Poker Game - Play Poker Online at Pocket52

Poker is a card game played between 2 to 9 players with a single deck of cards. In a game of poker, players bet on having the best hand as per poker game rules. The objective of the game is to win the overall pot, i.e. all the bets made in a game. The player having the best hands as per poker hand rankings wins the game and the overall money in the pot.

Poker is one of the most popular card-based games in India and other parts of the world. Its simplicity and strategy to outwit your opponents make it a very attractive and mind sport game.

There are numerous variants of poker game like Texas Hold’em, Omaha Poker, Seven-Card Stud, Triple Draw, Five-Card Draw, HORSE, Razz, Chinese Poker etc but the most popular among them are Texas Hold’em and Omaha Poker which you can play online on Pocket52 in India and win cash.

Pocket52 is one of the most trusted platforms to play poker online in India. There are more than 16 lakh registered players from India who play poker games on the platform regularly. Pocket52 poker app is a RNG certified platform and adheres to fair play and responsible gaming in India to play cash games, as well as free poker.

Poker Game in India

While the origins of the poker game is said to have western roots, some historical records suggest that a variation of poker was popular in ancient India. The variation involved elements of skill and strategy that are relevant for modern poker as well.

Today, the game is easily available in the online poker space and you don’t need to be physically present with the players you are playing against. Pocket52 is one of India’s trusted online poker game platforms that offers a seamless and safe experience.

Pocket52 games is certified by internationally renowned iTech Labs, Australia, to make sure that all cards are distributed in an unbiased manner. Pocket52 ensures your rights as a player are protected with robust anti-fraud systems and automated processes to play poker online without any worry.

The app runs on India's first cryptographically secure Random Number Generator (RNG) platform, which provides fair gameplay. Our lightning-fast customer support comforts and helps you with the tiniest of hurdles that you come across at Pocket52. So, whether you are new to the online game of poker or need a refresher, Pocket52 has what you need to learn how to play.

Poker and its Origin

The modern format of the poker game can be dated back to the early 19th century. It all began in the then French territory of New Orleans (USA) and soon found its way in the floating saloons of Mississippi. Poker began as a 20-card game before the current variation of full-deck 52-card variation took over. While this is what we know about today’s poker, there are traces of the game found in 10th century China and 16th century Persia - where the game was known as As Nas.

Poker came into India as the Western society set foot on our soil. The game began as a leisure activity and since anything related to playing cards was a taboo in the country, not many players opened up about being poker enthusiasts.

Today, pokеr thrivеs in India as a popular mind-sport and compеtitivе activity. Both online and offline cash games, as well as tournamеnts, have cultivated a new generation of skillеd playеrs. This journey from traditional gamеs to a modern pokеr community highlights India's cultural richnеss and adaptation to changе.

Play Popular Poker Variants Online on Pocket52

The most popular poker game variants to play on online Indian poker platforms are:

• Texas Holdem
• Omaha Poker
• • Pot Limit Omaha PLO-4
  • Pot Limit Omaha PLO-5
  • Pot Limit Omaha PLO-6

Before you hit the online poker game tables, let’s get you familiarise with the popular poker variants to play on Pocket52

Texas Hold’em Poker Game

Texas Holdem is the most popular variant of poker card games from the fact that all the card rooms or online gaming platforms which offer poker will have Texas Hold’em tables for sure. Also, the reference of Texas Hold’em in television, movies and internet further ignited the popularity of this poker variant.

Texas Holdem requires at least 2 participants and can be played with up to 9 participants. Each player in the game will get 2 hole cards as face down and 5 community cards will be dealt face up on the poker table in 3 stages - The Flop, The Turn, The River. The objective of the game is to make the best 5 card poker hand using the combination of 2 hole cards and 5 community cards to win the game. Texas Hold’em uses a poker sequence chart to determine the player with the best hand.

Omaha Poker

Omaha is another interesting variation of poker where instead of getting two cards at the start (as in Texas Hold’em), you get four cards. But, the goal of this variation also remains the same - form a combination of best 5 cards, using at least 3 community cards. What makes this poker format exciting is that there is more probability for players to form higher-ranking combinations and this opens up interesting showdowns. There are many variations within Omaha as well but the most popular one is Pot-limit Omaha.

Types of Pot-Limit Omaha

Pot-limit Omaha or PLO has three sub-formats within it. There are three types of PLO games you can play online and win real cash:

The main characteristic of a PLO game is that the size of a bet can only be as big as the size of the pot. For example, if the pot has ₹200 in it, your bet cannot exceed that amount.

Playing Online Poker is Legal in India

The legality of poker though depends on the state you are playing from. In most states of India, poker apps will allow you to play cash poker games, but the states of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Gujarat and Telangana do not allow users to play poker for cash online as per their respective state laws.

Why Play Poker on Pocket52?

Pocket52, one of India's most rewarding online real money poker platforms is known for delivering unmatched experiences to its players. Packed with excitement and gеnеrous rеwards, Pocket52 has been designed to suit rookies and professionals alike. It has loads of free poker tournaments where new players can learn and improve their skills while cash poker tournaments and games are what the professionals love.

Real Cash Poker with Real Players

On Pocket52 you play poker online with real players. There are no bots on the platform, and we have technological measures in place to tackle any manipulation on the table. Also, you get to win real cash on the platform, which makes the poker game even more fun.

RNG Certified and Fair Play

Pocket52 ensures fair play and transparency through its RNG (Random Number Generator) system, which has been verified by iTech Labs, Australia. RNG ensures that the shuffling and distribution of cards is random and does not favour a particular poker player.

Trusted Gaming Ecosystem

At Pocket52, we understand that trust is the most important factor when it comes to online poker. That’s why we have stringent fair play policies in place to ensure all our games are fair. Pocket52 also has an RNG certificate to ensure unbiased shuffling and dealing of cards.

Promotions & Offers

Pocket52 rewards you at every step of the journey. Whether it’s the lucrative offers on Add Cash or the bumper rewards you get when you refer a friend, we make sure that the rewards never stop flowing your way.

Instant Withdrawals

No need to wait for days to get your money to your bank account. At Pocket52, our instant withdrawal process enables you to withdraw your money within a few seconds. All you have to do is place a withdrawal request, and we will take care of the rest.

Customer Support

Our dedicated customer support team is always ready to help you with any queries you might have. Pocket52 prides itself on providing timely and efficient support to all its players.

Responsible Gaming

At Pocket52, responsible gaming is a top priority. We are committed to ensuring a secure and enjoyable gaming atmosphere for all our poker players. By fostering awareness and providing tools for responsible gaming, we strive to ensure that your experience on the app remains positive.

Poker Game Rules

Before you grab a seat on the poker table, it’s important you understand the basic poker rules and terms of the game.

One of the most important and basic poker game rules is to make the best 5 cards poker hand by using the combination of two cards dealt to you plus the 5 community cards on the table. The ranking of these hands is based on the probability of creating them. Let’s start with understanding the poker rankings of 10 possible hands, which comprise poker sequences, pairs, triplets, and cards of a suit.

• Royal Flush: The highest straight (sequence of cards) of any suit is the royal flush. Example: (A♦ K♦ Q♦ J♦ 10♦)
• Straight Flush: The Five consecutive cards of the same suit. Example: (10♠ 9♠ 8♠ 7♠ 6♠)
• Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank. Example: (K♣ K♦ K♥ K♠ Q♥)
• Full House: A combination of three-of-a-kind and a two-pair. Example: (A♠ A♥ A♣ K♣ K♦)
• Flush: When you create a combination of five cards of the same suit but they are not in a sequence, it is known as flush. Example: (3♦ 5♦ 8♦ J♦ K♦)
• Straight: When you create a combination of five cards which are in a sequence but are not of the same suit, it is known as a straight. Example: (5♦ 6♣ 7♦ 8♠ 9♣)
• Three of a Kind: When you have 3 cards of the same rank, it is known as three-of-a-kind, sometimes it’s also called triplets. Example: (8♣ 8♦ 8♠ 7♣ K♦)
• Two Pair: When your combination contains two different pairs, it is known as a two-pair. Example: (7♦ 7♠ Q♦ Q♥ 6♣)
• One Pair: A pair of cards of the same rank is known as a one-pair. Example: (J♦ J♠ 4♠ 8♦ 10♣)
• High Card: The lowest-ranked poker sequence is the high card hand in poker. Example: (A♣ 8♥ 7♦ J♦ K♠)

Important Poker Terms

• Ante: Ante is a forced bet made by all the players before any cards are dealt. This is the amount every player needs to play before the initial betting begins. Once everyone has placed an Ante on the poker table, it will give the pot a value.
• Pot: This is the total of all the bets that have been placed in a single hand.
• Fold: If you are not happy with your poker cards and you are not confident that you will be able to bluff your way to a victory, you can always choose to fold your cards. Once you fold, you will need to wait for another hand to start.
• Bet: In the game of poker, you can choose to bet an amount on your turn. This amount depends on you and does not need to follow any set of rules.
• Call: If you want to match an opponent’s bet in a poker game, you need to “Call” it. This indicates that you want to contest the hand.
• Raise: If an opponent has bet some amount and you want to increase the stakes, you will need to “raise” on your turn. This simply means that you are increasing the betting amount that everyone needs to put in to participate in the hand.
• All-in: If a player bet the entire stack in the pot and with no poker chips left to call or raise.
• Bluff: Bluff is a move that players use to fool their opponents. They can portray that they have a stronger poker hand than they actually have by betting on their turn or by raising their opponent's bet.
• Small Blind: The player seated on the left of the poker dealer is known as the small blind. This player needs to put half the amount of big blind before any cards are distributed.
• Big Blind: The player seated on the left of the small blind is known as big blind. This player puts in double the amount of small blind before the hand starts.
• Bad Beat: When a strong hand gets beaten by an even stronger hand in a poker game, the event is known as “bad beat”. For example, a straight getting beaten by a flush on the river, will be considered a bad beat.

How to Play Poker Game

After the two-hole cards are dealt to all the poker players. Every player can choose to do any of the following five poker actions during each round of betting - Fold, Call, Check, Raise or go All-In. But, all these actions are tied to five rounds of play during a game of poker. These rounds are described below:

• Preflop:

  Before any cards open up on the table, there is a round of betting that takes place in a poker game. In this round, the two players to the immediate left of the dealer have to make the forced bets known as blinds. The other players then have to match the blinds for the Flop to open. Players can either match or raise the blind amount during this round.



• Flop:

  After all the Preflop bets are matched, the Flop opens - first three community cards on the table. Players can then look at these cards and see if they are able to make any combinations or if their hands are looking good. All players can either check, call, fold or raise during this round in the game.



• Turn:

  After the Flop round of betting is over, the fourth community card opens on the table - this card is known as the Turn. Players can check, call, fold or raise during this round, depending on the strength of their hand combinations.



• River:

  Again after the previous round of betting is complete, the fifth and final community card opens up on the table - this is known as the River. One final round of call, fold, check or raise happens and the players can move onto the Showdown round as per the strength of their poker hands.



• Showdown:

  After all the betting rounds end, all the players participating in the hand will need to show their cards; this is known as “showdown.”

How to Download Poker App on Pocket52

Steps to Download ‘Pocket52 App’ on an Android Device

1. Go to our Pocket52 poker website - https://www.pocket52.com from your Android device
2. You will see the option ‘Download Pocket52’.
3. Once you click on the CTA button, the download will be initiated with the application named ‘pocket52-universal.apk’. This is a safe app link and you can click on ‘Download Anyway’ to start the process.
4. Once the download is complete, the Pocket52 Poker APK will show up in your downloaded files. You can click on the file and select ‘Install’ to complete the app installation.

Steps to Download ‘Pocket52 App’ on an iOS Device

1. Go to our Pocket52 poker website - https://www.pocket52.com from your iOS device.
2. You will see the option ‘Download Pocket52’ at the bottom.
3. Once you click on the CTA button, you will be redirected to the Pocket 52 product page on the App Store.
4. Click on the “Get” button and complete the installation.

Pocket52 Desktop Poker

1. Visit our official Pocket52 poker website - https://www.pocket52.com from your PC
2. Click on “Get Desktop App” to download the Pocket52 poker software file
3. Click on the downloaded ‘.exe’ file to initiate the installation
4. This is a safe download link and you can click on ‘Download Anyway’ to start the process.
5. Once the download is complete, you can click on the file and select ‘Install’ to complete the installation process.

Once the app is installed irrespective of the device, you will need to register on the app by providing your mobile number. Add Cash and get exciting rewards and enjoy playing poker games on one of the most rewarding poker platforms in India. This is not all. The Pocket52 app dishes out enticing promotions and lucrative offers for all players to enhance their gaming experience. From deposit offers to cash bonanza, there is something to reward every single player on the app.

With these simple steps, get ready to immerse yourself in the excitement of playing poker games and showcase your poker skills on a competitive stage!

Benefits of Playing Poker Game

To excel in any game or sport, you need to have a certain set of skills. While poker sounds like a simple game, it tests a lot of your skills which are important in daily life as well:

Risk Management:

Check or fold, bet or raise, you need to assess the risk involved on every turn. Keep your mind calm and trust your skills and make sure that the risk you are taking is never bigger than the reward at stake in the game of poker.

Mathematics Skills:

Poker is a game that heavily revolves around probability. You need to be good at basic maths to calculate the chances of you winning the hand and whether it’s worth wagering any money based on your opponent’s moves. Once you start playing regularly, you will realise that your mathematical skills are getting sharper with every game.

Patience and Discipline:

Like mentioned above, you need to stay calm if you want to win money in the long run. Keep your ego in check, and don’t bluff too much. If you’re not happy with your odds, just fold, no need to test your luck in every hand. Remember, it’s a game of skill, play it like that. Patience and discipline is what will come to you with more time spent on the poker table.

Emotional Control:

Throw emotions out of the window when you sit on a table. Many players go on a “tilt” after a bad beat. Chasing a straight till the river card, making unnecessary bets, taking a defeat to the heart, all these things will only result in losses. Poker teaches you how to keep your emotions in check, and sometimes the lesson is taught the hard way.

Analytical Skills:

Poker can help you improve your analytical skills. You will observe that you are able to predict things better, read people through their moves, and understand things a little better.

Different Types of Betting Limits in Poker

In a standard game of poker, the term ‘Bet’ means a wager made by a player when no previous action has taken place during the current round of play. For example: If you are the first player to take action on the current round, and you put chips into the pot - that’s called making a ‘Bet’.

However, if another player has already made a ‘Bet’ before your turn, then the choices are categorized differently. In such a scenario, if you want to put more chips into the pot than your opponent, then it is called a ‘Raise’. A ‘Raise’ is a specific type of wager, that is an increased amount over the original wager, and other players must call the same amount to stay in the round.

The three main types of betting in poker are - No Limit, Pot Limit and Fixed Limit.

No Limit

‘No Limit’ type of betting in poker allows players to bet any amount of their chips at any time. There are no restrictions on the size of a bet or raise. This creates a situation for aggressive plays, big bluffs, and high-risk, high-reward scenarios.

Who Should Play No Limit Poker:

• Players with strong risk tolerance: No Limit games have a high-risk, high-reward chance with big swings. Players who are strong in terms of bankroll, and can tolerate big losses at times, should play this style in poker tournaments.
• Players with good emotional control: Poker forces players who are not getting good hands to lose emotional control. Players with good emotional control are good at playing no limit games.
• Players with good strategy: Seasoned poker players know that you cannot play every hand, and expect to win them all. They change their strategy and betting patterns according to their cards, the opponent's style of play, and the odds of getting a good hand on the flop.

Who Should Avoid No Limit Poker:

• Poor bankroll managers: Players who are short-stacked or don’t have enough money should avoid playing no limit games.
• Tilt-Prone players: Players who get easily frustrated with a few bad hands and go on tilt big on one particular hand should avoid no limit games.
• Risk-Averse players: Players uncomfortable about big bets or cautious with their stack should avoid this game.

For example, if a player bets ₹50, the following player must at least call ₹100 to raise. This is similar to ‘Pot Limit’, but the significant difference is that there is no maximum limit.

The no limit betting style is very volatile with huge swings in fortune. If the small blind is say ₹50 and the big blind is ₹100 as per the above example, and the player who is about to raise has ₹1000 in his hand. In no limit, he can choose to match the big blind or go all-in and bet the entire ₹1000.

Pot Limit

‘Pot Limit’ betting in poker allows players to bet or raise up to the current size of the pot. The maximum bet is determined by calculating the currently active pot, the amount needed to call, and any potential future raises.

Who Should Play Pot Limit Poker:

• Aggressive players: They apply pressure on opponents by making frequent bets or raises, forcing them to commit more chips to the pot.
• Positionally aware players: These players excel by capitalizing on their sitting position during a hand of poker.
• Pot-Control players: They control the bet sizing and protect themselves from massive pots unless holding premium hands.

Who Should Avoid Pot Limit Poker:

• Aggressive bluffers: They should avoid pot limit since they cannot go all-in every time to force a bluff.
• Loose players: Those who like to see the flop often may risk creating large pots they can't manage.
• Inexperienced players: Beginners unfamiliar with bet sizing or pot odds may find pot limit poker complex.

Fixed Limit

In ‘Fixed Limit’ poker, the betting structure restricts the amount a player can bet or raise to a predetermined value. Bets and raises are set in fixed increments, with limits typically doubling as the game progresses. Players can only raise a limited number of times, which helps to control the pot and minimize risk.

Example: The stakes determine how much one may wager in each round. For example, if the blinds are ₹1 and ₹2, then the first player to the left of the big blind has three actions that they can perform:

• They can call the ₹2 big blind.
• They can raise, but the limit is the big blind amount, hence a raise of only ₹2 is permitted.
• They may choose to fold and not play this round.

When to Play Fixed Limit:

• Cautious players: Those players who prefer limited risks and smaller swings in bankroll, as the bet sizes are pre-determined.
• Strategic players: Players who focus on long-term strategy, and post-flop decisions rather than bluffing.
• New players: Those who are learning the game, since the betting structure minimizes risks while the players are understanding the game dynamics and learning the hands.

Understanding the Various Poker Playing Styles

Poker playing styles can be broadly divided into four main types: Tight (Players who wait for stronger cards to play), Loose (Players who play almost every hand), Aggressive (Players who bet or raise frequently to create pressure), and Passive (Players who tend to call and check more than initiating action).

Players often like to combine these styles, which leads to certain types of strategic players like -

Tight Passive

A ‘Tight Passive’ poker player is very common when you are at an early stage of learning the game. They are very selective with their hands, hardly entering big pots, and like to be less aggressive. A real world example would be amateur poker players in home games or private tables. They become really predictable after a few hands.

Loose Passive

A ‘Loose Passive’ type of poker player tends to play a wide range of hands and rarely sits out. They tend to call more than bet or raise, relying more on luck than strategy. Again a prime example would be beginners who are unsure of their strategy, and tend to play safe.

Tight Aggressive (TAG)

A ‘Tight Aggressive’ poker player or TAG plays a conservative style, but bets or raises aggressively when holding good cards. They generally fold weak hands, but capitalize on profitable situations. Prime example of a TAG poker player is Phil Ivey - he combines patience with well-timed aggression.

Loose Aggressive (LAG)

A ‘Loose Aggressive’ poker player or LAG, tends to play a wide range of hands, and bets small but frequently to apply constant pressure on most hands. This style of play is difficult to counter due to unpredictability. An example of a LAG player is Tom Dwan - known for his bold and fearless plays in high stakes games, he pushes his opponents with relentless aggression.

Poker Strategies and Winning Tips

Poker strategy and winning tips provide essential insights towards improving your poker game. Mastering the art of reading opponents, bluffing, and proper positional play makes the difference between winning and losing.

Remember the rankings of poker hands

Remembering poker hand rankings is key to becoming a good poker player, since hand rankings are crucial in determining winners.

For example, a Full House (Three of a kind plus a pair) beats a Flush (Any five cards of the same suit) because it is higher in rank. Understanding hand rankings helps players make accurate decisions while betting or raising.

Pay Attention to Your Opponents

In poker, reading opponents involves observing their behavior, betting patterns and body language. By analyzing these patterns, players can make strategic decisions, read bluffs, and adjust their play accordingly. Spotting tendencies like - aggressive betting or frequent folding, provides valuable information to strategic players.

Bluff Wisely

Bluffing in poker is a scenario where a player aggressively bets or raises with a weak hand to make opponents fold stronger hands. On a dry board (e.g., 7♠ 2♦ Q♣), with a few draws available, bluffing can be very effective, since opponents are less likely to hold a strong hand.

On a wet board (e.g., 9♥ 8♠ J♦), where more hands are forming, opponents will be more likely to call your bluff.

Position is Key

In poker, position plays a key role as it determines the flow of action during each round of betting. Players in later positions (like the button) have an advantage, as they can see how the opponents are playing, before deciding their own move. This allows for better bluffing opportunities and the ability to control the pot size more.

Know When to Fold

Folding in poker generally means giving up or surrendering your hand for that round. You typically fold, when you have weak hands and no chance of winning, with the opponents betting aggressively. For example: Folding a pair hand after a very high bet (e.g, multiple face cards are open on the flop or a flush/straight draw is forming) is often a wise move.

Poker Games on Pocket52 are Safe & Secure

Playing poker on Pocket52 is trusted by over 16 lakh players in India. We understand that the safety of your data and your money is very important, and that’s why we have adequate measures in place to ensure that. All our payment gateways are safe to use, and all the cards are shuffled and distributed using a Random Number Generator (RNG).

Poker Tournaments on Pocket52

Poker tournaments on Pocket52 not only give you the opportunity to win big rewards but also help you improve your skills. On Pocket52, you can participate in cash tournaments as well as free tournaments. There is no entry fee for a free tournament but the rewards you win are big for sure.