The most important feature of poker software is the ability to play a variety of different games. The following are some very popular variants that are available in online poker games: Texas Hold ‘Em, Omaha/Oasis, Seven Card Stud, Five Card Stud, Crazy Eights and Draw. A lot can be said about these variations but for now, let us review each one separately.
Texas Hold’em
This variation of poker originated in the 1930s but it became extremely popular around the 1970s. It involves two players who bet on an outcome from a set number (usually seven) of cards. They use their hands to try to beat the other player in order to force him to fold or take his money back. This means that there is always a winner and loser involved in this game. Players can choose from a variety of betting options like calling versus raising when they have nothing; folding versus re-bidding after hitting an ace; checking versus checking with your opponent; and so on.
Omaha and Oasis
This variation of poker is similar to hold ’em except that there are only five cards dealt at any given time instead of seven. As you might imagine, since there are fewer cards, players tend to wait longer before making bets or even trying to bluff. It is the same idea as in hold ’em although the differences between them are small. Another difference here is that the lowest pair wins instead of winning the largest hand overall. In other words, if both you and your opponent have Jokers, you win. There is still a clear winner and loser here but not quite as much as in hold’ em.
Seven Card Stud
In this version of poker, three cards are dealt face down. These are turned over one at a time until all ten cards have been revealed. Each player then chooses which suit he prefers and places his bets accordingly. If no one folds, then the last card is pulled from the shoe where it will remain until another person decides to put money into the pot.
Five Card Stud
Here the dealer deals four cards face up and four faces down. The remaining eight cards from the deck. Since all players are facing away from each other, there aren’t any big pots being built. However, this type of game isn’t suitable for short term wagering because of its predictability. For instance, you could see someone draw a full house and decide to raise the action by betting on a large sum of money. His opponent would then either call or fold depending on how well he thought he was doing. But, the five-card stud is great for long term play because you know exactly what the cards are going to look like without having to see them first.
Crazy Eight
There’s something really fun about this game. You get three cards placed face up in front of everyone and once again you make bets based on the suits you prefer. Then, the dealer flips over the third card and reveals the fourth card. Once the fourth card has been flipped over, the fifth card is laid flat, face up. And finally, the sixth card goes face up. Then, the seventh card is flipped over revealing the eighth card. The dealer turns the whole stack of cards face up and declares “you’re crazy”. You go home happy knowing that you just earned yourself a nice little payout!
Draw
A variant of poker, this game includes two draw piles and six community cards. When the dealer shuffles the two piles together, everyone gets to pick either pile. Players bid out by pulling from the top of the pile closest to them or from the bottom of the pile furthest from them. Any extra chips or dollars in the middle don’t matter. When the bidding stops, the dealer then draws one card from each pile face-up and shows the second card facedown.
This process continues with the next player drawing from the top or bottom of their respective pile. Eventually, everyone has had a turn and all the cards have been drawn. After this round, you repeat this procedure with the new decks. In order to win, a player must complete a straight to be eligible for payment.
Three Card Poker
Also known as Three-Card Omaha, three-card poker is a game typically played in live games. Instead of holding an entire poker hand, players use three cards to try and beat the dealer. The basic rules dictate that one cannot bet more than twice the amount wagered on the previous hand. They can only raise if they are beaten by at least half the current buy-in. You can’t “make your own” hands but if you do happen to catch a flush, your odds of winning increase dramatically.
While there are variations of this game, most involve using special playing cards called Deuces Wilds. These cards are double valued when compared to regular playing cards. They count as high-value Aces and Queens and low-value Kings and Jacks. It may sound complicated but believe me, the best online casinos have simplified the format to allow novice and intermediate poker players alike to compete!