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Understanding Online Live Poker Hands and Odds

Last updated: 11.11.2025
Nathan Williams
Published by:Nathan Williams
Understanding Online Live Poker Hands and Odds image

Regular punters will likely be familiar with the various poker hands, such as the royal flush, straight flush, and full house, as these are quite common.

To gain an edge when playing live poker games online, it’s beneficial to know how the different hands rank and their probability of occurring. This is essential knowledge for any player in New Zealand looking to improve their game.

This article will cover hand rankings in poker, payouts for various online live variations available to New Zealand players, progressive jackpots, and the general odds of winning.

Poker Hand Rankings: What You Need to Know

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of payouts for different online live poker variations, let's make sure everyone's on the same page regarding the basic hand rankings:

  • Hands in poker are ranked from strongest to weakest. The top dog is the royal flush, which is a 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace, all of the same suit.
  • Following that is the straight flush, then four-of-a-kind, full house, flush, straight, three-of-a-kind, two pairs, one pair, and finally, the high card, which is the weakest hand.

How Payouts Work in Different Live Poker Games

The payouts for each hand can differ significantly depending on the online live poker variation you're playing. For players in New Zealand, understanding these variations is key.

  • Texas Hold'em - The top-tier hand can pay out big, often around 10000:1, while the lowest-ranking hand typically pays 1:1.
  • Omaha - Highest-ranking hand pays out 5000:1, and the lowest-ranking hand pays out at 1:1.
  • Seven Card Stud - Highest-ranking hand pays out 1000:1, while the lowest-ranking hand pays out 1:1.

Progressive Jackpots in Online Live Casino Poker Games

In addition to regular payouts, many online live casino poker games offer progressive jackpots. Progressive jackpots increase in value every time a player places a bet. The jackpot continues to grow until a player hits the winning combination.

Understanding the different types of progressive jackpots can help you increase your chances of winning big. Some jackpots are awarded randomly, while others require a specific hand or combination of hands. The odds of hitting a progressive jackpot in online live poker vary depending on the game variation.

The best jackpot hand in live poker is a bad beat. A bad beat occurs when a player with a very strong hand loses to a player with an even stronger hand. The bad beat jackpot is awarded to the player who loses with the stronger hand.

Odds of Winning in Online Live Poker Games

There are many factors that influence the poker hand ranking odds. They include:

  • Number of players,
  • Your position on the table,
  • Skill Level,
  • The type of poker game you play.

For almost any poker game, the highest possibility for a hand to happen is Pair, which comes with odds of 1.28:1.

There are several tools and resources available online to help you calculate the odds of making a particular hand. These include poker odds calculators and charts that outline the odds of making specific hands.

Conclusion

Overall, poker is not a game that requires only luck. You need to be familiar with the different payouts and hand probabilities to increase your chances of winning.

Knowing the poker hand odds and rankings can help you make informed decisions during the game at the top online live casinos. It's also essential to know the payouts for each hand in the variation you're playing.

Being successful in online live poker requires you to follow a strategy and play according to the limits you set. Setting limits will result in you becoming a better player who always gambles responsibly.

FAQ

How many hands are dealt per hour in online live poker games in New Zealand?

The average number of live poker hands dealt per hour is around 60, but this can fluctuate depending on the number of players at the table and the dealer's speed. Some games might be faster-paced than others.

Does the dealer participate in hands in online live poker?

In online live poker, the dealer's role is to deal the cards and manage the game flow. They don't actually play a hand against the players.

What constitutes a winning hand against the dealer in online live poker?

In most online live poker variants, the dealer doesn't have a hand that competes directly with the players. Players compete against each other to create the best hand. However, in games like Caribbean Stud Poker, the player's hand must outrank the dealer's hand to win. Remember to always gamble responsibly.

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