Live Casino Hold’em is one of the most popular casinos in the world. If you have never played before but looking to give it a try for the first time, then this quickfire guide will walk you through all you need to know. By the time you’re done reading, you’ll know how to play Live Casino Hold’em, different strategies and, most importantly, understand when you win.
As in standard Texas Hold’em, the aim of the game is to make the best possible hand. From the standard 52-card deck, you combine your two hole cards with the five community cards. The rules are quite simple, but the only place to start is with the hand rankings.
Poker Hand Rankings
From the best to worst hands:
- Royal Flush: the best possible hand in poker. A Royal Flush is a Straight Flush from 10 to Ace.
- Straight Flush: the second best possible hand in poker. A Straight Flush contains five consecutive cards of the same suit, for example, Ace to 5 of hearts.
- Four Of A Kind: four of the same card completed with the highest community card
- Full House: a combination of Three Of A Kind and One Pair.
- Flush: five cards of the same suit (they don’t have to be in any order).
- Straight: five consecutive cards (they don’t have to be the same suit).
- Three Of A Kind: three of the same card completed with the two highest community cards.
- Two Pair: two different pairs completed with the highest community card
- One Pair: two cards of the same kind completed with the three highest community cards.
- High Card: failing to make at least One Pair with Ace being the best high card.
How It Works
This popular game starts with an ante. These are like the blinds in Texas Hold’em and are paid before any cards are dealt. Once the ante’s been paid, you and the dealer are dealt two cards. Note the dealers are dealt face-down so you can’t see what they have. Three community cards are then dealt.
There’s sometimes an option here to make a side bet. It wins if you make a pair of aces or better with your hole cards and the community cards.
Once you’ve made the side bet, decide if you want to fold and lose the ante, or call and continue. The call bet is double the original ante. If you call, the final two community cards are dealt.
This is when you make the best five-card hand you can. The live casino will compare your hand to the dealer’s automatically to figure out the winner.
Basic Live Casino Hold’em Strategy
Remember, in this fame, you’re not competing against other players – only the dealer. Here is some basic Live Casino Hold’em strategy to consider when you sit at the table:
- Always call when you make a minimum of One Pair
- Always call when you are dealt an Ace and a King
- Call if you have a Queen and a Jack except when all community cards are of the same suit that you don’t have in your hand
- Call if you have a Straight or Flush draw if you only need one card to make the hand
- Fold when none of your hole cards match with the board and no cards higher than a 10, except when you have a Straight or Flush draw
- Fold when your unpaired low cards do not match with the board and they cannot help you make a Straight or Flush
Just note that Live Casino Hold’em games are still new. If you’re interested in learning more about the best and safest casinos that offer this game, check out this resource.
Other Live Casino Hold’em Strategies
With the above points in mind, here’s more information to give you the best shot at winning.
Knowing When To Call
This helps you make the right decision based on your hole cards. For example, if you make a pair, either in your hand or with the community cards, overcards to the flop, or you or in any of the above mentioned call situations, then of course, you should call.
Suppose you are dealt are a pair of Kings in your hand. Even with basic poker knowledge, this is a good hand so you should call in Live Casino Hold’em too in most cases.
Knowing When To Fold
No one likes to fold as it means you can’t win, but it’s just as important as knowing when to call. If the board pairs and you don’t have a picture card, two overcards to the board or an ace in your hand, then it’s best to just fold.
Suppose you’re dealt 3-4 spades. This is a bad hand in Live Casino Hold’em as they’re both below a 10. If the board pairs, it’s unlikely you’ll hit the right cards to give you a winner.
Using A Calculator
This is another option for beginners to Live Casino Hold’em. There are plenty of calculators online that can tell you how often you’re expected to win in a given situation. Enter your hole cards and the three community cards and the calculator will show you what the best decision is.
Setting A Budget
This goes for all casino games – Live Casino Hold’em is no different. End the session as soon as you’ve reached the budget. If you’re winning in the session, then you can adjust your budget slightly, but it’s always a good idea to quit while you’re ahead. That way you’ll have plenty left in your bankroll for the next time you hit the tables.
Suppose you’ve set a $150 budget and you lose it within an hour of playing. Just take a break. Don’t jump straight away as you can end up losing more than you intended.
Finding The Payout Tables
The payout tables let you see how much you win based on your hand. Generally speaking, the Royal Flush has the highest payout at 100 to 1. The next highest is the Straight Flush at 20:1 and so on. Always review the payout table as some casinos may have different payouts during certain promotions.
