What Are the Different Types of Poker Games
Nowadays, there is an incredibly huge variety of poker games that have been created to suit different tastes. The game has become a staple of most casinos and is widely known around the world. It is even the game of choice of James Bond in the modern Casino Royale movie. If you are interested in this infamous game, you can check out the list of most popular varieties offered by modern casinos:
Texas Hold’em
This is one of the most popular type of poker games and is used for most world tournaments. It is distinguished by its simple rules and accessibility to each player. It is played with 52 cards and 2 to 10 players can take part in the game, although it is usually played by smaller groups of people. The essence of the game is as follows: players get two cards, while the dealer lays out an additional five cards in the middle of the table. Players can trade cards in several rounds after that and then the players show their hands. The one who has the best combination wins. Cards that are in the center of the table can be used to make winning combinations in a card duel. Players take turns placing mandatory blind bets, before seeing their cards. The player left of the dealer places a bet (small blind) and the player to his left (bug blind) places a bigger bet, usually twice the one of the small blind. These change with each round.
There are three types of stake limit in this type. As the name implies, on tables with “No Limit” there is virtually no limit on how high the stakes can raise. On tables with “Pot Limit”, the maximum bet can not exceed the amount that is collected in the pot. “Fixed Limit” means that the maximum bet in the first two rounds can not be larger than the big blind, and the bet can not be raised more than three times.
The top winning combinations a player can get are Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair and One Pair.
Omaha
Omaha is considered the second most popular form of poker after Texas Hold'em and at first glance it may seem that playing Omaha is a bit more difficult. In reality, there are only two fundamental differences. First, each player receives more cards during the distribution – four, in stead of two. Second, for any combination you need to use at least two of the received cards. It is played with “Pot Limit” and “Fixed Limit”. The combinations in Omaha are exactly the same as in Texas Hold'em, with the royal flush being the strongest hand. Players must use two of the four cards and any three of the table table cards to make combinations. The ability to make combinations of 4 initial cards means that two pairs in Omaha are in most cases not a winning combination. In this game, straights, flushes and full houses are usually winners.
Seven-card Stud
Seven-card stud was one of the most popular types of poker before the Texas Hold'em boom. It can be played by two to eight people. A regular seven-card stud starts with a compulsory fee, which is about a fifth of the minimum bet. Each player must make a forced ante bet before the cards are dealt. A regular seven-card stud starts with a compulsory fee, which is about one-fifth (1/5) of the minimum bet. Each player must make an ante bet before the cards are dealt. Then in the course of the round three cards are dealt to the player face down, and four are face-up. All cards dealt are individual. The essence of the game is to collect the best five-card combination of the seven cards. The best hand wins the pot. The combinations and rankings are similar to Texas Hold'em. This game variety is played mostly as a limit game.
Five-card Draw
The general principles and combinations in Five-card Draw are the same as in Hold'em. The goal of the game is to collect the best combination of five cards. There are blinds in the game, but unlike Hold'em, this is a game without a flop, meaning there are no community cards and only the individual cards are used to make a combination. All players are dealt five cards each. Betting, as in Hold'em, goes clockwise until all players make their bets. All players in the game have the right to exchange up to five cards and thus improve their hand. In the final round players show they hands. This poker variety can be played as a “Fixed Limit”, “Pot Limit” and “No Limit” game.
2-7 Triple Draw
2-7 Triple Draw is usually played as a limit game. It is a lowball poker and is always won by a combination of cards with the lowest value. The game begins with two mandatory bets – the small and big blinds, which is made by the players who are sitting on the dealer’s left. Each player receives five cards face down, which can be exchanged later. The game is played without community cards. At the final round each player shows their hand and the weakest combination then wins. The ultimate hand a player can have is 23457.
There are many more types of poker games out there, so it is not important to know all of them, but to find the one which you enjoy the most and become the best at it. Good luck!
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