Where To Play Texas Hold’Em Poker Online
As one of the most popular poker variants available, it’s quite easy to find Texas Hold’em poker online. The challenge is picking the best place, but we’ve got you covered with our list of top online poker casinos.
Master the Texas Hold’Em Poker Rules
Texas Hold’em poker rules tell you when to bet and what happens at each stage of the game. Players receive two hole cards. The dealer also adds five face-up community cards. At intervals between the cards being dealt, players bet. All players need to put the same amount into the pot to stay in and see the next card.
The Objective
The aim of the game is to win with the best hand. Texas Hold’em poker hands are the same as in other poker games. They rank from royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, and full house to flush, straight, three of a king, two pair, and pair.
Types of Bets
If you’re entering a tournament, you might see a buy-in listed as the amount needed to enter. Otherwise, UAE players need to focus on the required bets to participate in the game. We’ve listed the types of Texas Hold’em poker bets.
The Small Blind
In land-based games, the button shows the player nominated as the dealer, and the betting runs clockwise from them. The first person clockwise of the dealer posts the small blind. It’s a forced bet that’s often dictated by the type or structure of the game.
The Big Blind
The person next to the small blind posts the big blind. The amount is often twice that of the small blind, although it depends on the game’s prearranged structure. After the big blind, the hole cards are dealt. In live and online poker, big and small blinds are typically replaced by an ante (minimum) bet.
Call Bet
During each round, players determine which actions to take. Once a player has bet, it’s up to the next player to fold, call or raise. A call bet matches the previous amount. In live and online poker, you only need to worry about your own actions as you don’t play against anyone else.
Raise
If a player wants to stay in the round but wants to bet more, they can raise. A raise matches and increases the previous bet.
Side Bets
Side bets don’t involve you backing your hand to be a winner. Instead, you’re wagering on other aspects of the game, such as whether specific cards will be drawn.
Texas Hold’Em Poker RTP, Payouts and House Edge
The Texas Hold’em poker odds, RTP and payouts depend on several factors. They include the game UAE players choose, how it plays out, and its structure.
RTP
Since casino versions of Hold’em have slight variations, not every version of the game has the same RTP. For example, Texas Holdem from BGaming has an RTP of 97.40% with a maximum raise and 95.48% at maximum check. However, a live version, such as Ultimate Texas Hold’em by Evolution, could have an RTP as high as 99.47%.
Payouts
As with the RTP, the Texas Hold’em poker payouts can vary by game. We’ve provided a table based on Ultimate Texas Hold’em by Evolution to give you an idea of the payouts you can expect.
| Hand | Expected Payout |
|---|---|
| Royal flush | 500:1 |
| Straight flush | 50:1 |
| Four of a kind | 10:1 |
| Full house | 3:1 |
| Flush | 1.5:1 |
| Straight | 1:1 |
| Other hands | Push |
For a Trips side bet:
| Hand | Expected Payout |
|---|---|
| Royal flush | 50:1 |
| Straight flush | 40:1 |
| Four of a kind | 30:1 |
| Full house | 8:1 |
| Flush | 7:1 |
| Straight | 4:1 |
| Three of a kind | 3:1 |
House Edge
Keep in mind that the house edge could vary within the game depending on the bet. For example, the total main bet house edge for Ultimate Texas Hold’em is 0.53%. It’s 2.18% for the initial main bet and 3.50% for the Trips side bet.
Texas Hold’Em Poker vs. Other Poker Variants
UAE players can find many other poker variants at casinos. The other versions have different formats, RTPs, house edges, and bets.
| Texas Hold’Em | Oasis Poker | Caribbean Stud | Three Card Poker | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bets | Ante, call, raise, and side bets | Ante bet, raise | Ante bet, play, and side bet | Ante bet, play, and side bets |
| RTP | 96.50% – 99.47% | 98.96% | 92.72% – 98.19% | 91.44% – 96.63% |
| House edge | 3.50% – 0.53% | 1.04% | 7.28% -1.81% | 8.56% – 3.37% |
Difference Between Texas Hold’Em Poker and Oasis Poker
When playing Oasis Poker, UAE players receive five face-up cards in one go. Unlike Hold’em poker, there aren’t any community cards. You can see one of the dealer’s cards and have the option to discard and replace the cards in your hand by paying a fee.
Difference Between Texas Hold’Em Poker and Caribbean Stud
Caribbean Stud is similar to Oasis Poker, as you start with an ante bet and five cards that need to beat the dealer’s hand. You have to decide whether to play your cards, with an additional bet added at that stage. This variant also has a 5+1 side bet that covers both hands.
Difference between Texas Hold’Em Poker and Three Card Poker
Unlike Hold’em poker, this game is played with three cards. UAE players take on the dealer aiming for the best hand or winning the pair plus and six-card bonus side bets. The ante bet begins the round and is followed by a play bet if you want to proceed after seeing your cards.
Strategies for Advanced Players
Once UAE players get familiar with Hold’em poker, it’s a good time to start thinking about strategies. We’ve set out some of the most popular approaches below.
Position Strategy
If you’re playing against other players in a land-based game, then your Texas Hold’em poker strategy will need to consider your position. You’ll want to play more hands in a late position and a tighter game from early positions.
3-Bet Re-steal
Re-raising after the preflop raise, also known as the 3-bet, is an aggressive move that can see off weak players and build the pot. It also stops other players from stealing the blinds when used appropriately. It’s also only for land-based play.
Squeeze
Another popular land-based casino poker strategy, a preflop 3-bet can also lead to a squeeze. You re-raise to apply pressure to the player or players who called and the original raiser, potentially squeezing some of them out.
Shove on Strong Draws
Before the turn and the river, if you have a strong draw, it’s a good time to go all in. It’s another aggressive approach that builds the pot and puts you in a great position if you’ve got the hand to back it up.
Overbet and Jam the River
When you have a range advantage over your opponent and a strong hand that could be mistaken for a bluff, it’s a good time to overbet on the river and go all in. It’s a great way to force folds or hero calls. You may be able to make use of this in a live dealer game.
How To Play – Breakdown of a Texas Hold’Em Poker Round
This poker variant is all about the rounds, which involve new cards and betting. Here’s our step-by-step guide for UAE players. Note that this also incorporates traditional land-based rules, which don’t always apply to live dealers or online games.
- The blinds – the small and big blinds are posted before any cards are dealt.
- Preflop – you receive your two-hole cards with players to the left of the big blind having the option to call, raise or fold.
- Flop – after the burn card, the dealer lays out three community cards. A second round of betting occurs. It starts with a check or bet, and then others fold, raise or call.
- Turn – following another burn card, the fourth card is added to the community cards. The third round of betting occurs in the same format as before.
- River – one more card is discarded, and the fifth card, known as the river, is added to the community cards. A final round of betting happens in the same format as before.
- Showdown – it’s time to see who has the best hand and wins the pot. The last raiser shows first.
Beginner Mistakes To Avoid
Knowing the value of the hands is essential in poker, but it’s especially important in Hold’em, as you’ll be betting based on the hands that you could make after the flop. Playing casino and live variants are excellent ways for UAE players to practice before testing advanced strategies.
Frequently asked questions
