How to play poker with William Hill online and on your phone

Start by opening an account, completing the identity process and signing in. You can then access the poker games from a desktop browser, your phone’s browser or a mobile app.

Poker formats use the same core idea: you receive cards, make decisions during betting rounds and win by showing the best hand or making the other players fold. The exact cards, betting structure and number of players depend on the format.

Texas hold’em

In Texas hold’em, each player receives two private cards and up to five community cards are placed in the centre. You make the strongest five-card hand possible from those cards.

Play normally moves through pre-flop, flop, turn and river stages. Betting takes place between these stages, so a player can fold, call a previous bet or raise it when those actions are permitted.

Other poker formats

Other formats change the number of private cards, the community cards or the betting structure. Read the table or tournament information before joining so you understand how cards are dealt and when decisions are made.

Cash-game chips represent the money committed to the table, while tournament chips usually determine progress rather than being exchanged directly during the event. The winning condition is still decided by the format: the best qualifying hand at showdown, or being the last player left after everyone else folds.

You must meet William Hill’s minimum age requirement and verify your identity before playing. These requirements apply to players in Great Britain.

• Register an account with your personal details.
• Complete the identity verification process.
• Provide documents when William Hill requests them.
• Sign in after the account process is complete.

Documents for identity verification include certified ID, proof of address, passport, bank statements and a photograph of yourself holding these ID documents. The precise document requested depends on the verification process.

Use your own current details when registering. If access fails after registration, the login help guide covers the next step; account questions can be taken to William Hill customer support.

A poker hand has a clear sequence: cards are dealt, players act in turn, further cards may appear, and the remaining players either reach a showdown or win when everyone else folds.

Before the cards are dealt

Choose the format and table or event first. Look at the blind, ante or entry information and decide how much of your playing budget you are comfortable committing before you join.

During a betting round

When it is your turn, you can usually fold, check when no bet is facing you, call the current bet or raise it. A fold ends your claim to that hand; a call matches the current amount; a raise increases the amount other players must match.

Do not treat a strong-looking pair or draw as a guaranteed result. The outcome depends on the cards still to come, the hands held by other players and the decisions made during the round.

At the end of the hand

If more than one player remains after the final betting round, the hands are compared at showdown. The best qualifying hand wins the pot, while equal hands share it according to the rules of the format.

Common practical problems include losing connection, joining a table with unfamiliar rules or misunderstanding the amount required to call. Reconnect before taking further action, read the table details and pause if you are unsure what an action will commit.