Online poker is the real deal

Poker. A super smooth, exciting, and enticing game which is as glamorous in real life as it is in the movies. I mean, who could forget that sexy poker scene in Ocean’s Eleven? or the gripping showdown at the poker table in Casino Royale? Yes, all the glitz and the glam is there… That is, until you start playing poker at Casino GrandBay and realise that the thrill of online playing is exactly the same as if you stepped into any Las Vegas Casino to get your gamble on. Well, not exactly the same, it’s better! And without ever leaving the comfort of your favorite couch too!

Casino GrandBay + you = the perfect pair

Here’s a few other facts that will really get you ‘all in’ to play poker at Casino GrandBay. Did you know that you’re 5 times more likely to win playing online poker than when playing online video slots? You’ll also get a kick out of this. Your chances of winning on online poker are 4 times higher than in any land-based poker room because you have the freedom to play multiple tables and multiple hands every hour.

Sounds good, doesn’t it? But, what if your poker skills are a bit rusty? Or you just have no idea how to play? Then you’ve come to the right place.

A helping hand

Before we go any further, you’ll need to know the abbreviations for each card symbol.

The 4 suits of cards

• Spades - S                                     
• Hearts - H
• Diamonds - D
• Clubs - C

The face cards ranked from highest to lowest

• King - K
• Queen - Q
• Jack - J

And then there’s the...

• Ace - A (which has the highest value and even outranks the King)

Ace high with these hand rankings

To get the best out of your online poker game, try to remember the hand rankings involved and combine them with luck and a bit of strategy to be a sure bet winner.

Royal Flush: Cards of the same suit consisting of 10C - JC - QC - KC - AC. This is the highest hand you can get.

Straight Flush: 5 cards in consecutive order all in the same suit,  such as 2D - 3D - 4D - 5D - 6D.

Four of a Kind: Also called ‘quads’. Here, you have any 4 cards of the same number, e.g. 4 - 4 - 4 - 4, but not the same suit.

Full House: A ‘full boat’ or ‘boat’ is 3 cards of the same number or face value, for instance 5 - 5- 5 or K - K - K, plus any other 2 cards also of the same number or value.

Flush: Any 5 cards in the same suite, but not in sequence,  like KS - 9S - 5S - 7S - 3S. 

Straight: 5 cards in succession, but not in the same suit, such as 3D - 4H - 5S - 6C - 7H.

Three of a Kind: Known as ‘trips’ or a ‘set’ features 2 random cards together with 3 cards of the same face value or ranking, i.e. KS - KC - KH - 5D - 10H.

Two Pair: This is 2 cards with the same number or the same ranking with 2 other matching cards also with the same number or rank. Something like, 5D - 6D - 8H - 8H -10S.

Pair: 2 cards of the same ranking with 3 unmatched cards, such as 2C - 4D - 7S - JH - JH.

High-Card: The lowest hand because there are no cards of the same rank or value.

Time to play poker!

There are plenty of online poker variations to choose from in the ‘Poker’ tab at Casino GrandBay. Take your pick from Aces & Faces, Bonus Poker Deluxe, Double Double Bonus Poker, or Jacks or Better to name a few.

We’re going to explain how to play the 2 most popular versions of poker in our collection.

How to play Aces & Faces

When taking a seat at the virtual poker table, you’ll notice a few tabs you’ll need to familiarise yourself with. Since you’re only playing against the computer, your aim is to get the highest ranking hand possible. The paytable in the block above the cards is where you can view the payouts at a glance. Click either on ‘Playing 5 coins at $0.50 coin size’ or ‘Bet’ at the bottom of the screen to change your wager from as low as $0.01 all the way up to $5.00 per game. You can also change the number of coins from 1 up to 5 coins. After you’ve made your selection, just click ‘Deal’ and watch those jackpots roll in. The payout for each hand is based on the number of coins you placed. The higher the wagering, the greater your chances of winning which can be viewed in ‘Win’.

As soon as you click ‘Deal’, the game starts and 5 cards are dealt from the deck of cards. If your hand has won, think carefully about what you want to do next and how much you want to wager.

Online Deuces Wild Bonus explained

In this poker variant, a pair of 2s, aka a ‘deuce’ act as wild cards. This means that your hand will be stronger because you have more chances of scoring a win. As mentioned previously, you first need to decide on the wager and how many coins you want to play. Most online poker games have 1 to 5 coins, and Deuces Wild Bonus Poker is no different. Click deal and let the fun begin! 

Hot Tip: Avoid a straight and three of a kind as these hands have the lowest ranking according to the paytable.

Once you’ve gotten the hang of playing online poker at Casino GrandBay, you’ll be well on your way to being an unbeatable poker star!