Online poker for beginners: Hold'em basics, hand rankings and pot odds

How does Hold'em work?

Each player gets two hole cards. Five community cards are dealt over three stages, called the flop, the turn and the river. The best five-card hand wins the pot unless everyone else folds. Blinds are forced bets that keep the game moving, and positions rotate every hand.

How do poker hands rank?

1. Royal flush: A-K-Q-J-10 of one suit.
2. Straight flush: five cards in sequence of one suit.
3. Four of a kind.
4. Full house: three of a kind plus a pair.
5. Flush: five cards of one suit.
6. Straight: five cards in sequence of mixed suits.
7. Three of a kind.
8. Two pair.
9. One pair.
10. High card.

Why does position matter?

The dealer button moves one seat each hand, and the player on the button acts last after the flop. Acting last means you see everyone else's decision first, which is a real advantage. New players do best playing fewer hands from early seats and a wider range from the button.

What are pot odds?

Pot odds compare the cost of a call with the size of the pot. If the pot is ₹300 and you must call ₹100, you pay ₹100 to win ₹400 in total, so you need to win more than 25% of the time for the call to pay.

For draws, count your outs, the cards that complete your hand, then multiply by 4 on the flop or 2 on the turn. A flush draw has 9 outs, roughly a 36% chance by the river.

Which starting hands should a beginner play?

High pairs such as aces, kings and queens, and strong aces such as ace-king, are worth playing from any seat. Small pairs and suited connectors play better from late position, where you can see the flop cheaply. Folding most hands is normal, and it keeps a beginner's buy-in alive.

What should you check at an online table?

• Whether it's a cash table or a tournament. Tournament chips aren't real money until you win a prize.
• The blinds and minimum buy-in. Sit down only with an amount you can afford to lose.
• The disconnection rule, which can fold your hand, so screenshot the table.
• Any rake or fee shown, which is the house's cut.

Teen Patti uses different hand rankings and moves at a different pace, so see the separate Teen Patti guide. Omaha, stud and hybrid games follow their own table rules.