Texas Holdem Omaha Omaha Hi/Lo 7 Card Stud 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo 5 Card Draw
	Statistics, Analysis & Pot OddsBluffingBettingStyles of Play

Online poker isn't exactly the same as the poker you may be used to playing, so it's a good idea to read this page before you sit down at one of Hollywood Poker's virtual tables. The first step, of course, is to sign up with Hollywood Poker and log in. After this, either click on the 'Play Now' tab at the top of your screen to start the Java version or simply open your downloaded version on your computer. At this point, you will be on a page called the Lobby.

The Lobby is where it all begins. Read on!

1. In the Lobby, you can choose a type of game to play, a table to play at, change your game settings, or chat with other players. Pick the type of game you want to play (Texas Holdem, Omaha, and so on) by clicking on one of the tabs at the top of the screen. The available tables for that type of game are visible in the left-side window. Look closely, and you'll see that the tables are designated as either Play Money or Real Money. If you're a beginner, you'll want to pick a Play Money table. (To play at a Real Money table, you have to enable your account for Real Money play.)

2. When you click on a table, information and statistics about it will appear on the right-hand side. The numbers indicate how many players are at the table, the number of seats, and the average pot size. ( Hint: the average pot size may help you figure out if you want to join that game. Find out why. )

3. Choose a table and click the red Go to Table button.

The Game Table

The people sitting around the table are, of course, the virtual stand-ins for your real-life opponents. In front of each player in the game will be two cards and the chips that player has bet in this round. The dealer is marked by the orange disk on the table in front of that player. Now for something cool: if you left-click on an player it mutes their comments in the chat window. (Wouldn't it be nice to have that option in real life?)

Join The Game

Click on an empty chair to sit at the table. You're now at the table, but you aren’t actually playing yet -- you have the option of Sitting Out the hand to observe. When you're ready to play, click the Sit In button at the bottom left corner of the screen and you'll be dealt into the next hand. When you sit in, a dialogue box will appear asking how much of your money you want to bring to the table with you.

Control Buttons

There are two sets of buttons you'll need to think about at different times in the game. The first set has the Control Buttons:

• Sit Out: Use this to take a breather from the game. You're still at the table, you're just not playing.
• Leave: You're history. Toast. Outta there!
• Lobby: Takes you to the ... you know.
• Cashier: Lets you change the amount of money you brought to the table by reopening the dialogue box. You can only use this button when you're sitting out.

Action Buttons

When the game starts, the small blind and the big blind are automatically added to the pot. The pocket cards are dealt, and there is a round of betting. (If you want to learn more about how the game itself is played, check out our Poker School). This is when you use the Action Buttons, which appear automatically when it's your turn to act. These buttons are used to check, call, bet, raise and fold.

There is also the "Auto Play in Turn" option that will appear before the Action buttons.  This option allows you to make a hand decision before it is formally your turn to act. When it is your turn, your decision is then relayed to the table. This is a great option to use once you are comfortable with the game procedures and what hands you like to play

Remember that you have a limited time to decide what you want to do on your turn; the length of time varies for different tables. If you wait too long, your hand will automatically check or fold, depending on what's happening in that game.

If you do sit out of a game, don't leave for too long because after a number of minutes of sitting out you will be returned to the lobby so that others can play at that table. For a full overview of questions and answers about the games, please check out our Getting Started - Learn The Games page.