Poker is a card game in which hand strength decides who takes the pot, or who is paid by the house in casino versions. This page covers the common variants, the basic rules and how live and computer games differ, plus what to confirm before you sit down at bet365.
Common poker variants
Poker splits into two groups. In player-versus-player games, such as Texas Hold'em and Omaha, you compete against other players and the house takes a fee. In casino poker games, such as Three Card Poker, Casino Hold'em and Caribbean Stud, you play against the house, and the payouts are fixed by the game's paytable. Video poker is a third form: a computer game where you choose which cards to hold from a dealt hand.
Which of these bet365 lists is something to confirm before you plan to play, since lineups change. You can visit bet365 to see the current games, and read the rules and paytable of a game before your first hand.
How poker works
Every form of poker ranks five-card hands in the same order, from a high card at the bottom through a pair, two pair, three of a kind, a straight, a flush, a full house and four of a kind, up to a straight flush. A 52-card deck is used.
In Texas Hold'em, each player gets two private cards and shares five community cards, with rounds of betting between each reveal. In house-banked games, you place an ante, receive your cards, and decide whether to continue against the dealer's hand. A paytable sets what each hand pays.
Each deal is random. Skill affects how you use your cards, not which cards you are dealt.
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Live or computer poker
A computer (RNG) game deals cards by software, so hands are quick and you set your own pace. A live poker table uses a real dealer and real cards on camera, so each hand follows the table's schedule. The hand rankings and rules are the same either way, and the odds come from the game's rules rather than the format. For more on live tables, see our live casino guide.
Before you play
Learn the hand rankings and the rules of the specific game, read its paytable and set your limit before the first hand. Choose a stake you are comfortable losing. Raising stakes after a loss does not improve your odds. Playing on a phone is covered on the mobile version page. Welcome offers have their own conditions on the welcome bonus page, and T&Cs apply.
