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Poker is popular for many reasons, and the levels of skill and strategy are key elements of its appeal. While the random turn of a card will always maintain the factor of chance, a player’s individual talents can prove the difference between winning and losing.
Mastering poker play requires those high levels of skill, which start with a clear understanding of the game’s mechanics. Contained within the broad umbrella of poker are many different variants, and we’re about to look at the most popular options.
Online Success Story
Poker was made available by the first online casino sites, and it remains exceptionally popular in the modern day. Its evolution has been a steady one, and part of that progression is down to the many versions of the game that casinos provide.
Operators have to keep things interesting for their players and that’s why there is an extensive choice of options. Included in the many online poker variants are classic titles, while most game operators also list variants with twists on regular gameplay. It’s a varied selection, but which should you try?
Texas Hold’em
This is the most popular version among players, and all online casinos are certain to have Texas Hold’em on their roster. It’s also the game most likely to feature in the major offline tournaments shown on TV and live streaming services.
To start the game, each player around the table receives two cards which are dealt face down. These are known as the hole cards. At this stage in the game, players can decide whether to continue with their staking, or they can ‘fold’ and leave the round if their cards are weak.
With players still in contention, the dealer hands out the first of the community cards. Three cards are dealt, face up, in the middle of the table and these are known as the ‘flop.’ A further round of staking follows before the fourth community card, known as the ‘turn,’ is dealt. The final community card is next and this is referred to as the ‘river.’
At the turn of that final river card, the round is assessed and the player with the best hand wins the pot. The drama that is built up through the community cards makes poker the best option as a spectator sport.
For players, it’s a complex variant that requires planning and strategy. Analysis of opposition styles of play is also essential, and all of those qualities combine to make this the most popular version of poker.
Omaha
Prior to Texas Hold’em’s rise up the charts, Omaha was the most popular poker version around. There are similarities between the two variants and once again, there are hole cards and community cards.
The first key difference in Omaha is that players receive four hole cards. Three community cards will follow. Each player must then make the best possible hand using two of their hole cards, together with the three community cards.
With four cards hidden from other players, Omaha makes it harder for opponents to assess the strength of your hand. Aside from the quantity of cards and how they are dealt, Omaha requires an analytical mind and the same strategic approach as Texas Hold’em. While the element of chance still remains, nobody wins consistently without a high degree of skill.
7-Card Stud
Like Omaha and Texas Hold’em, 7-Card Stud is a poker variant where every player receives seven cards. The clear difference with this version is that there are no community cards.
Each player receives their own hand of seven cards across four staking rounds. Initially, three cards are dealt, two of which are face down and one face up. Following on, there are three more up-cards.
Opponents can see most of your hand in this version, so there is less strategy applied. However, as a fast and fun version, 7-Card Stud is hard to beat.
Razz
As a light-hearted version of poker, Razz keeps you in the game at all stages. The object here is to return the lowest possible hand, using five cards. Seven cards are dealt, and the player must use the five highest-ranking options.
Aces are low, while straights and flushes don’t count. It may seem like an odd way to play the game, but Razz is arguably the most complex of all poker variants. You have to think carefully about your hand and go against everything you’ve previously learned about poker.
If you’re unsure about which poker variant to play, you can take time to study the rules and try each one out on a trial basis. There are free-play versions widely available online where you can get involved without any real money stakes on the table.
Having a good knowledge of a wide range of poker versions can help you to perfect your overall game. In time, you may just want to focus on one option, but it helps to have that broad understanding of this casino classic.
