Learn how to play casino hold’em

Why would you want to learn how to play casino hold’em?

If you like poker, then you’ll love Casino Hold ’em. Fast becoming the blackjack for a new generation, it brings the world’s premier poker variant to the casino tables. Most online casinos are offering this game and you can visit onlinecasinoguide.co.nz and find highest ranking one available for you just one click away!

How to play

The aim of the game in Casino Hold ’em is to make a better five card poker hand than the dealer from the seven cards available (two hole cards and five ‘community’ cards). For the non-poker players among you, check out the poker hand rankings.

The game starts with the player placing his ante bet together with the optional AA side bet (more of that later). The ante is the basic stake that you’re playing for, and when deciding your stake level bear in mind that you have to make further betting decisions as the game goes on (see below).

Once the initial bets have been placed, it’s time for a flurry of action and the opening deal. Both you and the dealer will receive two cards (the dealer’s will be face down) and the ‘flop’ will also be dealt. The flop is a set of three community cards that both you and the dealer will use to construct your best five card poker hand.

Now you have a decision to make based on the strength of your hand so far – call or fold. Remember, there are still two cards to come to help you make your hand, but by now you have a reasonable idea of your chances of beating the dealer. If you think you’re winning – or may win – you should call, if you think you’re losing you should fold.

If you elect to fold, it will end the hand and the dealer will win your ante bet. Should you call, you must make a further bet that is two times the size of the ante (so if the ante was $5, you must bet a further $10 to call for a total of $15). Once you call, the final two community cards will be dealt and the winner determined.

Remember, for you to beat the dealer, the dealer must first have a qualifying hand. At the casino, the qualifying hand is a pair of 4s or better. Should you have the winning hand but the dealer does not qualify, you will get paid for the ante bet but the call bet will be a push where your original stake is returned.

Payouts

The strength of your hand also determines the size of the payout you receive on your ante bet. For example, if you ante up $5 and make a full house, you will receive $15 back together with any winnings from your second call bet. Hit some cards, and you could make serious money in no time at all!

The AA side bet

The AA side bet is a popular bet among casino players and gives you the chance to get a big return on your money by paying out 7-1 or more should you have a pair of aces or better after the first three community cards are dealt. Please note, to win the AA side bet you have to call (folded hands do not get paid). Check out the pay tables below to see what you could win: