Poker has become one of the most popular card games and also one of the most popular games online. Poker is any of many card games where players place wagers over which hand is most likely to win based on the rules of that particular game. One thing that many people do not realize about poker is that there are actually two different forms of poker: live and non-live.
Live Poker – This type of poker is what most people think of when they hear the word “poker”. In this type of poker, a player actively pays for the cards that he or she bets on, with each hand having the exact same value. This is usually the most traditional version of poker, and is the more commonly known version of the game. The way that live poker works is that there is an expected value for each hand. This expected value is what determines the final payoff for a player who bets and folds, because it can be difficult to tell what the final payoff will be given all of the betting rounds.
Non-live Poker – This type of poker is different from the live version in that it does not have an expected value for each hand. In this type of poker, players may make several bets, but each bet is made based on the amount of money that has been put into the pot. This allows for some wagering, and it can sometimes allow players to avoid taking a single walk away. This type of poker is also less controlled by the rules than is live poker.
Fundamentals – A fundamental is any important rule or strategy that a player should know before the game begins. Most players follow fundamentals after they learn how to play the game, but there are some fundamentals that should be learned before the game even begins. Some of the most important fundamentals include the types of hands you should hold, what kind of playing cards you should hold, how much money you should put in with your chips, and how to spread your chips around the table and bluff your opponents. Every poker player should know these fundamentals before the game begins.
Betting – There are two types of betting in poker: blind betting and straight betting. Blind betting is when you bet money that you own that you do not have a full deck of cards, and straight betting is when you bet money that you have already raised and are waiting to see if your opponents can “turn.” Blind betting and straight betting are used in almost every poker game. In stud poker, you will rarely ever see a player bet without a flush or straight in his hand, unless he has an exceptional hand.
Over Your Opponents – One of the best ways to win is to beat your opponents at their own game. A lot of poker players get caught up in betting and holding’em and will often hold on to their cards for days or weeks while other players continue to play aggressive and keep playing. While it is OK to hold’em your way, it is a much better idea to play tight when playing poker against opponents you are sure you can beat. If you have a good hand and know you can beat an opponent who is aggressive, it is better to keep playing your game than play overly aggressive so that you will not lose more money than you can afford to lose.