The Most Common Types of Online Poker
Poker is by far the most popular card game in the world, and is just as likely to be found at the world’s most prestigious casinos as the local community centre. It’s a game that’s enjoyed every day by countless players, and is one of the few casino games that can eventually be mastered by those that put in the time and effort, whether at a land-based venue, online or on mobile.
Poker became a national phenomenon during the 1980’s in the United States when developers created and released the first video poker machines, allowing people to play against a computer for the first time ever; but even this pales in comparison to how popular the game became when it was digitized and found itself as a staple of most modern online casino, similar in popularity to online blackjack.
Since then, poker has exploded across the world, and there are very few reputable casinos that don’t offer the game in one form or another. While we’re aware of Texas Hold’em, which is by far the most common type of poker available on the Internet, it’s not the only one; and there is a plethora of poker variations – each boasting its own take on the game.
Not far behind Texas Hold’em is Pot Limit Omaha, which has seen increased popularity in the last few years, and shares some similarities to Hold’em, except for one key difference. Omaha starts with four cards instead of the standard two in Hold’em, and while players may have access to more cards, ultimately they can only use two for their final hand – making the game far more action-packed, fast-paced, and nerve-racking.
Next is Caribbean Stud Poker, where players play directly against the dealer rather than against themselves. The rules of the game are like that of 5-star stud, except the dealer is required to show on of their cards throughout the entirety of the game.
Both the dealer and the players are given five cards each, with the player winning of they manage to beat the total value of the dealer’s hand – giving the player a chance to win 1:1 on whatever bet was made. There is also one of the variations of poker where progressive jackpots can constantly be in play, allowing for an extremely competitive game.
Similar in some ways to Caribbean Stud Poker, Pai Gow Poker has the player attempting to beat the banker, which is often either represented by the dealer or another player at the table, which can vary from game to game. Each player is dealt 7 cards each, which are then split into five-card hands, as well as a 2-card hand. The five-card hand needs to be higher than the other.
A joker card is also added to the mix, where it can be used to fill either a straight or a flush, like an Ace. In order for a player to win a game of Pai Gow, both of their hands need to have a higher combined value of the dealer’s hand.
