Poker Sites
Looking for online Poker Sites? Use the Desibets.com guide to the best online casinos in India to play poker and the bonuses available.
- Best Poker Casinos in India
- Popular Casino Poker Games
- Caribbean Stud Poker
- Three Card Poker
- Casino Hold’em
- Poker Hand Rankings
- Poker Strategies
Best Poker Casinos in India
Poker is the epitome of a classic card gambling game. While Five Card Stud, Texas Hold’em and Omaha grab attract the most attention, there are many other exciting variants to play at India’s top poker casinos.
This poker guide will showcase some of the best games. We’ll also take you through the poker hand rankings and highlight the need-to-know poker strategies to improve your gameplay.
Furthermore, when you’re ready to hit the tables to play free poker or real money, our team has curated a list of top-rated licensed and regulated poker casinos. All you have to do is compare the bonus offers and site features, choose a favourite and sign up to play.
Popular Casino Poker Games
Casino poker is slightly different from face-to-face games because the player is battling against the dealer rather than other players. This means that these games have a house edge, which obviously favours the casino.
On the plus side, casino poker removes the psychological aspect of bluffing (which is a big part of face-to-face games), so it’s more simplified. This makes these games perfect for total beginners who are looking to learn the ropes and improve their basic understanding of poker. These are some popular games you’ll find at our top-rated casinos.
Caribbean Stud Poker
Most casinos offer Caribbean Stud, which is a testament to its popularity. The objective is to get a stronger 5-card poker hand than the dealer. The gameplay works like this:
- The player places an ‘ante’ bet.
- Five cards face-up are dealt to the player’s hand.
- Five cards are also dealt to the dealer’s hand - four are face-down, and one is face-up.
- After assessing their hand and the dealer’s one up-card, the player must decide whether to fold or bet.
- If the player folds, the ante bet is lost.
- If the player chooses to bet, the raise bet is twice the amount of the ante.
- The dealer needs Ace-King high to qualify. If the dealer doesn’t qualify, the ante is paid at 1:1, and the raise bet is pushed (returned to the player).
- If the dealer qualifies, it’s the showdown. Both hands are compared to see which is the winner.
- If the player wins, the ante bet is paid 1:1, and the payout for the raise bet is according to the paytable.
Three Card Poker
This game is very similar to Teen Patti, which is popular throughout India. As with all casino poker variations, the objective is to beat the dealer.
- The player places an ante bet.
- Three cards are dealt to the player - all face-up - and the dealer takes three cards, which are all face down.
- The player must decide whether to fold and lose the ante bet or continue. If the player continues, they must make a play bet, which is equal to the ante bet.
- The dealer needs queen or higher to qualify.
- Winning player hands are paid at 1:1 for both the ante and play bets.
Casino Hold’em
Adapted from Texas Hold’em, this variation is played against a dealer. It’s a great game with plenty of big win opportunities and additional bonus bets. Once again, the objective is to get a stronger 5-card hand than the dealer by using two hole cards and five community cards. Here’s how Casino Hold’em is played.
- The player places an ante bet. An optional bonus bet can also be made at this time.
- Two cards are dealt face-up to the player’s hand and two cards face-down to the dealer’s hand. Also, three community cards are dealt face-up in the middle of the table.
- The player decides whether to call or fold.
- If the player calls, another bet - twice the value of the ante - must be made.
- Two more community cards are dealt (the turn and the river).
- The two hands are compared to see which one has the best 5-card hand.
- The dealer qualifies with a pair of 4’s or better.
- Winning player hands are paid according to the game’s paytable.
Poker Hand Rankings
One of the fundamentals of learning any poker game is knowing the hand rankings. Barring a couple of minor exceptions, all forms of poker grade the strength of a hand in the same way. The table below ranks the hands beginning with the strongest.
| Poker Hand Ranking | Hand Descripiton | Example Hand |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 5 cards from the same suit in consecutive order up to the ace | 10h Jh, Qh, Kh, Ah |
| Straight Flush | 5 cards from the same suit in consecutive order - not ace high | 4d, 5d, 6d, 7d, 8d |
| Four of a Kind | 4 cards all with the same face value | 10h, 10d, 10s, 10c |
| Full House | 5-card hand. 3 of a kind and a pair | 5s, 5d, 5h, Js, Jd |
| Flush | 5 cards from the same suit - not in running order | 2c, 6c, 7c, 10c, Qc |
| Straight | 5 cards in consecutive order from different suits | 3s, 4d, 5h, 6h, 7c |
| Three of a Kind | 3 cards all with the same face value | 7s, 7d, 7c |
| Two Pairs | 2 sets of pairs | 5h, 5d, Qh, Qc |
| One Pair | 2 cards of the same face value | 3d, 3h |
| High Card | If none of the above hands, it’s simply the highest value card in the hand. The Ks is the high card in example hand | 2c, 4d, 7c, 8h, Ks |
Poker Strategies
As poker is a decision-making card game, strategies do come into play. However, unlike blackjack, which has a basic strategy that can be used for all variations, each poker strategy is unique to the game you are playing.
Caribbean Stud Strategy
The recommended strategy for Caribbean Stud is to raise with a pair or better. Anything less than Ace-King should be folded. If you have Ace-King, you can raise when:
- The dealer’s up-card is a 2 through to Q and it matches one you have in your hand.
- The dealer’s up-card is an Ace or King, and you have Jack or Queen in your hand.
- If you have a Queen, and the dealer’s up-card is of a lower value than your 4th highest card.
Three Card Poker Strategy
The strategy for Three Card Poker is probably the easiest to memorise. Basically, you should make the play bet if your hand is equal to or stronger than Queen - Six - Four. Remember that the hand strength is measured from strongest to weakest; therefore:
- King - Four - Two beats Queen - Six - Four
- Queen - Seven - Two also beats Queen - Six - Four.
FAQs
What is the best poker game?
The best poker game is a matter of opinion, but the most popular online is Texas Hold’em. However, there are many other exciting variations of poker and our hand-picked list has the top games from the most reputable casinos.
Can Casino Hold’em be beaten?
All casino poker games like Pai Gow, Caribbean stud, and casino hold’em, have a house edge. Even by using the correct strategy, you cannot beat the casino over the long run, but it’s possible to win when playing short sessions.
Is it legal to play real money poker online in India?
Yes, it is. The casinos are based offshore, so there are no limitations on playing poker or any other real money casino games. The exception is for residents in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, as online gambling is banned in these three states.
