Learn all about Poker in Belgium
Poker attracts the interest of players all over the world who find it a passion. It is the most iconic card game and everyone knows its name. Want to know the secrets of this game? In just a few minutes, thanks to this guide, poker will no longer have any secrets for you.
Game Objectives
The ultimate goal of poker is to collect the total bets placed using the strongest combination of cards. Sometimes this is not possible, so one may try to force other players to retire from the game in order to achieve victory.
A poker game consists of 52 cards. In each game, two to ten players can compete. Each of them will place bets based on the combination of cards they have in their hand. Excitement and strategy are the two keywords that are at the heart of each match.
The game is so popular that there are many variations. The most well-known is Texas Hold’em. This name has long since achieved iconic status in the card game world. This is the version that most people think of when they talk about Poker. The biggest poker events in the world, such as the World Series of Poker Main Event and the EPT Main Event, are usually Texas Hold’em events. This variation is also the most popular online.
The Core of Strategy: The Hands
Also known as the Poker Hand Ranking, the combinations of cards that determine victory over the other players. In this guide we explain the meaning of all hands from highest to lowest value, providing a valuable tool to get a visual impression of this game. Suited cards are cards of the same suit (clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades).
| Hands | Description |
|---|---|
 | Royal Flush Five cards of the same suit from ten to ace |
 | Straight Flush Five cards of the same suit in sequence |
 | Four of a kind Four cards of the same value |
 | Full House Three cards of the same value and two cards of the same value |
 | Flush Five cards of the same suit |
 | Straight Five cards in sequence but of different suits |
 | Three-of-a-kind Three same cards plus two different cards |
 | Two Pair Two pairs of the same value with one random card |
 | One Pair Two cards of the same value with three random cards |
 | High Card Five non-matching cards |
The card ranks are the same in all card games. The ace is the highest, and the two is the lowest. The ace can also be used as one, so you can also make a straight with an ace, two, three, four, and five.
The Royal Flush is the highest possible combination but rarely occurs. The chance of this is about 1 in 650,000. Some players play poker for years before they get a Royal Flush themselves. On the other hand, we have the High Card. You always have this combination because you don’t have to do anything for it.
The combinations are worth more the rarer they are, as it becomes harder to make them. For example, Two Pair beats One Pair, and Three-of-a-kind beats Two Pair.
In the case of two hands of the same type, the winner is determined by the highest value of the individual cards.
How to play Texas Hold’em Poker?
Texas Hold’em Poker is the most widely played version of poker in the world, especially in its No Limit (NL) form. This version is used in the main event of the World Series of Poker, the largest poker tournament in the world.
Hold’em is played from two players face to face (heads-up) and up to ten players at a full table (full ring). The basic rules of Poker are respected as well as the combinations that we have seen previously.
Let’s take a look at the different stages of a game of Texas Hold’em.
1
Initial bet
The game begins with the initial bet. The two players to the left of the dealer must post the blinds (these are mandatory bets). The first player, directly to the left of the dealer, pays the small blind and the second player the big blind (double the previous bet). All chips are put into a common space called a pot.
2
Card distribution
When the initial bets are placed, each player at the table is dealt two cards that only he or she can see. These are called the hole cards.
Next, five community cards are placed face down on the table. Everyone will be able to see and use them.
In total, as a player, you have 7 cards: 2 own cards and 5 community cards. You use them to make the best possible combination of five cards.
To do this, we use either our two cards and three on the table, or one of our cards and four cards on the table. It is also possible to use only the five cards on the table. But in such a case, the best we can hope for is a tie because all opponents have at least this combination.
3
The betting rounds
In Texas Hold’em, there are four rounds of betting. In each round, cards are revealed, allowing the best possible combination of five cards to be formed. You can use both your two cards in your hand and the five community cards on the table.
The amount of money at stake in the first two rounds is half of what is played in the last two rounds. The maximum allowed raises in each of these betting rounds are 4, adding tension to each game.
Each round also has its own name and characteristics:
1st Round: Pre-flop
In this phase, players place their bets according to the value of their two cards. They do not yet know which community cards will be revealed later.
2nd Round: Flop
During this round, the first three community cards are revealed and bets are placed, adding tension and anticipation to the game.
3rd Round: Turn
The fourth community card is revealed and players participate in an additional round of betting, evaluating options to form the best hand.
4th Round: River
The tension rises as the last community card appears, creating new possibilities for betting and strategy.
What if a player wants to raise the bet?
Then the others must match it or withdraw from the game. This is how each betting round starts. Players look at their cards and raise their bet if they wish. Players who do not want to participate must leave. When the last betting round is reached, all players’ cards are revealed, and the one with the best combination wins the pot.
Game Strategies and Tips
Poker is a game of luck but also of strategy. Here are some strategies and tips that can help you win your next poker games.
Tips for the player
- Know the hands: Knowing poker hands and hand combinations helps you maximize your chances of winning while managing risk. Understanding the rankings helps you decide which cards to hold and which cards to discard. The goal is to find the right balance between finding lucrative hands and making viable profits.
- Getting Familiar with Poker : You might think that Poker seems like a complex game. But mastering the game is simply a matter of a little practice. After playing a few games, you become familiar with the betting rounds and card combinations and develop strategies to get the best hand. Skill and experience are central to this exciting card game. Let the games begin, and who knows, you might be better at Poker than you initially thought.
- Bluffing : When talking about Poker, you also hear the word “bluffing” now and then. Many players use the bluffing strategy, raising their bets to make other players believe they have an exceptional hand. Another way to win the pot is to make all players fold. This means that a player lays down their cards and no longer participates in the current round. All the chips the player has bet up to that point remain in the pot. The player participates again in the next round. You fold when you think your cards are too bad to win. Victory, therefore, does not always depend on having the best hand.
Tips for playing online
- Choose a legal and reputable online casino: Play only at a casino that is legally authorized in Belgium. Check that it has a license and that it offers fair gaming conditions.
- Gamble Responsibly: Set a gambling budget and stick to it.
- Play for fun: Poker is primarily a game of chance. Play for fun first and foremost, not for winnings.