Poker has become quite popular lately. The game itself is very interesting and exciting to play, however, there are too many types of poker games out there. Which type should you choose from?
Texas Hold’em
This is the most common variety of poker played today. It’s a three-player game where each player receives two cards face down and one card up. However, in this version of the game, all players have to decide whether or not they want to bet at the same time instead of separately as per the normal rules of poker.
Seven Card Stud
This is a 5-reel game with 7 cards per hand. A player bets for every spin by selecting how much he would like to risk. If the dealer has an Ace showing, then the player can double his risk by guessing if the dealer will have a King or Queen next. If the dealer does end up having a Jack, then he wins half of the pot.
Deuce to Seven Triple Draw
Another variation of poker is where a single deck is used. With this game, two additional cards are dealt over and above the standard 52-card pack. These two extra cards can be any combination from ace to ten without repetition. For example, an 8 could be an ace or a 10 or a 6, etc.
Chinese Poker.
Chinese Poker is sometimes referred to as Pai Gow Poker. There are four community cards plus one Joker. After the draw, the dealer shows their hands and all players must follow suit if they have enough cards of the required suit. If they don’t, they lose their hand. Then the dealer turns over their top card which is compared against everyone else’s new best five-card hand. The player who beats the dealer wins the hand.
Caribbean Stud Poker.
This is also called One Drop because it is a 1-on-1 game. The game is exactly like standard stud poker except for one thing: each person plays only against themselves and no other players. Everyone gets 4 cards down and one card up; the last card is turned up when the round ends. The winner is the first player to bust, i.e., all their cards are exposed, or the first player to reach 15 points.
Razzle Dazzle Poker.
You can try your luck against a computer opponent in this poker game. Your goal is to beat the computer using different strategies. Use your head to think about what strategy to use when dealing with special situations such as drawing dead or being able to see the highest valued card.
Three Card Poker.
Three Card Poker is played very similarly to hold ‘Em. The only real difference is there are only three cards dealt face-up versus two in Hold ‘Em.
Five Card Stud Poker.
Just like its name implies, five-card stud poker involves receiving five cards instead of four. While playing, you’ll always begin with five cards down, plus one up card. As play continues, you’ll either receive another card or the board will be facedown. Like regular stud poker, the goal is to get better cards than the ones already on the table.
Deuces Wild Poker.
In this variant of poker, the player receives a total of seven cards. Of these, five will go in the “normal” deck, while the other two are jokers. The dealer then shuffles together the seven cards and gives each player nine cards (three normal cards and six wild cards). Deuces wild poker allows the player to achieve a straight, flush or full house but is more difficult to win than traditional poker games.
Omaha Poker.
Omaha poker, so named after its origin in Nevada, was invented in the 1930s. It’s similar to Texas Hold’em except that there are extra betting rounds. Before the flop, there is an ante bet and a blind bet. The blind does not count toward anyone’s maximum bet, however. Players can raise before the flop, re-blind after the flop, and do so again before the turn. Finally, a second re-raise option comes around during the river. If no action happens, the pot remains. Otherwise, there are bets and raises until only one player remains. This player wins the pot.
Five Card Draw Poker.
This variation of poker eliminates community cards and the showdown. Instead, five cards are dealt face-down to each player. Then, each player looks at his cards and chooses which suits he would like to keep. He places his chosen cards onto a discard pile and the rest of the cards from his hand. The first player to make five matched cards takes all of the money in the pot.
The Bottom Line.
Every type of poker offers something different for every player. No matter which kind you prefer, you’re sure to find tons of fun! For beginners, learning about basic rules will help you learn how to play and progress further.