Poker is one of the most strategic card games in the world. It’s also one of the most popular, with over 100 million players worldwide.
Now, with Bitcoin’s meteoric rise in the last decade, poker has taken on a whole new level of excitement and accessibility through the emergence of Bitcoin poker sites.
Bitcoin, a decentralized digital currency, offers players a secure and anonymous way to make transactions on these websites. As more and more people become comfortable transacting with it in place of fiat currency, Bitcoin casinos have surged in popularity.
And, yes. Poker is one of the most popular games you’ll find on these sites.
In today’s guide, we’ll walk you through how Bitcoin poker sites work, and share some of the top gaming options available for Bitcoin poker enthusiasts.
What is Bitcoin poker?
Bitcoin poker is a form of online poker that uses Bitcoin (BTC) as its betting currency. Instead of depositing and withdrawing traditional fiat currency like USD or EUR, players use Bitcoin to place bets, join tournaments, and cash out their winnings.
These sites offer the same types of games found in traditional poker rooms, with similar rules and strategies. But, playing with Bitcoin offers unmatchable advantages in terms of instant, low-cost transactions, provably fair games, and complete anonymity.
How do Bitcoin poker sites work?
There are a few key elements that make Bitcoin poker sites function:
- Bitcoin wallet — Players need to have a Bitcoin wallet set up to make transactions on these sites. This acts as their digital bank account and holds their Bitcoin balance.
- Deposit and withdrawal — Once a player has funded their Bitcoin wallet, they can deposit it into the poker site to start playing. Similarly, when they win and want to cash out their winnings, it will be deposited back into their Bitcoin wallet.
- Provably fair system — Many Bitcoin poker sites implement a provably fair system using cryptography and algorithms to ensure that all games are fair and not rigged.
- Bitcoin bonuses — To attract new players, many of these sites offer generous bonuses for signing up or making a deposit in Bitcoin.
On Bitcoin casino sites, poker games can either be hosted live (i.e., with a real dealer) or through an automated system.
How to play poker with Bitcoin
Of course, your first step is to find a reputable Bitcoin casino to play on. From there, the rules, gameplay, and strategies are mostly the same as your average online casino.
Though these will vary depending on the type of poker you’re playing, the general steps in a round are as follows:
1. Setup and blinds
Two players are required to place forced bets before any cards are dealt. The player to the left of the dealer posts the small blind, and the player next to them posts the big blind.
The purpose of this is to create a starting pot for the players to compete for.
The dealer button rotates clockwise after each hand, dictating who posts the blinds and who acts last in the betting rounds.
2. Dealing cards
Each player receives two private cards (hole cards) face down, which only they can see. The gameplay then proceeds through four betting rounds.
3. Pre-flop betting round
After receiving their hole cards, players evaluate their hands and decide whether to call (match the big blind), raise (increase the bet), or fold (discard their hand and forfeit the round).
The betting starts with the player to the left of the big blind and continues clockwise around the table.
4. The flop
The dealer places three community cards face up on the table. These are shared by all players to combine with their hole cards.
From there, another betting round begins, starting with the first remaining player seated to the left of the dealer.
5. The turn
A fourth community card (the turn) is dealt face-up. Players now have six cards to work with—two hole cards and four community cards.
A third round of betting follows, again starting from the player to the left of the dealer.
6. The river
A fifth and final community card (the river) is dealt face-up. Players now have seven cards (two hole cards and five community cards) to make their best five-card hand.
A final round of betting begins.
7. The showdown
If more than one player remains after the final round of betting, there is a showdown. Players reveal their hands, and the player with the best five-card hand (according to standard poker rankings) wins the pot.
If all but one player folds at any point during the betting rounds, the remaining player automatically wins the pot without having to show their cards.
Bitcoin poker hand rankings
To help you understand the strength of your hand and make strategic decisions, here are 10 of the most common poker hands, ordered from best to worst:
- Royal Flush: A, K, Q, J, 10, all of the same suit.
- Straight Flush: Five consecutive cards of the same suit.
- Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank.
- Full House: Three of a kind plus a pair.
- Flush: Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence.
- Straight: Five consecutive cards of different suits.
- Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank.
- Two Pair: Two pairs of cards.
- One Pair: Two cards of the same rank.
- High Card: The highest card when no other combination can be made.
There are dozens of other hands and variations in poker, so make sure to familiarize yourself with the rules and hand rankings before playing.
Variations of Bitcoin poker games
Bitcoin poker sites offer a wide range of games and variations to cater to different players’ preferences.
The most popular forms of poker are:
Texas Hold’em
By far the most widely played poker variant in both traditional and Bitcoin poker rooms. Each player receives two private cards (hole cards) and must make the best five-card hand using five community cards shared among all players. The game progresses through four betting rounds (pre-flop, flop, turn, and river), as shown in the steps above.
Omaha
Similar to Texas Hold’em, Omaha offers a twist where players are dealt four hole cards instead of two. Players must use exactly two of their hole cards combined with three of the five community cards to make the best hand.
Omaha often has larger pots and requires a bit more strategic depth due to the extra cards, making it appealing to experienced players.
Seven-Card Stud
Before the rise of Texas Hold’em, Seven-Card Stud was the dominant poker variant. Each player is dealt seven cards, three face-down and four face-up, over the course of five betting rounds. The goal is to make the best five-card hand.
Unlike Texas Hold’em and Omaha, Seven-Card Stud doesn’t use community cards, making it more about individual hands and observation.
Five-Card Draw
In this simpler form of poker, each player is dealt five private cards. Players can then exchange up to three of their cards (or four if they have an ace) to improve their hand.
It’s a popular game for newcomers due to its straightforward nature, and it is often one of the first poker games people learn.
Why play online poker with Bitcoin?
If you can already play online with your standard currency, why go through the extra steps to play with Bitcoin?
The answer is simple: decentralization.
BTC (and other cryptocurrencies don’t need to go through a bank or other financial institution to be transferred. This means quicker deposits and withdrawals, lower fees, and more privacy.
There are several benefits to this:
- Global accessibility: With traditional online poker, you may run into restrictions based on your location or financial institution. However, with Bitcoin poker, players from all around the world can join and play (assuming they’re playing from a region where it’s legal).
- Faster transactions: Traditional poker sites take several days to process deposits and withdrawals. Bitcoin transactions are almost instant, which allows for faster gameplay and seamless cashouts.
- Lower fees: Regular services charge high transaction fees, particularly when it comes to gambling-related activities. With Bitcoin, these fees are significantly reduced, allowing players to save money.
- Better privacy: While traditional online casinos require personal information to create an account, Bitcoin poker sites only need a username and password. Some crypto casinos even have no KYC requirements.
- Security on the blockchain: Blockchain technology (which Bitcoin uses) makes it nearly impossible to alter or forge transactions, providing an extra layer of security for players.
Above all this, Bitcoin casinos use provably fair gaming — that is, cryptographic algorithms verify each hand of poker is fair. This system ensures that neither the house nor players can manipulate the game’s results.
Winning strategies for online Bitcoin poker
Like we mentioned above, the strategies you’ll use are pretty much the same as the ones you’d use in a physical setting or on a regular online casino.
Here are our top strategies to improve your chances of winning:
1. Play tight, but aggressive.
The “tight-aggressive” strategy is a popular and effective choice because it combines playing conservatively with smart betting. Only play hands that are statistically proven to have a good chance of winning, and be aggressive when it’s time to bet.
2. Study your opponents’ plays.
As you play through a few rounds, you should start to pick up on patterns in your opponents’ playing styles. Are they more aggressive or passive? Do they bluff often? Use this information to your advantage and adjust your own strategy accordingly.
3. Don’t fear the fold.
It’s OK to fold sometimes, especially if you know have a weak hand. Staying in could cost you more in the long run because you’ll end up paying to see more cards. Don’t let your ego or emotions get the best of you.
4. Play based on odds, not gut feelings.
Speaking of emotions, don’t let them affect your gameplay. Stick to the odds and probabilities of winning, not on your gut feeling or superstitions. Remember that poker is a game of skill — luck is always involved, but you will go a lot further by taking calculated risks based on mathematical odds.
5. Understand the different types of odds.
There are three main types of odds in BTC poker: pot odds, implied odds, and hand probabilities.
- Pot odds are related to the pot’s size and how much you need to bet compared to what you could potentially win.
- Implied odds consider your future winnings if you complete your hand and your opponent calls your bets.
- Hand probabilities are your mathematical chances of making a certain hand, based on the cards on the table.
Applying these concepts can help you determine the overall potential profitability of winning a hand, vs. the bet you have to put up to see it through.
Final thoughts
Poker is one of the most complicated crypto casino games. To really get ahead, you need to develop a solid understanding of the game and continually improve your skills.
Bitcoin poker adds an extra layer of convenience, privacy, and security to the game. And with the rise in popularity of cryptocurrencies, it’s clear that online poker with Bitcoin is here to stay.
Remember to manage your bankroll effectively, don’t bet more than you can afford to lose, and always play responsibly. With the right strategies and mindset, you could potentially turn a profit while having fun playing your favorite card game.
Ready to hit the virtual felt? Head over to our toplist where we’ve ranked the best online crypto casinos. We’ve already vetted dozens of Bitcoin betting sites, and sourced verified reviews. We did all this to help you find a trustworthy and secure place to place bets with BTC.
Alex is a versatile content writer with a talent for crafting clear, engaging content across various industries. With expertise in SEO and digital marketing, Alex produces articles, blog posts, and copy that resonate with readers and perform well online. While he writes on a range of topics, he has a particular interest in the gambling industry, where he enjoys exploring gaming trends and business strategies. His approachable style and attention to detail ensure his content is both informative and compelling.
