Simple Rules of Online Poker

There are dozens of poker variations that can be found on the internet today. While many of them have their own characteristics, most adhere to the basic rules of online poker that govern the course of the game.

Generally the rules of online poker require a player to produce the highest five card poker hand in order to win. The same card rankings are used in all games of poker, therefore a royal flush will always be the highest possible hand a poker player can make. In nearly all poker games, the suits of the cards are equal.

Some variations such as Omaha poker and Texas Hold'em poker follow almost identical rules. The only main differences between the rules of online poker that apply to these games is how a five card poker hand is constructed and how many cards a player receives at the beginning of the poker game.

The rules of online poker betting stipulate that each player must take his turn at betting in each round. Players can call or raise bets, check if they wish to miss a turn, or fold if they wish to retire from the game. Generally limit games will start off at a low betting limit and increase to the higher amount in the final two rounds of the game. In split pot games, the player with the highest poker hand shares the pot with the player holding the lowest hand. If a game is not a split pot poker game, the winner with the highest hand takes all.