Poker is one of the most popular table games in the world, and this multi-billion dollar industry grew dramatically with the introduction of online poker in the early 2000s. The popularity of poker should come as no surprise, seeing as it has an amazing level of depth and skill, as well as the fact that it’s incredibly entertaining.
Luckily, there are a number of fun game variations that ensure players don’t get bored of playing the same type of poker over and over again. There are many different kinds of poker, but there are a couple that stand out.
Let’s take a look at the four best variations that you can choose from when you play poker online and why each version is so popular with players all over the globe.
Texas Hold’em Poker
Texas Hold’em is definitely the most popular version of poker around, and it’s the best online poker for beginners. All that a beginner player needs to know is that the aim of the game is to make the best possible five-card hand from their two hole cards and the five community cards.
Each player is dealt two face-down cards. The two players after the button, which rotates one spot after every hand, will then post the small and big blinds. The players who go before them had already chosen to call the big blind, fold, or raise. The blinds can then check (in the case of the big blind), call, raise, or fold.
If two or more players are still in the hand when the betting round finishes, the dealer will display three community cards in the center of the table. The new betting round happens, and the same process follows for the turn card and river card. The player with the best hand, or the last player after everyone has folded, is the winner. If there is a tie, then the pot is split.
Texas Hold’em is popular because it is easy to learn, entertaining, and available on almost every poker site and in most casinos.
Seven-Card Stud
Stud poker differs from Texas Hold’em in that players are dealt both face-up and face-down cards as the hand progresses. Players need to make the best five-card hand from a total of seven cards, but there are no community cards. The traditional hand rankings are used, with a royal flush being the best hand.
Each player pays into the pot with an ante before the game starts. Each player is then dealt three cards – two face down (known as hole cards) and one face up (known as the door card). Then there are rounds of betting after each additional card. Each betting round begins with a bring-in to encourage betting, and others can call, raise, or fold. Note that the fourth, fifth, and sixth cards for each player are face down, while the seventh is face up.
If there are still players after the final round, then the game goes to a showdown. The player with the best five-card hand wins.
This is a game that is easy to learn, and the ability to see everyone’s face-up cards makes it a little simpler than Texas Hold’em.
Pot Limit Omaha
Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) is an exciting poker variant that is becoming more popular every year. It is very similar to Texas Hold’em, in that they both start with a three-card flop, followed by the turn and river. Players need to make the best five-card hand in both of these games.
These are the key differences between traditional Texas Hold’em and Omaha (Omaha Hold’em, to be exact):
- In PLO (pot-limit is the most frequently played format for Omaha), each player is dealt four hole cards, of which they must use two along with exactly three of the community cards to make their best five-card hand.
- This is a limit game which means players can only bet equal to what is in the pot when it’s their turn. So if there is $200 in the pot, then a player can bet a max of $200. The next player can bet a max of $400 and so on.
This version is so popular because the four cards enable tons of action in the game. The pot betting limit can also see some big wins, and it’s similar enough to Hold’em for players to quickly pick up the game. The difficulties are the value of hole cards, as the restriction to the cards available for use change the value of starting hands quite significantly.
Five-Card Draw
This is probably the hardest poker variation when it comes to the decision-making process because players get to draw new cards to replace the ones they’re dealt. However, once you have mastered it, it is very straightforward.
All players are dealt five face-down cards at the beginning of the game. They then have to decide whether to stick with their cards or draw new ones to replace any number of the cards in their hand. Like other versions of poker, the game starts to the left of the dealer, and there are blinds to be posted. After players have taken their new cards, betting will begin and at the end of the round, the best five-card hand wins. If there is a tie, there will be a showdown.
This is a wonderful poker variation because it is different from any of the others, and it is a true classic.
Play online poker with Borgata
These are just a few of the most popular poker variations. At Borgata Online, we have a range of great poker options available to keep players entertained for hours. Whether you’re looking to play any of the games above or try other casino games, we’ve got you covered. What’s more, we host excellent online poker tournaments that you can enter to test your skills on a number of different poker variations.