Jonno Smith | August 18, 2022 | Updated on: February 9th, 2024
Online Poker is considered one of the most popular real money online casino games in Australia. Players battle it out with cards and work towards building a hand that presents the best value to secure the win. Players place real money bets within each round to win and use their skills to outplay the other players at the table.
In our guide, we offer players the opportunity to learn to play Online Poker at the best-rated online Sites that accept Australian players, assisting you in gaining the skills used to make a difference in Poker games. We recommend that players look at our selection of online casinos to ensure the best possible real money Online Poker experience.
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The Basics to Playing Online Poker
Poker games are typically played with a standard deck of 52 cards. Players are handed cards at the beginning of a round and will take a moment to view their hand of cards. Once familiar with their hand, players begin the round by placing their bets. Players must assemble the best value card sets possible, as the highest valued hand wins the round.
Popular Poker Variants
Online Poker is considered a crowd favourite; with it being so popular, players will find that a few variations exist. Below we explore the popular variations from around the world that Australians can enjoy at our recommended online casinos.
Texas Hold’Em
Played with a 52-card deck, this poker variant is considered the most well-known. Texas Hold’Em is played with two to eight players, and each player will receive two cards, also called “Hole” cards, to start. The player to the “dealer’s” left is the “Small Blind,” and the player to the left of the “Small Blind” is the “Big Blind.”
The purpose of the Blinds is to set the starting bets on the table; The “Big Blind” will bet the full starting bet limit while the “Small Blind” bets half the amount. The “Blinds” place these bets to begin the round. After this, more cards are dealt, and the other players must match the “Big Blind” bet to enter the round. Each new game moves the position of the “Big Blind” and “Small blind,” meaning every player at the table will have a turn to play these roles.
Omaha Poker
This is another widely known variation of Poker, which is incredibly popular. Players receive four “Hole” cards at the start of each round. After checking their hand of cards, players can decide to Check, Fold or Match. Once everyone has decided, three more cards, known as “Community Cards,” are placed onto the table, called the “Flop.”
After the “Flop,” players place another round of bets; what follows is the “Turn,” which is a fourth “Community Card” revealed to the table. Players will then place another round of bets before the Final community card, the “River,” is revealed to the table. Players must then use Two Hole cards and three cards from the table to build the highest value combination to win.
Seven Card Stud
Players will start each new round of Seven Card Stud by placing a small bet on the table referred to as the “Ante.” Players will then receive their first three cards, of which one will be face up; this visible card is known as the “Third Street.”
The value of the “Third Street” cards is assessed, and the player with the lowest card value will need to place another bet on the table referred to as the “Bring In.” The player to the left of this person will then start the bets before the fourth player’s cards are dealt.
More Poker Versions
While the above variants of Online Poker are the most well-known, they are not the only variations that exist. Below is a list of some other variations players can find and play at our recommended list of online casinos.
- 3 Card Poker
- Caribbean Draw
- Caribbean Holdem
- Caribbean Stud
- Draw Hi-Lo
- Five Card Draw
- Horse
- Irish Poker
- Omaha Hi-Lo Poker
- Pai Gow Poker
- Razz Poker
- Triple Draw
Tips and Tricks for Playing Online Poker
Online Poker is immensely popular due to the ease of gameplay and the impact of player skill on the outcomes. Player skill makes all the difference giving seasoned players wins more frequently. Learning to play Online Poker may seem daunting to new players. But it is easy to get into once players follow the game and see the Ranked Hand values in action. Below we explore other tips and tricks players can use to improve their overall experience.
- Memorize Hand Values – The best tip we can give is for players to learn and memorise the hand value rankings; knowing these well helps inform the best wagering decisions round-on-round. This gives players the confidence to know when to fold or push on when they have a strong hand.
- Consider The Game Variant – Poker games vary in rules between variations; make sure to pay special attention to the version and rules of the Online Poker games you choose to play.
- Play Free Games – Online Casinos offer players the opportunity to play free games. Whether free or with the offered welcome bonus, we recommend players familiarise themselves by playing non-real-money Online Poker games.
- Stay Focused – It’s important to keep an uninhibited mind when playing real money Poker. Energy levels, poor focus and Intoxicants like drugs or alcohol can cloud players’ judgement and cause them to make poor wagering choices.
- Decide When to Play – Players are not forced to play every hand. If players feel they have received a bad hand, they can choose to “Fold”, which removes them from that round of Poker.
- Play Last – The ideal position to play in is last. We recommend that players take advantage of this position when afforded the random opportunity. This gives players a chance to inform their decisions on the choices of the table.
Ranking Order of Hand Values in Poker
It’s important to know the value of Hands in Online Poker, especially when intending to play for real money. Knowing the values helps players make better wagering decisions securing a large win or choosing to fold earlier and minimise losses. Below is a table showing the traditional hand value rankings that apply uniformly to most Online Poker variants. We recommend players familiarise themselves with these rankings to increase the overall experience of their Online Poker games.
Five of a kind |
The Highest Hand Value possible. Only possible in Poker games played with wild cards. 5♥, 5♦, 5♣, 5♠, 5(Wild Card) |
Royal Flush |
The most difficult hand to build. Uses specific values and must be present as any one suit. In most poker games, it is the highest value hand players can present. 10♠, J♠, Q♠, K♠, A♠. |
Straight Flush |
A five-card set that follows any same-suit numerical sequence. 5♥, 6♥, 7♥, 8♥, 9♥. |
Four of a Kind |
A four-card set that presents four cards of the same numerical value. 9♥, 9♦, 9♣, 9♠. |
Full House |
A hand presenting with two card sets: A two-card and a three-card set. Each set follows its value. 5♦,5♠. And. 8♥, 8♦, 8♣. |
Straight |
This is a numerical five-card set like a Straight Flush. But the cards do not need to follow the same suit. 5♥, 6♠, 7♦, 8♥, 9♣. |
Flush |
A five-card set that presents in no particular order and will all present the same suit. 2♦, 4♦, 7♦, 8♦, J♦. |
Three of a Kind |
A three-card set of the same value in hand. 3♥, 3♦, 3♠ |
Two Pair |
A hand presenting with any 2 two-card sets. 4♠,4♦. And 9♣,9♦. |
One Pair |
A hand with 1 two-card set. 5♦,5♠. |
High Card |
If players at the table cannot present a card set, the winner is determined by comparing the highest-ranking value card in the player’s hands. 10♠. is greater in numerical value than 8♥. |
How We Select The Best Online Australian Poker Casinos
Australians can look forward to a wide selection of Online Casinos that offer different variations of Online Poker for play. However, with so many choices, selecting which ones are the best can be difficult. We have listed above our best-rated casinos to play at, and explore below how we make the selections for this guide.
Safety for Players & Secure Sites
Before we recommend an Online Casino Poker Site, we always check the strength of the site’s safety and security. Players must feel secure that their information and account details will remain safe. Likewise, players also need to feel secure that the Poker games they play are fair, non-altered or rigged. The best way to confirm these points is to review regulated casinos with operating licences, ensuring players remain safe while receiving secure and fair games.
Online Poker Game Variety
Poker game variety is important; We review Australian online casinos that offer the best Online Poker games from the best software developers. We do this to give our readers confidence that they will have many quality Poker games to pick from and play. We also search for Aussie Casinos that offer Live Dealer games and Tournaments, giving even more options to our readers.
Online Casinos Bonuses
Online Casinos bonuses add incredible value to casino games like Poker. Bonuses increase player bankrolls allowing games to be played for longer. We search for online casinos that we find offer the greatest bonus offerings. These include welcome bonuses, No deposit bonuses, return player bonuses and others. While not all bonuses can be used in poker, we still ensure to select Sites that offer only the best bonuses, even if they are intended to be used in other games.
Playing Online Poker On Mobile
Australians want access to their favourite games anytime and anywhere, so we ensure to find casino sites that offer the best mobile offerings for games such as Online Poker. Our selection of online casinos is checked for the same consistent quality on mobile devices, giving our readers the confidence to know that they will have the full game experience with touch screen support on any smart device they choose to play on.
Online Casino Customer Support
No one wants to be left stranded when stuck with a potential issue. We ensure the casino sites we recommend offer around-the-clock and easy-to-contact customer support that is both friendly and helpful. No matter the issue, Aussie players playing Poker or any other game will always have someone ready and available to assist.
Online Poker Casino Banking Options
Easy banking options make transactions a breeze. We recommend online casinos that offer safe and secure banking methods. When players want to make deposits into their accounts or wish to withdraw lucky winnings from their Online Poker games, they can do so safely, quickly, and effortlessly. We also pay special attention to selecting casinos with the fairest banking terms and conditions.
Online Poker FAQs
Yes, Australians can play poker online at any of our recommended online casinos. All you need to do is sign up by creating an account and select a free or real money game to play. And let the games begin.
Yes, Online Casinos offer real-money gameplay with real money winnings. Australian players can place wagers within their chosen real money game and will have all winnings paid into their online casino accounts. Player winnings can be withdrawn into another account of choice at any time.
All the best online casinos offer a free way for Australians to play Online Poker games. They will not need to deposit funds or place real money wagers to enjoy their games. This, however, often does not include live dealer games.
There are more versions or varieties of Poker than we can mention in one answer. However, we recommend looking at the most popular three to start when looking for Poker games to play online. Texas Hold’em, Omaha Poker, and Seven Card Stud are these three variations.
All the best online Casinos offer quality Online Mobile Poker games. Australians with a Wi-Fi or data connection can use their Android or IOS smart devices to access games through dedicated casino apps or their preferred browser, bringing players the same great experience to their fingertips.
Most Casinos offer Online Poker games through the player’s preferred internet browser. Some Online Casinos will have dedicated apps, but for the most part, games can be accessed without needing to download any software or applications.
Online Poker and Video Poker are similar but have major key differences. Video Poker is played between a player and the machine. Players will receive five cards that can be kept or discarded and replaced. At the end of the round, the machine determines a winning hand.
Online Poker plays the same as real-world Poker. Players who have experience with real Poker table games are perfectly able to play online as the rules and gameplay remain the same.
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