Starting a game
Assuming you already know the rules, the next step is to start a game. If you don't know the rules of poker we suggest you start with Texas Hold 'em, as this is the most popular form for new players.
See Our Rule Book
When you first sign in to your online poker account you will go to the lobby. Here you will be able to view what games are being played and the number of available seats in each. Choose the game you want to play and click the 'sit down' button. If no seats are available in a game you can also add yourself to the waiting list. The game will contact you when a seat is available.
Next you'll need to put chips on the table. When you first enter you'll be asked how many chips you want to add. Later you'll also be able to add chips by clicking on the dealer tray or a special button. These chips will be added on the next round.
Blinds and Antes
Blinds and antes are both kinds of forced bet. In hold 'em games players take turn to pay the blind. Whereas in stud games everyone must pay the ante.
Blinds
Usually there are two blinds, the small blind and the big blind. There can, however, be between none and three. If there are two blinds then the player to the left of the dealer pays the small blind, the next player pays the big blind. The third player will then start the game as normal. At the end of this betting round the players who paid the blind can use it towards checking, or raising.
The small blind is usually half of the normal bet (if there are three blinds it's a quarter and there are two small blinds). The big blind is the normal bet (or half if there are three blinds). The amounts are also rounded to the nearest common denomination (for example if the big blind was $5 the small would be $2 or $3).
To make sure no-one tries to dodge the blind you have to wait until it's your turn to pay it before you join the game. Alternatively you can post an extra blind to start immediately.
Antes
Antes are paid by each player at the beginning of each round. It's basically a minimum bet for the round. With this kind of game you don't have to wait to join, you just pay at the beginning of the round.
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Sitting out
If you want to take a break, you can click the sit out (or deal me out) button. You won't pay blinds or antes for these rounds but if you miss blinds while sitting out you'll have two choices.
You can make up the blinds (similar to posting for new players) but only the normal portion of this can be used as 'live' chips, the rest goes straight to the pot. Or you can wait until the blind comes to you again. You can only normally miss two blinds before you are forced to stand up from the table.
Options
Most poker clients allow you to change certain settings such as turning the sound on and off, turning on or off the animation, a displaying the cards in two or four colours.
Four colour decks are very useful as they reduce the chances of making a mistake when looking at suits.
Chat
All poker clients allow you to chat to the other players, some even let you chat if you're not sat at the table. There is normally a simple text-box which you can type into to chat.
There are some rules of etiquette that you should follow while chatting in poker rooms.
- Keep your language toned down
- Don't insult the other players
- Don't help anyone with their hand
- Don't type in upper-case letters (as with all chat rooms this indicates shouting)
Disconnection
Becoming disconnected from the server, whether through a crash or loss of internet connection, can be an issue while playing online poker.
The normal way a poker client tries to deal with this, if you cannot re-establish the connection in time, is to declare you all-in on that hand (even though you have more chips).
However, some players try to use this as a way of cheating, so the number of times you can do this is restricted. Once this happens, your hand will be folded if you disconnect.
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