all with live dealer setups.

Live Poker Tournaments Online

So if you’re playing live dealer poker for the first time then you’re certainly in for a treat. It’s going to be a completely new poker experience. But do keep in mind that it’s going to be less competitive than playing a traditional live poker game. Right now there are no live dealer poker tournaments. You have to fall back to the traditional example in which you’re playing against the casino’s software. Usually, this would take place in an online poker card room. And though you can’t physically see your opponent’s, the play is live. 

These live poker games can include Omaha, Omaha hi-lo, Seven Card Stud, Seven Card Stud hi-lo, and Texas Hold’em Poker, both No-limits and Fixed. You’ll find that the stakes required range from $0.01 all the way up to $100 per hand. Remember that if you’re playing these higher stakes jackpot games, then be sure to stick with your preset budget. At $100 a hand, unless you have the bankroll of a casino whale, you may well find yourself leaving the competition early.