Texas Hold’em is an extremely popular poker version, which is now available for Aussie gamblers in a live version. Live Hold’em gives players a chance to play their favourite poker variant in the most real way possible without having to be physically present. The live dealer games allow you to get all the benefits of being at a casino from the comfort of your home.
Live Hold’em vs. Online Hold’em
It is often found that gamblers prefer the live version of their casino games, as they are sceptical about the fairness of the Random Number Generator (RNG) that online casinos have on offer. By playing Live Hold’em, players are given a chance to have a live feed of an actual poker game. Thus, allowing for interaction with the dealer as well as other players if you select the chat function. The live version is not simply a computer-generated version of your favourite casino game, but rather a version that is streamed directly from the online casino.
Facts About Live Hold’em
Before we state the facts, let us clarify the difference between Texas Hold’em and Casino Hold’em. Texas Hold’em is played against other gamblers whereas Casino Hold’em you are able to play with other players but against the dealer. Live Hold’em allows players to:
- Play against the house instead of other players.
- Get a social interaction that is generally lost with the online version.
- You can play from the comfort of your own home, in your sweatpants if you want.
Features of Live Hold’em
Live Hold’em provides Aussie gamblers with a multitude of different features:
- You are able to play against the dealer instead of the others playing the game.
- Players are given the chance to stream a real-life version of the dealer along with the table in the casino.
- Bets are selected on the screen as they would be in the online version of Hold’em.
- There are no RNGs, but rather you are able to see the dealer shuffle and deal the cards.
- You are given the social aspect that is missing in the online version as you are able to speak to the dealer and other players when using the chat function.
- Live Hold’em requires a higher bet minimum that the online casino games version.
- Real cards are used as opposed to digitally generated ones.
Live Hold’em – How to Play
- Login to your online casino account, or set one up if you don’t have one yet.
- Put funds into your account so that you are able to place bets.
- Select a payment option that suits you best.
- Select the Live Dealer option.
- Choose the Live Hold’em, from the list of your live casino games options.
- There could be different variations of the Poker game, so be sure to look at the specifics and select the one that suits you.
- Your live dealer game will then be live streamed to your device.
Rules of Live Hold’em
The objective of the game is simply to beat the dealer’s hand. Your hand will consist of two cards as well as your community cards. If the value of your hand exceeds that of the dealer, you win!
- To place a bet, you’ll be expected to select a chip amount and drag the chip onto the Ante before placing it onto the call circles. You are also able to make other side bets if you wish to do so.
- It is only after all players have placed their bets that the dealer will shuffle the cards from the shoe. They do not use the RNG system here.
- The dealer will then hand out two cards per player, as well as two for themselves.
- Once these cards have been dealt, there will be three cards placed in the centre of the table by the dealer; these are called community cards.
- These community cards are placed facedown, to which the player has to make a decision to:
- Fold: to discontinue their gameplay as well as lose their Ante bet, or;
- Raise: whereby the call bet is double that of the Ante bet.
- Once all of the players have made their decision as to whether they want to fold or raise, the dealer will then put an additional two community cards on the table. This means that there are now a total of five bets.
- Thereafter, the dealer will turn his cards over, displaying what his hand consists of. To qualify, the dealer must have a pair of 4’s or something better.
- The player and the dealer must then compile the best possible poker hand consisting of their original two cards as well as the community cards.
- A comparison is then made between the dealer’s hand and that of the player.
Possible outcomes of Live Hold’em
- If the cards are displayed and reveal that the dealer doesn’t qualify, this means that, according to the pay table, all players will be given payouts for their wins. Making the raise bet a push or stand-off.
- However, if the dealer does qualify, and their hand is better than that of the player, then the player loses their ante bet as well as their raise bet.
- If the player’s hand exceeds the value of the dealer’s hand, the player will then be paid out their ante bet as well as their raise bet, which stands at a ratio of 1:1.
- Yet, if the dealer does qualify and their hand is tied with that of the player, then both the ante and the raise bet are considered a push.
Players are given as much time as they would like to play. However, considering that these dealers are real, they work in shifts. Therefore you may need to play in sessions. The online casino that you are playing with will stipulate the length of each session. Aussie gamblers are allowed to leave the live game whenever they please.
Let’s Wrap Up
Be sure to look into the pay table rates before agreeing to play. These rates can differ between casinos. Ensure that you are also aware of the house edge. It would also be a good idea to recap on how each hand works, as well as the bets that are available. Once you have done all of this, you will be fully equipped to join in the fun that is live Hold’em!