What is Fantasy Poker:
What comes to your mind when you read the word Fantasy Poker? A game of poker set on imaginations and possibilities? It is an online poker format where participants create their virtual teams and they get to be their team owner, manager or coach. These virtual teams or fantasy teams compete with much other fantasy teams from all around the globe to decide who is the winner and the winner takes it all. They get to select their players, the team captain, the team badge, a team name a few other things and then compete against each other in the game leagues. The team manager is given an in-game budget of definitive points, which they use to build their squad. Specific points are allocated to each player based upon their performances in real matches. The player who scores the maximum points in the contest is declared the winner and gets real money as a reward.
Different Game Styles of Poker:
1. Texas Hold’em: The most popular and easy form of poker. The players are dealt with two cards each to make the best five-card hand possible. Five cards are displayed in the middle as flop-the first three cards, the turn-the fourth card and the river- the fifth and final card. One has to make the best possible combination of five cards from the seven cards present before them.
2.Omaha: A bit similar to Texas Hold’em but yet unique in itself. The second most popular form of poker with each player being dealt four cards but can only use two cards from them to make the best possible combination. Similar to Texas Hold’em, five community cards are dealt with usual betting rounds and the one with the best combination wins it all.
3.Seven-Card Stud: A hipster poker game was popular before Texas Hold’em exploded. Played without a flop or community cards, seven-card stud starts with two cards facing down and third facing up. The seven cards dealt are arranged in order of four face-up and three face-down with the players having the liberty to choose the best five-card combination.
4.Deuce to Seven Triple Draw: A game with a lot of action and advanced level of poker skills required to struggle and win. The poker rules are a bit opposite than usual with players required to make the lowest five-card hand as possible in a four-round betting game with three draws a game. In each round, players choose cards to shed anywhere from zero to five cards and the dealer gives out replacement cards for each one. There is one more round of betting after the third and final card draw. This can act as an exciting change from the usual forms of poker played.
5.Razz: A more traditional form of poker giving importance to lowest rank cards instead of the highest. Each player is dealt with the first two cards face down and a third facing up. As in stud, a total of seven cards is dealt with the possibility of making the best five-card combination possible but with the lowest rank as the best possible combination.
Setup of Poker:
The game requires a proper poker table for eight to ten people with a proper dealer and a poker set. Every player must have an equal sum of money at the beginning of the game with a proper set of chips or cash. The small blind token is given to the player next to the dealer and big blind to the one next to him. After each round, the blinds are moved to the next player in circular order with the two players forced to bet without seeing their cards, thus called blind. The big blind player has to bet double of the one who has the small blind and others bet an equal amount, same as the big blind player for continuing to play win the round.
The game starts with a minimum bet level and after completion of one full round around the table, the minimum stakes are increased in the proper order to increase competitiveness among the players to win more before being outplayed by someone else. Each player can call, check, raise or fold depending upon his card and choice.
Finally, the game starts with a deck of cards well shuffled and two cards passed to each player for the initial round of betting, to begin with. Three cards- the flop is opened after the initial round of betting. Players decide the best combinations and future possible combinations that might give them an upper hand over others and bet accordingly. The dealer burns a card thereafter which the fourth card-the turn is opened and another round of betting commences. After another burn, the last and final card is unfolded -the river, where after a final round of betting goes on. The players at last show their cards, and the one with the better combination wins it all.
Rules and Combinations: How to play poker game?
To play on a table one has to make a full buy-in for that particular game. A proper dealer is always present with an uncharted deck of cards. Four rounds of proper shuffling are required before the deck is cut and cards are dealt. One needs to make sure that no cards lands facing up for either of the players sees or the dealer may see it. Your cards have no value after you have folded your cards, irrespective of the combination that would have been possible in case you did not fold. Check-raise is permitted in all games.
A player must show all his cards faced up to win the pot. The player with the best combination takes it all. In cases of ties, the pot prize is distributed equally among the players. Proper decorum must be followed while playing with no cheating and using no improper methods to win. A player must leave the poker table after he is out of chips/cash and must accept his defeat with the utmost respect and humbleness for the game and other players. In Texas Hold’em poker, one follows a set of combinations and ranking system to win the pot with the best hand possible. The poker hands are normally from high to low in Texas Hold’em poker with ten major sets of combinations possible.
1.The Royal Flush: The highest and rarest combination possible on the poker table. It is made up of A, K, Q, J, 10 all in the same suit. A five-card combination that surely will win the pot.
2.Straight Flush: The probability of winning a straight flush is one to 64,974 unique poker hands. A sequence of five cards with all being in the same suit. A possible combination is 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 all in the same suit.
3.Four of a Kind: As the name is, one must have all the four cards of the same rank to make such a combination possible.K, K, K, K, 2 is a possible combination in this case. If two or more players receive the same value, the one with the highest kicker decides the winning pot.
4.Full House: A five-card combination with one three of a kind and a pair. A combination such as Q, Q, Q, 3, 3 will give you a full house. The player who has the highest similar poker ranking cards wins in a situation of a draw.
5.Flush: Non-sequential five cards of the same suit. 2, 5, 7, 9, K all five in the same suit is a possible combination for a flush. The player who has the highest-ranked card in a situation of draw wins the pot.
6.Straight: Five cards in sequence, but not all of the same suit. A combination such as 9, 8, 7, 6, 5 with different suits is straight. The player who has the highest-poker card ranking wins the pot in case of a draw.
7.Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank and two other ranks. The player with the highest kicker triumphs in case of a draw. 7, 7, 7, K, 3 is a correct combination for three of a kind.
8.Two pair: Made up of four cards with two cards of similar ranks and another two cards of similar rank with a kicker. In case of a draw, one with the highest kicker wins. 2, 2, Q, Q, A is a possible two-pair set.
9.Pair: Only two cards of the same rank and the other three kickers. In the case of a draw, if any possible, the one with the highest kicker wins. 3, 8, 8, K, Q is a pair.
10.High Card: When you fail to make any of the above combinations and are left only with the highest card to decide the winner. It is not a good hand in poker and one must avoid betting in such cases.5, 6, A, J, 10 is a combination in which A acts as the high card in the combination.
The Art of Bluffing:
When you try to hide your true nature, you might have been referred to as having a “Poker Face”. This is what makes the game different and exciting from other card games. The art of bluffing determines how good a player you are. If you can deceive your opponents to fold, you are successful, otherwise, you are at a loss. Make sure that you hide your emotions and do not let the opponents know that you have good or bad cards. Keep guessing what might their cards be by observing them and essentially using it to your benefit to win the pot. Your bet, facial expressions, body posture and many other things determine if you are bluffing or not. Be sure that you do not give even the slightest hint to your opponent about your cards and win the game in style.
Tips, Tricks and Updates:
Play as if you are playing to win it. Come up with some good strategies and follow these tips to mature as a good player.
- Think about the range, not just the hands.
- Discard your favorite hand and adopt a consistent strategy.
- Know when to Fold and do have a good reason for it.
- Do not rush, for it will bring loses only.
- Have a clear and constant setup of things.
- Play to enjoy and win.
Recently a new form of poker-Chinese poker has been introduced and is gaining popularity among many. It got listed in the WSOP series and is rising. People from different parts of the world are now taking part in the WSOP series, taking the game to newer heights. This has also influenced a lot of online poker players to join in and win real money through fantasy poker. With a vast reach and a great future, poker seems to have a good future.
