How to play online poker with friends

How to play online poker with friends

Ever wanted to learn how to play poker online with your mates? Oddschecker are here to provide you with an easy step-by-step guide.

Emerging victorious from a hotly-contested poker hand, winning a large pot in the process, is one of the great thrills of life, and through PokerStars’ Home Games, you now have the opportunity to lock horns with your friends online.

Using the Home Games tool, you’re able to set up a private poker club and do battle with your friends – and only your friends – with a large variety of customisable aspects thrown in.

If you’re new to poker, make sure you check out our poker guides, such as How to win at Texas Hold’em poker, as well as brushing up on what the best poker hands are. You don’t want to be caught cold!

Setting up a private poker game with your friends online is quick and easy, so follow the steps in this article to get started.

Setting up an online Home Game on PokerStars:

1. Download PokerStars and register a free account

Using Oddschecker's new customer welcome offer link, sign-up to PokerStars and create an account! 

Before you begin, take a look at the list of poker games you're able to play with your friends:

  • Texas Hold'em
  • Omaha
  • Omaha H/L
  • Stud
  • Stud H/L
  • Razz
  • 5-Card Draw
  • 2-7 Single Draw
  • 2-7 Triple Draw
  • HORSE
  • NLHE / PLO
  • 8 Game
  • Badugi

2. Create your Home Game

Once you’re in the main PokerStars lobby, you’ll need to select the 'more' option, before choosing the option titled: ‘Create Poker Club’.

This is where your poker journey begins with PokerStars. From here, you’ll be able to customise your poker club, invite and challenge whoever you please, and hopefully win some bragging rights along the way.

Creating a Home Game 1

Creating a Home Game 2

3. Name your poker club

When it comes to naming your poker club, the options are pretty much endless.

You can be as creative and goofy as you like! Ultimately, PokerStars’ home games are about you and your friends playing poker online together, so make sure the name of the club accordingly.

Naming your club

4. Manage your club

Like any other type of exclusive club, a PokerStars Home Game needs to be managed. In this portion of your journey, you’re able to invite and kick whoever you like, as well as changing colour schemes and imagery.

If this club is going to be a virtual home for you and your mates, everything should be to your liking.

Managing your club

5. Select your games

There are a huge number of poker games you can play with your friends on PokerStars:
Poker Variant Real Money Free Play
Texas Hold'em Yes Yes
Omaha No Yes
Omaha H/L No Yes
Stud Yes Yes
Stud H/L Yes Yes
Razz Yes Yes
5-Card Draw Yes Yes
2-7 Single Draw Yes Yes
2-7 Triple Draw Yes Yes
HORSE Yes Yes
NLHE/PLO Yes Yes
8 Game Yes Yes
Badugi Yes Yes

As you can see, the flexibility and range of games you can play with your pals on PokerStars makes it a very attractive option for those looking to play online poker with friends.

You are also able to edit the number of players, how many people are paid out, starting stacks, and much, much more.

Selecting your games

It's never been easier to play online poker with your friends. If you're looking elsewhere for more great poker experiences, check out some of Oddschecker's best poker bonuses from other providers: 

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