There are dozens of different varieties of poker
being played in the world today. It would be impossible
for me to list them all here, so I am simply going to give
an overview of some of the most popular.
Texas
Hold'em
Often
called the "Cadillac of poker", Texas Holdem
is a fast paced game which is deceptively easy to learn,
but very difficult to master.
Before
a round begins, two compulsory bets are placed, the small
blind by the person to the left of the dealer, and the
big blind by the person to the left of small blind.
Two
cards are dealt face down to each player. They are called
pocket or hole cards. Only you can look at
your hole cards. A round of betting is played on
the value of these hole cards, starting at the left of the
big blind. To continue in the hand you must either
call or raise the value of the big blind. If your cards
are no good you may fold your hand. Play proceeds clockwise
(as does the deal).
Once
betting is concluded three cards are dealt face up in the
centre of the table. These are known as the flop.
Another round of betting takes place, this time starting
to the left of the dealer.
Another
card is dealt face up in the centre - the turn -
and there is another round of betting.
Then
a final card is dealt - the river - with a final
round of betting after this.
The
object of the game is to make the strongest possible hand
(see hand rankings on the menu on the left) from
five of the seven cards available. The cards in the centre
are called community cards. They can be used by every
player in conjunction with their own hole cards.
Texas
Holdem is
an exciting game which can be great fun to play both in
a ring game (played for cash) or in a poker tournament.
Seven
Card Stud
A
hugely popular form of poker - particularly in home games,
seven card stud requires an ante to be placed by
each player before the cards are dealt.
Each
player is dealt two cards face down and one face up. The
player with the lowest visible card commences the betting
with the bring in, a compulsory small bet. Play moves
clockwise from here, with players having the option to call
the bring in or raise to a full bet.
Once
betting has been completed, another face up card is dealt
to each remaining player, followed by more betting, this
time commencing with the person with the highest hand
on show.
Two
more face up cards and one face down are dealt one at a
time with betting after each card. The cards are finally
shown with the best five card hand from the player's seven
winning the pot.
Omaha
Hold'em
This
game is played in a very similar way to Texas Holdem,
there are however some important differences:
1
- In Omaha Holdem the player is dealt four hole cards.
2
- To make a hand, the player must use two of his
hole cards along with three of the community cards
on the board.
These
differences make for quite different play. The nuts (best
possible hand) is often in play, so you need much better
cards than usual to continue in a hand.
A
variation of this game is also played where the pot is split
between the high and low hands. The low hand is determined
by the smallest five different cards in a player's hand.
Straights and flushes do not count for the low hand but
all cards must be an eight or lower.
Omaha
HiLo (or
Omaha Eight or Better) is a good laugh, even if it
can be confusing to play at times. Not one to indulge in
after a few drinks!
Other
Games
As
I mentioned before, there are many varieties of poker game
available. Other forms include Five Card Draw, Razz
(seven card stud played for the low hand), Pineapple
and Lowball Draw. There are also varieties where
wild cards are nominated (which can count as anything).
You
could play a lifetime of poker and never know all the variations,
or even master one of them, but that is one of the great
things about the game!
