Just like the game of Texas Hold’em, the main purpose of this game is to create the best possible five-card poker hand using a combo of two hole cards together with five community cards from a standard deck of 52 cards. The rules are super easy to learn so you will pick up the game rules in no time. You would, however, need to familiar with the standard five card poker hand rankings as below.

How to play live casino hold’em

Texas Hold'em Poker Cheat Sheet

You start the game by placing your chips in the ‘ante’ section of the table. This is exactly like the blind in online poker, and thus, it needs to be paid before the cards are dealt out. When your ante has been paid, you and the dealer are each dealt two cards. Both the dealer’s cards are dealt face down so you are not able to see what he has. An additional three community cards are further dealt out on the table.

Sometimes you also have the added option of a side bet which can either be won or lost from the start. You win if you successfully have a pair of aces or better using the two hole cards and three community cards.

Once you have made your side bet, you would need to quickly make a decision. You can either proceed to fold your hand and lose your ante or else you can keep on playing by making a call bet. A call bet is essentially a bet that is double your original ante. If you do decide to make a call bet, an additional two community cards are added to the pile on the table.

It is at this point, that you must create your best five-card poker hand available. If you are playing this game at a live casino, the system automatically determines this for you. Your hand is immediately compared to that of the dealer’s. If the dealer has a better hand, you immediately lose your ante and your call bet.

Basic strategy for live casino hold’em

To play this game as best as possible, you would need to reach the right decision about whether to continue playing after the first set of cards have been dealt or whether to fold. There are a number of considerations that will help you make the next step. First, you would need to consider the strength of your hand and how your hand would improve once the remainder of the cards has been dealt out.

Because you are competing against the dealer, not players, you have to remember that their hand might be strong and how it could improve.

Here are some tips to consider when playing Live Casino Hold’em:

  • Always call with a pair or better
  • Always call if you have a King and an Ace
  • Call if you have a Queen or a Jack unless all the community cards are of the same suit and you don’t own a card of the same suit.
  • Call if you have a flush or straight draw if you only need one card to create a flush or a straight.
  • Fold if there are no cards that match the board and no cards over 10 unless you have a flush draw or a straight draw.
  • Fold if you have unpaired low cards that don’t match the community cards and which don’t help you create a flush or straight draw.

Want to learn more about online poker? Check out more strategies and tips and when you are ready to play for real money, take advantage of one of our casino bonus offers.

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Casino Game Specialist

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Harper Gallagher is a respected specialist in online casino games, particularly craps, poker and casino table games. By staying abreast of emerging technologies and trends, she inspires others to pursue their own passions in the exciting world of online casino gaming.

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