Poker is a complex yet exhilarating activity. It’s one of the rare gambling games requiring more skills than luck. However, that doesn’t mean it’s unsuitable for beginners.
The popular card game is ideal for all types of gamblers, as you can always compete against newbies at first, play with smaller amounts, or even for free. At the same time, poker is also suitable for high-rollers and advanced players seeking the opportunity to win tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands per game.
Let’s look at everything you need to know about playing the game in the US.
First of all if you are planning on playing poker online for real money at US online poker sites have a look at the list of 10 best poker rooms according to Top10PokerSites.net.
Land-Based Poker in the US
Live poker has been part of the US gambling scene for decades. It’s legal in more than half of the states. You’ll find many poker rooms in Nevada, California, Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and several other states known for having a thriving poker scene.
Moreover, even in states without live poker regulation, you’ll likely get to play it at tribal casinos. Thanks to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act from 1988, tribes can offer several forms of gambling on their land.
Online Real Money Poker in the US
Legal online poker is still in its infancy in the US. After three states legalized it in 2013, the rest have been slow to follow. Only Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware introduced legislation at that time, while Pennsylvania followed in 2017. Michigan did the same in 2021, after which West Virginia joined the roster but has yet to launch any live sites.
Massachusetts also has specific laws but no live sites at the moment. Lastly, New York, Connecticut, Virginia, and Kentucky have introduced bills and will likely pass legislation soon.
Even though the rest of the US doesn’t have legal online poker, it’s rarely mentioned in the local laws, leading to the assumption that people are free to use international poker sites that offer their services to US citizens. However, it’s still important to check your state’s laws before you join an offshore site.
Sweepstakes Online Poker in the US
If you’re a beginner, it’s best to play poker for free until you gain enough experience. You can do so on US sweepstakes poker sites and at online social casinos. Sweepstakes gambling sites are legal throughout the US, with the exception of Washington state and Washington DC.
Sweepstakes poker rooms are ideal for beginners, as they are free to use, but you can always buy additional virtual coins to play more if you want to. Afterward, you can even use some of the fake money you’ve gained to obtain real prizes and cash.
Types of Poker
Poker comes in several variations, and each has something unique that makes it different enough to warrant more learning and experience on your part.
The most prominent variant is certainly Texas Hold’em, and it’s a perfect starting point if you’re still unsure about the gameplay. That said, Omaha follows as the second most popular variation, making it a decent beginner-friendly option, too.
Other types include Seven Card Stud, 5-Card Draw, Chinese Poker, Razz, Badugi, and Pineapple.
Basics of Playing Poker
To start playing the game, you need to master the basics. The first thing you should do is understand the basic hand rankings. There are only ten, so it shouldn’t be hard, and you can always have a list of them with explanations on hand while playing so you can memorize them.
The next thing you will need to learn is the positions at the table: big blind, small blind, the button, and more. Each has its advantages and disadvantages.
After that come the stages of a typical poker game: pre-flop, flop, turn, river, and showdown. Once you learn them, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the terminology and the actions you can take while playing, which are bet, check, call, fold, and raise.
Additionally, you should read up on some other topics, like the difference between no-limit and pot-limit poker games and what strategies you should use and when.
Finally, you can watch a few tutorials to see everything put into practice. Upon doing so, you should start playing the game for real, but make sure you do it for free first. Then you can move on to poker with smaller stakes and buy-ins.
Pick any legitimate and reputable poker site you like the most, register an account, and start playing. Good luck!
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