So, you've been playing poker for quite a while now and as you go along a list of game-related questions builds up. Some of these questions have already been answered by various online gambling websites, while others have been totally and completely disregarded. To cater to the needs of the global poker community, we have decided to become an extensive source of information regarding all those unanswered questions players typically accumulate over their online and also offline gambling career.

As we realize that poker beginners certainly have different questions than the ones more experienced players are wondering about, we've broken our FAQ list into three player levels as following:


Intermediate Player Questions

Advanced Player Questions

Here, goes a list of questions we believe that any poker novice has been seeking an answer for:

1. What are the basic rules of poker?

A.: Well, this is indeed a tricky question. 'Poker' is a general term referring to a number of different card games with different gaming rules. However, the most commonly played game of all poker variations is Texas Hold 'em. You can find Texas Hold 'em play rules here . Other poker games rules are available at our 'Poker Games' section.

2. What are the criteria for selecting an online poker room to play at?

A.: There are certain factors that help beginner players decide what Internet poker room suits them best. Check out what poker websites enjoy the greatest popularity. Gaming destinations with significant player volume should be your first choice. A poker room's popularity is the best proof of its fairness in games and transparency in payouts.

3. What's the difference between play money games and real money games?

A.: There is indeed a great difference. For starters, play money games are only available over the Internet. Traditional gaming venues have no such term in their vocabulary. Play-money games, as the name suggests, do not require players to invest any real money. The poker room allocates to a player's account "fake" cash which can be used in play-money games. Such games are great for brand new poker players who seek to hon their skills without going broke.

4. What is a poker tournament?

A.: A poker tournament is a gaming event in which tournament participants battle for the jackpot. All players are required to pay an entry fee and initial buy-in for a set number of tournament chips. As the event goes along, more and more players are being kicked out. Tournament chips can be converted to real money only at the end of the tournament. The play continues until the final event where the winner is determined. There are different types of tournaments and each of them has its own predetermined rules.

5. Is playing poker over the Internet a legal pastime?

A.: It all depends on where you live. In many European countries, for example, playing poker over the Internet is completely legal. However, others have rendered it a pastime that contravenes the local gaming law. The online poker industry in the U.S., for instance, has recently received a heavy blow after the American government implemented the UIGEA, an act that prohibits credit companies to process financial transactions associated with online gambling websites. This essentially has driven online poker outside the U.S.

6. How do I deposit money into an online gambling account?

A.: The vast majority of today's online poker rooms provide players with highly secure and convenient payment options. You can either fund your account via your credit card, a bank draft, a wire transfer or use the services of online payment service providers, such as NETeller, Click2Pay and others.

7. Is it common to cheat in online poker?

A.: Well, cheating is welcome neither in land-based poker rooms nor at online gambling destinations. If you suspect being cheated, you should contact website operators and report the cheater. Cheating allegations are typically taken very seriously and investigated very thoroughly.

8. Can I witness game play without actually taking part?

A.: It depends on the poker room you choose to play at. Some of them allow you to watch a table with a game taking place, others don't.

9. What is a 'raked hand'?

A.: The term 'raked hand' refers to any hand played for real money (as opposed to play-money games). The "rake" is a fee poker rooms collect for holding the game. The rake is a predetermined percentage of the pot (typically 5%).

10. What is video poker?

A.: Video poker is the game of poker played on an electronic machine. Every time you finish playing the machine's random number generator 'shuffles' the cards and you can start playing video poker all over again.