Crypto & Bitcoin Poker

Crypto Poker Sites Reviews You Can Trust

We’re now going to check out the cryptocurrency poker sites reviews included in the table.

Breakdown of Poker Rules and Ranking Poker Hands

It was widely believed that the game of poker derived from As-Nas, a Persian card game played in the 1600s.

There is also a suggestion that it actually comes from games such as Primero in Spain or Italy, and Poque in France.

But it’s Mississippi in the 1700s that is arguably the scene of the modern poker game, with the 52 cards in a deck that we all know and love.

Nowadays, there are many variations to the skill-based card game beloved around the world. 

If you’ve never played poker, it’s time to get involved! So let’s take a quick look at the basic rules, along with some of the most common poker hands.

Basic Rules of Poker

In casual poker rooms, each participant gets five cards face down (some variants use seven cards). 

Players will try to make the most valuable hand using the cards they have been dealt. 

As the game progresses, you will have the chance to ask the dealer for more cards. This is a chance to improve your current hand, but be warned; other players can accurately guess what you have by how many cards you request. 

There are usually two to three rounds of betting in a game, starting with the “blind” or “ante”, who is the poker player to make the first bet.

Once the blind has placed the first bet, there are three routes the other players can take:

• Raise: when a player is confident they can win, he or she can raise the bet amount (stake)

• Call: to equal the amount wagered by the player who raised the stake

• Check: if nobody has increased the stake required to continue, you can stay in the game without placing another bet

As the betting increases, some players will drop out of the game (“fold”) until there are two or more final players.

Eventually, you’ll have a showdown; this ends once a player raises the bet and nobody calls it. At this stage, the remaining players must show their cards.

The player with the highest-ranking hand then wins and takes the money.

Of course, poker is not entirely based on the luck of the cards you’re drawn. You can also “bluff” and convince your opponents that your hand is better than it is by not folding, and even upping the ante.

This is where skill comes into play, making poker a lot more dynamic than most other card games around.

Quick Poker Terms

• Dealer: person who deals the cards to the other players

• Button: allocates the dealer and order of play

• Blind/Ante: person who makes the first bet

• Fold: to leave the game and forfeit your wager

• Bluff: to convince other players you have a better hand than you do

• Poker Face: the ability to keep a straight face, regardless of their hand

Ranking Poker Hands

As you can see from the rules, winning poker comes down to what cards you have at the end of the game. 

This is called your “hand”, and there are many hands that you can make, depending on which version of poker you play. 

With that in mind, here’s a quick rundown of the most common ranking poker hands, from the best to the worst:

• Royal Flush: 10, J, Q, K, and A of the same suit

• Straight Flush: Five suited cards in sequential order, such as a 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of diamonds

• Four of a Kind: Four numerically identical cards, such as four 5s

• Full House: Three-of-a-kind and a pair, such as 10, 10, 8, 8, 8

• Flush: Five suited cards; five diamonds, for example

• Straight: Five cards in a sequence, such as 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

• Three of a Kind: The identically numbered cards, such as three 6s

• Two Pairs: Any two pairs in the same hand, like 8, 8, K, K, 5

• One Pair: Two numerically identical cards, like two 9s

• High Card: Judged on the highest ranked card; an Ace is the highest, while a two is the lowest

How to Play Poker – The Anatomy of a Hand

To show exactly how a hand of poker is played, we’re going to look at a real-world example. 

This sample hand is from a five-card draw, which is one of the most popular poker variations:

• You begin the game with three other players

• You are Player A, with Players B and C to your left

• You sit immediately to the dealer’s left; meaning you must play first and risk your stake as the blind

• Each player gets dealt five cards; your hand reads 10, 10, 10, 7, 8

• You can see that if another 7 or 8 comes up, you will have a Full House

• This puts you in a good position, so you’re happy to call when Player C raises the bet

• You ask for a single card and get an 8. This gives you the Full House you were looking for

• Player C asks for three cards, suggesting they have one pair

• Player C raises the bet substantially, which now suggests they are either bluffing, or have picked up three very helpful cards

• You raise the bet and Player B folds, while Player C calls

• Both you and Player C reveal your final cards, with Player C ending on Three-of-a-kind

• You win the game, as a Full House ranks higher than Three-of-a-kind. Well done!

6 Tips To Become a Better Poker Player

Poker is all about tactical thinking and reading the other players; it’s not simply “the luck of the draw.” 

With so many ways to improve how you play, we’ve compiled a short list of 6 top tips on how you can become a better poker player. 

Memorize the Ranking Hands

One of the very first things you should do is to memorize the rules, including the ranking hands. 

Of course, if you play video poker you could have the rules written down next to you as you play, so that you can reference them. But this won’t cut it in the real world! 

Knowing the hands and their values is essential to becoming a good poker player. 

You can also use this knowledge to predict what hand other players have, as per the example above. 

If a player asks for three cards from the dealer, chances are they have a pair. However, they could also be reaching for a Full House or Flush. 

Save Your Moves for When You Have a Good Hand

One thing to understand about poker is that you will sometimes lose, regardless of your skill level. 

Therefore, take your time and cut down the volume of hands you play and save your moves for when you have a good hand. 

This also helps you to stop forming habits that others may pick up on, which is highly advisable once you reach a high level of poker.

Don’t Become Predictable

Retain an element of unpredictability by bluffing now and again. The same goes for not always raising the stakes by loads when you have a good hand. 

Patterns of behavior alert your competitors as to what kind of hand you have so, as the saying goes, “never let them know your next move.”

Observe Other Players

Whether you’re playing directly with your competitors, or against a computer in video poker, it pays to observe. 

If a player raises their stake, they either have a good hand or are bluffing. This goes for video poker games, too, where the software has been programmed to bluff sometimes. 

Paying attention to the moves and habits of your opponent is how you become a tactical poker player, and this skill is hard to master, but will make you a formidable force at any poker table. 

Don’t Be Afraid To Fold

If you feel the percentages are against you, fold. Playing with two pairs isn’t ideal if you feel your opponent has three of a kind.

There is no shame in folding, and getting out of a game without losing too much is preferable to letting your pride puncture a hole in your finances! 

Don’t Chase Losses

This is true of all gambling; chasing your losses will inevitably lead to more financial loss. If you’ve lost a few hands and are out of chips/coins, it’s best to walk away. 

The worst thing you can do is to spend money that you can’t afford to lose, as this could land you in financial trouble very quickly. 

You should never spend beyond your means, so if you’ve taken a big hit, leave the tables and return again on another day. 

What Are the Most Popular Poker Variants?

Now that you know the basics, it’s time to take a look at some of the most popular poker variants that you can play. 

This list is by no means exhaustive, as there are countless versions of poker available online, but this is a selection of the fan favorites.

5-Card Draw

Possibly the most common game of poker. In this version, the dealer gives you 5 cards, face down. 

The betting starts, with both a big blind and a little blind setting the stake.

You then have the chance to replace up to 3 cards, in a bid to create a better hand.

Betting continues, with players able to fold, check and call, or raise the stake. 

The game concludes when a player raises the stake and nobody calls it. At this stage, the remaining players show their cards and the highest ranking hand takes the winnings. 

7-Card Stud

In this version of poker, players start with two cards face down, and one card face up.

Betting commences, followed by three more cards face up, with a round of betting between each deal. 

Finally, the last card is dealt face down, and a final round of betting takes place. 

The winner is the player with the best 5-card hand. 

Texas Hold’em

Probably the world’s best-known poker variation. 

In Texas Hold’em, players receive two cards face down as their personal hand. These are also known as your “hole cards”.

The first round of betting takes place, followed by another three cards. This is called “the flop” and these cards are called “board” or “community” cards. 

Another round of betting occurs, followed by 2 more board cards, with more betting between each one. 

Your aim is to make the best 5-card combination using your hole cards and the board cards. Just remember, everyone else can also use the board cards, too.

The winner is the player with the best hand at the end of the game. 

Omaha

The Omaha variation is similar to Hold’em in that it uses a 3-card flop on the board, plus a fourth and fifth board card. 

The main difference is that each player is dealt four hole cards, instead of two, at the start. 

To make a hand, a player must use exactly two hole cards with three board cards. This gives you a little more room to maneuver than Hold’em, but be warned; you can’t make other combos, such as three-hole cards and two-board cards. 

The betting portion of the game is the same as in Hold’em, and the best 5-card hand wins the pot. 

Caribbean Poker

Caribbean Poker is very similar to the classic 5-card draw, but with some distinctive differences.

For instance, you only ever play against the dealer, not the other players. Also, no draws are made and bluffing doesn’t exist. 

The dealer will give each player five cards face down, before also dealing themselves the same hand with one difference: they will flip one card (usually the last) over to display face up.

Once that card is flipped up, you can decide whether you’d like to place another bet on top of your initial stake, or fold. 

The next step is to see if the dealer can “open” their hand. To do so, they need at least Ace-King, or higher. 

If the dealer cannot open their hand, you get your original stake paid out 1-1. Your extra bet is a “push” and is returned to you.

If the dealer can open their hand, it comes down to who has the higher ranking hand to determine the winner. 

Should I Switch To Using Bitcoin at Poker Sites?

Of course, here at CryptoBetting.org, we believe that everybody should make the switch to using cryptocurrencies at poker sites.

But we also appreciate that where and how you play poker is ultimately a matter of personal preference. And like everything in life, there are both benefits and drawbacks to playing at poker sites with Bitcoin.

To help you decide the best course of action, I’ve shortlisted some of the major pros and cons of poker sites accepting crypto, so that you can make up your own mind.

Pros of Choosing BTC

• Crypto’s popularity means a large number of poker websites give bonuses for using it as a preferred payment method

• The capacity for your crypto to increase in value means even a tiny win now could yield a larger reward later on

• Players can enjoy a higher level of security at poker sites accepting Bitcoin

• Lower transaction fees and higher cashout limits usually apply at crypto poker sites

• Anonymous play is only possible at end-to-end crypto poker websites

• By their very nature, Bitcoin poker sites are at the cutting edge of technology, meaning you can enjoy uber-modern sites and the most state-of-the-art games

Cons of Choosing BTC

• Using decentralized financial systems means there is nobody to complain to if you have a disagreement with the poker site

• Cryptocurrency value can fall even faster than it rises, so the value of a big win could drop disappointingly

• If you’re a fan of exotic currencies, your selection of poker sites will be limited

Final Summary of Crypto Poker Sites

I’ve looked at the various pros and cons of using poker sites that accept crypto, as well as give some examples of our current favorite brands, with BetOnline coming out on top.

While crypto poker sites might not be for everyone, I firmly believe that they’re a great source of opportunity and entertainment for those willing to take the leap. 

With higher security, quicker transaction times, and lower fees all going in their favor, I feel that Bitcoin poker sites have the edge over their fiat currency rivals.

So if you’ve always wanted to give crypto poker sites a try, now is the best time to get on board with these state-of-the-art websites and apps that are growing in popularity with every passing year.  

Overview of the Best Crypto Casinos