Online Crypto and Bitcoin Poker
The cryptocurrency Bitcoin is nowadays universally known. But how does it actually work, and how can you play online poker with Bitcoin and all the other cryptocurrencies?
What are the opportunities and risks of playing poker using Bitcoin? We will answer this and more in the following article.
Introduction
Playing on popular crypto poker sites can help you get the most out of your online and mobile poker experience.
With the development of Bitcoin and other virtual currencies, there are now several online poker sites that are cryptocurrency-friendly. They offer their services to players who would rather play with crypto than traditional fiat currency.
However, because there are so many online crypto poker operators, it is easy to become confused when browsing for the right online cryptocurrency poker site. Searching through hundreds of these sites can be exhausting, and you may become disoriented.
Fortunately, we’ve created a simple guide of the finest online crypto poker casinos that you can simply follow to prevent any beginner missteps.
Where does Bitcoin come from?
In 2008, an Internet user going by the alias “Satoshi Nakamoto” introduced the Bitcoin protocol. The concept is simple.
The aim is to build a digital currency that can exist without central banks, governments and other regulatory authorities.
We want to answer the most important questions about this topic, as well as many others.
We use “BIT” is the smallest unit of measurement to quantify computer data. It is the first part of “BITCOIN”, which is the biggest digital currency.
It is not money in physical form, but a calculated block of data. You can buy Bitcoins with fiat money and pay for goods or services online.
Price, Supply and Inflation
In the first week of January 2017, a Bitcoin was worth just under $1,000. In comparison: an ounce of gold did cost about the same at this point in time.
Four years later, Bitcoin has already had several highs but also a few lows. It reached an all-time high of $68,790 in November 2021.
In general, the Bitcoin price’s characteristics are relatively high volatility. This information is particularly relevant for Bitcoin trading – short/long Bitcoin positions. What followed in 2021 was unprecedented.
While it reached a peak by the end of 2017, developments this year have shown once again that Bitcoin and Altcoins, such as Ethereum, will continue to shake up the market in the long run.
So, with such volatile price swings, why should you assume Bitcoin won’t lose its entire value at some point? This is simply due to the nature of the currency, which protects itself against inflation.
Bitcoin’s algorithm ensures a maximum supply of 21 million coins, and no more than that will ever exist. This set amount will reduce the possibility of inflation. In general, inflation will be minimised if the overall amount of a currency in circulation is small.
A traditional bank account keeps the current account balance as well as all transactions up to a given point in time in the past. All Bitcoin transactions are publicly available on the blockchain, which operates on a peer-to-peer network without the use of a central point, such as a bank.
Why Using Cryptocurrencies for Online Poker?
Playing with cryptocurrencies can always be beneficial to you because there are lots of advantages. Many providers allow you to register completely anonymously, which speeds up the whole procedure.
Cross your heart – you don’t feel really safe when you have to pass on all your personal data to an online operator. With cryptocurrency deposits at crypto poker sites, you don’t need to worry about that anymore.
The next advantage is the fact that you can exchange your dollars or euros for cryptocurrency very easily. Transactions are also extremely fast. When you request a cryptocurrency withdrawal, you will receive the amount in your wallet within minutes.
Like other payment methods, not only one version of crypto online poker is available. Therefore, you can play all the well-known online poker games in connection with digital currency. For poker enthusiasts, there are No-Limit and Pot-Limit Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi / Lo, and H.O.R.S.E. and many more available online to play.
Texas Hold’em
Texas Hold’em is definitely the most popular variant of poker, and therefore the most played online. This version of the game is available in all online and offline poker rooms around the world.
The game is simple to learn and enjoyable to play, but it is challenging to master. It is a long way from an advanced player to a professional one.
Not only is a strong awareness of the different probabilities for poker hands important for success, but also a strategy that depends on the type of game, situation and position at the table, as well as budget and stack.
Texas Hold’em freeroll poker tournaments with no buy-in are extremely popular, resulting in a large field of competitors and a long duration.
Free online poker cash games and free poker games, in general, are an ideal way to become comfortable with the game and learn how to compete against players of varying skill levels. Furthermore, a great opportunity to play online poker with friends and completely for free.
Many poker players consider No-Limit Texas Hold’em to be the purest variant of the game. The main event of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) will be played in this format of poker.
How to Play Texas Hold’em Poker?
You play Texas Hold’em with two hole cards in hand and five community cards in the middle of the table. There are four rounds in which the players can check, bet or fold their hand. The four rounds are preflop, flop, turn and river: First, each game receives its hole cards, then three community cards are revealed (flop), then the fourth (turn) and fifth card (river). In the showdown, the highest poker hand wins the pot.
Texas Hold’em is played with the big blind and small blind as minimum stakes, which change every round and can increase as the game progresses. The betting is determined by the limits: There are different Texas Hold’em Poker variants No-Limit, Pot-Limit or Fixed-Limit.
Omaha
Omaha is another popular variant of online poker and is well-known among players worldwide. The game was developed from Texas Hold’em. The course of the game is almost identical and Omaha is played with the limits commonly used in Texas Hold’em.
Instead of two, you are dealt four hole cards, of which you can only combine two with the communal cards. Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO) is the most common form of the game and one of the favourite ones at online poker casinos.
Omaha is widespread internationally and is featured in the World Series of Poker in several variations. All the best online crypto poker operators offer at least one variant of Omaha.
Pro players prefer PLO because there is a lot of action in the game and decision-making power is required.
How do You Play Omaha Poker?
The Omaha rules follow those of Texas Hold’em, but you are dealt four cards instead of two, as mentioned. A poker hand must contain two hole cards and three community cards. In Omaha Hi, like in Texas Hold’em, the best poker hand wins.
Omaha Hi-Lo stipulates that the pot is split between the best high hand and the best low hand. A low hand has five different cards, counting down from the 8, depending on the variant, with the Ace as the lowest card.
Players can use different cards for high and low hands but must use two hole cards each. If you win Hi and Lo, it counts as so-called scooping the entire pot.
H.O.R.S.E.
H.O.R.S.E. crypto online poker stands for Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hold’em Hi-Lo, Razz, Seven Card Stud and Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo. The players have to master all five poker variants, which change after each round to create more diversity.
Since 2002, H.O.R.S.E. has had a presence at the World Series of Poker. You should only play H.O.R.S.E. if you really understand the 5 different poker variants and have enough experience to beat your opponents in those games.
Crypto online poker can be a lot of fun but requires a lot of skill and strategy too. Other typical mixed-game variations, such as HOSE or SHOE, remove Razz from the game only.
How to Play H.O.R.S.E. Poker?
Online H.O.R.S.E. poker tournaments usually have 8 players at each table. After each fully completed round, indicated by the dealer button, the game variant changes.
When you switch to Razz, the button stays in the same place so that the order of the blinds does not get mixed up when you return to Hold’em. A fixed limit is usually chosen, although other betting structures are also possible.
Razz
The online poker variant Razz is pretty much identical to Seven Card Stud, but the players aim for the lowest poker hand to scoop the pot.
Razz is part of HORSE and also played at the World Series of Poker. Fixed limits and antes are common at Razz. The game doesn’t have a qualifier like “8 or better” for the pot. Flushes or straights are irrelevant and do not count.
The so-called California ranking of online Razz poker hands counts “Ace to Five”, so aces are always low. The best possible hand is called “Wheel”: 5-4-3-2-A. A low hand is counted down from the highest card and named after the highest card, something like “Six Low” or “Six-Five Low”.
How to Play Razz Poker?
Each participant places the minimum bet and receives two face-down cards and one face-up card. The round begins with the person who has the highest face-up card in his hand.
Each player receives an open card on 4th, 5th and 6th Street and the player with the lowest open combination starts the betting round. After the fifth and final betting round, the final card, 7th Street or River, is dealt face down, and the showdown begins.
The Best Crypto and Bitcoin Poker Casinos
GGPoker is becoming increasingly popular and is now the largest poker network in the world. In terms of the amount of cash game players, GG ranks considerably above big brands like PartyPoker or Bwin and is far superior to, for example, the iPoker network.
GG is PokerStars’ strongest pursuer but a significant benefit is that Bitcoin, as well as Altcoins, are accepted as a form of payment. GGPoker is also a WSOP partner, consequently, there are always attractive WSOP tournaments and satellites available.
Natural8 claims to have the largest online poker network in Asia. Plenty of occasional players (fish) from different countries, the multitude of promotions and the great rakeback deal are a few of the many benefits of Natural8.
Whether you’d like to play free poker, cash game Texas Holdem, Pot-Limit Omaha, Short Deck Holdem, Fast-Fold-Poker, or Spin & Go tournaments or multi-table tournaments, you can find a lot of action and everything else a poker player could think of.
No matter which cryptocurrency you prefer, there are a few criteria to consider while you’re searching for the best crypto poker sites.
Before registering, make sure you check the security levels of your potential poker site, traffic, promotions and bonuses, software used as well as the rakeback.
The best crypto and Bitcoin poker providers use the highest levels of security and privacy protocols.
Furthermore, they provide amazing content, lucrative bonuses, and promotions on a regular basis. The better online cryptocurrency poker sites also feature a trustworthy customer service department with extensive FAQ sections.
Deposit and Play!
If you want to make transactions at a Bitcoin poker casino, we recommend you follow the instructions in this article and benefit from the following advice:
To deposit at a cryptocurrency-accepting online poker site, you must first create a wallet in order to buy Bitcoin and Altcoins. Fortunately, there are a lot of options. Whether a cold or hot wallet, downloaded on your computer or your mobile device, you have to choose which one suits your needs best.
Once you’ve downloaded the wallet, you can buy the currency through various exchanges. As soon as you exchange your fiat currency into cryptocurrency, the private key of your crypto is saved in your wallet, which declares you as the owner of the asset on the blockchain.
This enables you to transfer your cryptocurrency to another wallet or deposit it at any crypto poker casino.
Let’s take Bitcoin as an example. Once you’ve located a Bitcoin poker site, proceed to the payment page and choose Bitcoin as your payment method. To deposit your crypto into your poker account, you’ll need the casino’s wallet address.
When you make a payment, it will take you to your Bitcoin wallet to confirm and complete the transaction.
Following that, you may indeed be entitled to a Bitcoin poker casino bonus. You may be able to claim the welcome bonus and other free bonuses depending on the operator’s offers.
Easy Withdrawals
Concerning payouts, we propose to first ensure that the online poker casino of your choice also offers the same option for withdrawals.
And if it does, simply go to the payments or cashier section and pick “Bitcoin”. Select then the amount to withdraw and confirm the transaction. Just remember to meet the casino bonus requirements first before cashing out your funds.
For poker players, cryptocurrency is an incredibly convenient online payment alternative. And it’s no surprise that more Bitcoin poker casinos are springing up.
Conclusion
As you can see, poker is a wide and incredibly diversified card game. Each with different varieties to play and with its own set of tactics and strategies.
As a beginner, you should definitely start with Texas Hold’em. You can play this popular type of online free poker at any online crypto poker site.
This can be an excellent opportunity to learn the individual poker hands as well as the game’s fundamentals.
To enjoy the game of Omaha poker, you have to fully understand Texas Hold’em and have already some experience. Stud poker is also simple to grasp and can be the initial introduction to the game in which you are dealt cards, even face up.
Seven Card Stud is a great alternative and always fun to play. A little more finesse is required with the Hi-Lo variant when it comes to the lowest hand.
From there, it’s just one step to Razz, where the lowest hand wins.
Once you’ve learned all the rules of the many varieties of online poker described above, a serious challenge awaits you in the variant of H.O.R.S.E.
The change in the game style after each round provides a great deal of diversity and attracts strong professionals.