Poker is a well-known game among different
folks, and each has adapted the game and made it as their
own with their own set of rules and regulations that made
them unique yet similar as well in more ways than one.
Variations in Poker
In general, poker games can be divided into three major
categories - shared hand game, stud game and draw game.
Examples for each are Texas Hold‘em, five card draw and
seven-card stud, respectively.
From time to time, you may also come across more variations
of the game such as high/low, guts and bid poker. A more
consistent aspect of poker play would be the hand rankings
with very few exceptions where some poor hands can become a
big hand or more rules based on the agreement of the players
on the table.
Specifics of Each Game Type
Texas Holdem is by far the most popular type of poker
currently, mainly due to its wide viewership on televisions.
The popularity was so great that players have even started
to play poker online.
With this game, each player is initially dealt with two hole
cards followed by the flop. The turn and river come in
successive turns and are both dealt face up. With each set
or single card dealt to players, it is followed by a round
of betting until the time when all players remaining go for
the showdown to see who was able to come up with the best
five-card hand taken from the hole and board cards.
If we talk about five-card draws, there are only three to
seven people involved. Each player is dealt five cards
followed by betting based on the hands. Some may opt to
change three of the cards for new ones from the deck or four
if this player can show an ace for his fifth card. After
this, another round of betting occurs until the best hand is
revealed and wins the game.
There would be three to ten players for the seven card stud
with a total of, you guessed it right, seven cards dealt to
each player. The seven cards though are dealt in increments
first with two cards facing down and the third facing up.
The betting then starts before the fourth, fifth and sixth
cards are dealt facing up followed by betting for each card
dealt to players. The last card is dealt facing down with
the final bets placed before the showdown happens.
The three games listed above are all available to play
online. Full
Tilt Poker is one site that offers all three of
these games. You can play for free (fun chips) or if
you think you are ready, you can make a deposit and play for
some real money.
Two other poker games popular in casinos are known as Pai
Gow poker and Carribean poker involving a game between the
dealer and a player or seven players in the case of the
former. Go ahead and pick your game of poker next time you
visit the nearby casino for something more different yet
enjoyable to play than the usual poker you get. You
can even start practicing many of these games online at many
of the top online
poker sites.
Not only will these sites let you play for free, many of
them include full tutorials to get you started!
