According to the oft-quoted saying, poker is a game that is easy to learn and difficult to master, and in the modern era of online casinos, this is certainly true. The digital age has opened up this pastime to a whole new audience over the past few years; people who might have thought twice about donning the tuxedo and entering a physical casino can be in a virtual one at the click of an app.
Try your enhanced skills at the best poker sites below:
-
1100% Bonus Up To 5BTC Or 500 Euros - Welcome Package! T&Cs;' Apply - 18+ Payout Ratio: 98.623%Microgaming, NetEnt, Evolution Gaming, BetSoft, Play'n GO & ManPlay Now
-
2100% Bonus Up To 250£ Welcome Package! T&Cs; Apply - 18+ Payout Ratio: 98.765%MicrogamingPlay Now
-
3100% Bonus Up To 1,000€ Ts & Cs Apply. Payout Ratio: 97.12%NetEnt, Evolution Gaming, AmayaPlay Now
-
4100% Bonus Up To 1,000€ T&Cs; Apply - 18+ Payout Ratio: 98.45%Microgaming, NetEnt, Betsoft, AristocratPlay Now
-
5100% Bonus Up To 100€ Welcome Bonus + 100 Free Spins!, T &C Apply, 18+ Payout Ratio: 97.89%Microgaming, NetEnt, NextGen, ELKPlay Now
-
6100% Bonus Up To 100€ Ts & Cs Apply. Payout Ratio: 96%Microgaming, NetEnt, Nyx InteractivePlay Now
-
7100% Bonus Up To 500€ +50 Free Spins - T&Cs; Apply - 18+ Payout Ratio: 97%Microgaming, NetEntPlay Now
-
8100% Bonus Up To 1,000£ Loyalty Bonuses Available. Ts & Cs Apply. Payout Ratio: 97%Microgaming, NetEnt, Amatic IndustriesPlay Now
-
9100% Bonus Up To 100£ Free Spins And Free Cash. Ts And Cs Apply. Payout Ratio: 96.29%Microgaming, NetEnt, Evolution Gaming, Nyx Interactive, Play'nPlay Now
-
10100% Bonus Up To 50€ Ts & Cs Apply. Payout Ratio: 96%NetEnt, Betsoft, NextGen Gaming, PlaysonPlay Now
There are also a wealth of resources online that can introduce you to the basic rules of poker and provide some opening strategies. This is well and good – the best way to get started is to dive on in, and the casinos themselves provide plenty of incentives for beginners. Across Europe, you can find sites that will provide bonuses such as free opening deposits, so you can play a few hands and get a feel for what you are doing without losing your own money.
Soon enough, however, you will feel you have mastered the basics and are ready to develop your strategy a little further, and when it comes to that, you cannot beat reaching for a good old fashioned book on the subject. Here are five of the best:
1) The Theory of Poker by David Sklansky
This is very much considered the poker player’s bible. With the most recent edition published back in the 1990s, it does not delve specifically into the world of online poker, and it is not what you would call an entertaining read, but despite these caveats, it remains the most comprehensive book on poker strategy ever written and is a reference that no serious player should be without.
2) Harrington on Hold ‘Em by Dan Harrington
The best selling poker book of all time, this publication has sold more than 300,000 copies. It was written in 2006, when poker was experiencing its first real boom in the digital era, and although former world champion Harrington has followed it up with subsequent books, this is a case where the original is the best.
3) Every Hand Revealed by Gus Hanson
Another former champion, Hanson is not everyone’s idea of the best poker tutor due to his highly unorthodox style of play. Yet this book has become a favourite among aficionados, taking readers through Hansen’s thought processes from the first hand to the final victory.
4) Hold ‘Em Poker for Advanced Players by Mason Malmuth
This guide to limited hold ‘em was published in the late 90s and really blazed a trail for poker in the 21st century. Malmuth invented many of the terms that are in common use today, and this book is an essential read if you are interested in seeing how poker strategy has evolved over the past 20 years.
5) Little Green Book by Phil Gordon
Anyone who thinks this book is simply cashing in on Gordon’s success is missing the point. The “Little Green Book” series has come out with some excellent and readable strategic guides on a number of topics, and this one is no exception. Great to dip into if you haven’t the time for one of the more meaty publications above.