Poker is one of the most searched card games online. People looking for poker at The Hippodrome Online Casino usually want to know which versions exist, how a hand plays out and what to expect before they sit down. This page covers the common variants, the basic rules and how card tables differ from live dealer games. Where a detail is specific to The Hippodrome Online Casino, check it on the site before you play.
Common poker variants
Online poker comes in several forms. The most widespread is Texas hold 'em. Each player receives two private cards, and five community cards are dealt face up in stages. Omaha works in a similar way, but each player receives four private cards and must use exactly two of them with three community cards.
Seven-card stud has no community cards. Players receive a mix of face-down and face-up cards over several betting rounds. Video poker is a different format: a single-player machine game based on poker hand rankings, with no other players at the table.
Whether a particular variant is available at The Hippodrome Online Casino, and under what table settings, is best checked on the site before you join. Variants and stake levels can differ between tables.
How a hand of poker works
Each hand starts with forced bets, usually called blinds or antes, which give the table something to play for. Cards are then dealt, and players take turns to check, bet, call, raise or fold. A round of betting follows each stage of dealing. If every player except one folds, that player wins the pot without showing their cards. Otherwise, the remaining players show their hands and the best five-card combination wins.
Hand rankings run from the royal flush at the top, through straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair and one pair, down to high card. Suits have no ranking. In most variants, equal hands share the pot.
The cards are random, but the decisions you make at each stage are yours. Knowing the rankings and the order of betting rounds makes it easier to follow what is happening at the table.
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RNG tables and live dealer games
In a random number generator (RNG) version, software shuffles and deals the cards. You play against the other seats at the table without a dealer or other person running the game.
A live dealer game is streamed from a studio. A real dealer deals physical cards, the table is shared with other players in real time, and the pace is set by the dealer. Live tables usually run more slowly, with pauses between actions, so they suit players who prefer a social, unhurried game.
Whichever version you choose, read the table rules and limits shown on screen before you sit down. For more on live tables, see the live casino page. <<<END FIX 1>>>
Practical tips before you play
Learn the hand rankings and the betting rounds before you join a table with real money. Watch a few hands first to see how the pace and the other players suit you. If you are playing on a phone, the mobile version page covers access.
Decide how much you can afford to lose before you deposit, and stop when that amount is gone. Choose a stake you are comfortable losing, and take a break if the session stops being enjoyable. If play starts to feel like a problem, the safer gambling page explains where to get support.
