Poker is one of the most relevant online casino games in the world and that is felt in the huge number of followers it accumulates around the globe. In fact, there is probably no other card title that has been more represented in popular culture, whether through film, television, or books.
Although it is difficult to find someone who has not heard about poker, it is even less common to know all its modalities and what each one consists of. Below we want to dive deeper into some of the most famous poker games to make everything clear.
Texas Hold ’em
We can’t talk about the most famous poker modalities in the world without mentioning Texas Hold ’em. Nevertheless, it is important to emphasize Texas Hold ’em poker basic rules and best starting poker hands that exist, especially for all those people who are not familiar with this popular variety of card games. The player receives two cards face down at the beginning of the game, while five community cards are placed face down on the table, which will be discovered when all the members have placed their bets.
The game consists of the best combination of five possible cards, between the own and community cards. All this after a round of betting that starts the player on the left, in the order of the clock. The winner of the game is the player who causes all participants to withdraw from the game or the player with the best hand of cards.
Omaha Hi-Lo
Within the realm of poker, Omaha Hi-Lo sits alongside the frequently-played Pot-Limit Omaha. Its name hints at what to expect in terms of gameplay.
Unpacking the complexities of the Hi-Lo rules might seem daunting at first. But when we start exploring their concept, the complexity is mainly unspooled. Hi-Lo cards are combinations of high or low cards. Thus, in this game, the players actively seek to form the winning 5-card hand through both their hidden and table cards. What makes it interesting is that unlike with regular Omaha modality, half of the pot is presented to one with a strong low hand. This explains why Hi-Lo provides an exciting incentive for players’ bold participation that requires an extra understanding of card play.
Omaha High
The Omaha High modality is also very popular, especially in its Pot Limit variety. At first glance, there is little that differentiates Omaha High from Omaha Hi-Lo, although, in reality, it is another form of poker. First of all, its popularity is much higher all over the globe, and it is common to see it in popular tourneys and gambling houses. It also has easier rules to grasp because, in the case of Omaha High, users must take into account only combinations of high cards.
If you are familiar with poker, you may have already noticed that it is also played in a very similar way to Texas Hold ’em. The small difference is that no two cards are played in hand or hole cards, but four.
Five-Card Draw
The Five-Card Draw is one of the variants that was born in the US. And it is the first mode with which most poker players start the popular card game. Its rules are very similar to the previous variant. Each player will play with five cards and the betting rounds start with the player to the left of the big blind. Next, gamblers will be able to exchange as many cards as they want and so on until there is only one player left.
Seven Card Stud
The Seven-Card Stud variant was once the most popular type of poker, but Texas Hold ’em ended up taking its place. It is particularly different from the other forms of play that we have described previously.
Here, all gamers are required to place a bet before starting the game itself. Subsequently, each player receives seven cards in total, three covered and four face up on the table. Of the seven cards dealt, the player has to choose the five that will make up his hand, so the best five-card hand on the table will be the winner. It may be the case that there is more than one winner since they can have hands with the same value, so the final jackpot would be divided equally.
Razz
The rules of Razz are practically the same as those of the Seven-Card Stud, except for the crucial and interesting fact that the main objective is to get the worst possible hand according to the traditional rules of poker. Although it may not seem like it, it is a very popular modality among the most purist poker lovers.
Honorable Mentions
All these variations mentioned above are immensely popular among players, professionals, and amateurs alike. But, of course, poker modalities don’t end here. Here are some more variants that are worth giving a shot:
- Five-Card Omaha
- Fixed Limit Omaha
- Chinese Poker
- Badugi
- Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo
- Blast Poker
- Short Deck
All of them make the game of poker even more interesting. Mastering one to perfection is complicated, but it is undeniable that the motivation to become an excellent player will never be lacking.