Poker is one of the most popular games in the world. While slots and blackjack may be a lot more played, especially at online casinos, there is not a person alive who does not know at least the basics of poker, simply from cultural osmosis.
Yet, if you delve a bit deeper into the game, you’ll find that there are different versions of it. Many of these versions have become popular at online casinos like this website, for example. With so many options, many wonder; what are the most popular poker versions at online casinos?
Texas Hold ‘em
There is no doubt that Texas Hold ‘em is the current king of the poker world. For good reason too, as the variant on poker is fun, simple, easy to learn, and doesn’t require more than a single player (and a dealer, of course). This last trait is what makes it particularly perfect for online casinos, as operators can create a live gambling version of the game.
The way it works is simple, each player is dealt two cards. Then the dealer lays five cards in the common area, with the first three being face up, and the last two face down. The players make their wagers, and once the last two cards are revealed, the players pair the cards in their hand with those on the field for a winning hand.
Five-card Draw
Everybody needs a place to start. Though Texas Hold ‘em may be the most popular version of poker, it is far from the simplest and the most newbie-friendly. That honor goes to Five-card Draw poker. As the name might suggest, five-card draw involves each player being dealt five cards. Before the betting begins, the players can choose to discard a select number of their cards and draw new ones.
Once the dealing is done, each player places a wager, and they then reveal their cards to the table. The player with the highest hand wins. Five-card draw’s simplicity is what made it one of the most popular poker versions. There is not a poker player alive who doesn’t know how to play five-card draw, and most of them have likely started out by playing this version.
Stud Poker
Stud poker is a variety on poker that has attained a lot of success. The phrase refers to any poker version where the players are dealt a mix of face up and face down cards. The players must make their bets before they reveal the face up cards, and see if they have a winning hand.
Possibly the most popular version of Stud poker is 7-Card Stud. However, it is far from the only game that has attained a degree of success. Poker variants that fall under the category include Mexican stud, Razz, high-low poker, and six-card stud. Though the rules of these games may differ, for the most part they all function under the rule of players being dealt face-up and face-down cards.