Poker is one of the oldest and most classic card games around today that has stood the test of time. As a strategic game where players wager over which hand is best according to the specific game’s rules, it requires careful thinking, strategy, and a great poker face which takes time and practice to master. Yet, despite the work required to be able to play, people across the world choose to play on a daily basis, whether that be for fun or even as a career.
As poker has been around for a while, there are a few variations of the game that have evolved over the years in different locations around the world. While it can be confusing to get your head around at first, once you remember the basics of each variant it’s easy to play them.
Below, we’ll dive into some of the most popular variants of poker around and explain the basics of how to play.
Why is poker so popular
(Playing cards, poker chips and dices)
While poker has always been such a popular card game and in fact one of the most popular games in a casino, part of what makes it so popular today is the accessibility people have to the game across the world. Throughout the past decade, online poker has become more popular than the live game itself. This is because not only is online poker incredibly exciting and interactive to play, it’s more accessible to different groups of people who can have a go at the game without fear of being judged or not being good enough to play, especially after a long week of work.
Additionally, online poker allows people to play at any time and in any place, whether that be on the commute to work or from the comfort of your sofa at 2am in the morning. A UK poker site provides an immersive experience containing a wide variety of different poker variations and strategies to help improve your overall card game.
Popular variants of poker
(Playing cards deck)
The great thing about the different poker variants is that each varies in complexity, length of game and style. This means that there’s usually a poker game out there to suit every player’s needs, whether you don’t have much time and need a quicker game, or you are just starting out and need a little practice with an easier game.
Let’s take a look at some of the most popular poker game variants below.
Texas Hold’em
Texas Hold’em is one of the most classic variants of poker and is also the most popular among the poker community. It’s most loved because the rules are easy to pick up and the hand rankings are easy to learn too. Not to mention, if playing in a brick and mortar casino, there is usually more choice of Texas Hold’em tables than any other variant.
What are the rules of the game?
Each player is dealt 2 cards face down; these are known as the hole 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.
Pros of Texas Hold’em
- It’s an easy game to learn as the sheer popularity of the game means that so many resources are available.
- Because of its popularity, the game can be found anywhere, both online and offline.
Cons of Texas Hold’em
- It can also be an incredibly complex game as there are so many hand variations to learn.
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 why that is.
What are 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.
Pros of Omaha Hi-Low
- It is easier to win a portion of the pot of winnings
- It’s found at large tournament series so it highly accessible to watch the pros
Cons of Omaha Hi-Low
- Bluffing is less prominent because players could be trying to make a low hand too
- The rules are much more complex than other popular variations
Other popular poker variants
Other popular poker variants include:
- Omaha
- Seven-Card Stud
- High Low Chicago
- 2-7 Triple Draw
- 5-Card Omaha
Overall, there are so many variants of poker to choose from that it can be intimidating for a new player. However, by learning the basics of the most popular, you’ll be on your way to mastering the game in no time at all.
