Poker is a classic casino game that has been around for centuries. It is thought that poker first originated in the deep south of the USA in the 1700’s when sailors and pirates would descend on the shore. These foreign travellers came from Europe and introduced variants of the game that poker is believed to have derived from such as Poques, which was played in France at the time.
Today, poker is a well-established casino game that is played on an international level by people all over the world, both for fun and professionally. There are also many different types of poker variants today, in which it can take many years and hours of practice and studying to master just one variant. While the fundamentals of the game stay the same, each one has slightly different rules which make it different.
Below, we’ll take a look at the different variants of poker gaming, look at how they differ and who they are best suited to.
Texas Hold’em
Texas Hold’em is by far the most popular variant of poker and can be found in casinos across the world. It is also the most well known version of the game. Texas Hold’em is most popular because the rules of the game are incredibly easy to pick up, making it ideal for beginners. The hand rankings are also quite easy to memorise too, making for a no stress game.
The rules of the game are that each player is dealt 2 cards face down – known as the hold cards. Over several betting rounds, five more cards are drawn and dealt out, face up in the middle of the table. Each player is free to take one of these community cards as they need to in order to build a five-card poker hand.
One of the major perks of the game is that it can be found in any physical casino and because of its popularity, there are often a whole variety of Texas Hold’em tables to choose from.
Omaha Hi-Low
Omaha hi-low is another popular poker game as the pot is divided in two to both the higher and lower hands. That being said, it’s not so popular with those just starting out in the game.
Let’s take a look at the rules of the game. This game is slightly different because at showdown, the pot is divided equally between the highest and lowest ranking hands. Different combinations of cards can be used to make high and low hands.
Taking a look at the pros and cons of the game, two major benefits of the variant of poker are that it is easier to win a portion of the pot of winnings, meaning that you’re likely to walk away with something, even if it’s small, feeling more of a sense of accomplishment. Secondly, this variant of poker is found at large tournaments and it is highly popular with the pros, meaning it is easy for beginners to find resources for learning how to play this variant too.
On the downside, bluffing is not so popular in this game as players could be trying to make a low hand too. In addition, the rules are much more complex than other popular variations, meaning it isn’t very popular with new players and you’re less likely to come across it in the casino.
Seven card stud
Seven card stud was most popular before Texas Hold’em took over, in which it involves a little more skill than other variants of the game. The aim of the game is to get the best five card hand from the seven cards dealt.
Bear in mind that there’s two to eight players in this game and there are no flop or community cards. We recommend giving this variant a go once you’ve had a little practice.
Five card draw
This is one of the more beginner friendly variants as players must work with the cards they are given, although you can begin to work a little strategy into the game too. This variant of the game is where your bluffing needs to be on point.
High Low Chicago
Similar to seven card stud, high low chicago revolves around the highest and lowest hand. In this game, there are often two winners who split the jackpot and it again requires a little strategy, meaning it’s best left for when you’ve got some experience under your belt.
Overall, there are many variants of poker, with some being more complex than others. While there is no doubt that poker is one of the most challenging casino games to play and take years to master, it is still a highly enjoyable and rewarding game to play, in which there are many resources out there for those wanting to get into the world of poker.
