Whether you’re a poker newbie or an expert, the game relies on a certain level of luck, however many people don’t realise that poker is a highly strategic game in which the more you’ve studied up on poker techniques and formulated a solid strategy, the better off you’ll be by the end of the game. So, what are the secrets behind mastering and understanding how to play various poker games? Well look no further, below you’ll find a beginner’s guide on how to play poker.
1. Texas Hold’em
Texas Hold’em is considered as one of the easiest variants of poker and is most similar to the earlier variants of poker that were played. It’s also one of the most frequent poker games to be played online and in tournaments such as the World Series of Poker and the World Poker Tournament. The game starts with each player being dealt two face down cards, then there are 5 community cards called the board. To win, all you have to do is form the best hand of five cards by using the community cards. The five community cards are made up of specific types of card, this includes:
3 flop cards – These are the first three cards in the five community cards that are revealed to all players in the game. 1 turn card – This is the card that is revealed once only, after the three community cards have been revealed. 1 river card – The river card is the fifth community card to be flipped.
In some games there will be a dealer who reveals the cards but does not play in the game, however in home games, the dealing duties will go around the table in a clockwise motion, usually with a dealer button or token being used to indicate who’s turn it is to deal. Once the cards have been dealt, betting takes place over four rounds in which players must ‘bluff’, ‘have position’, and ‘go all in to win.
2. Omaha Hi
While not as popular as Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hi is another frequently played game of Poker and is pretty similar to Texas Hold’em. The main difference with this game is that it’s played with four cards instead of five. The game is played by 2-10 players at a time, with the same five community cards being used to form the best hand. Another key difference is that the five community cards are revealed all at once instead of being revealed in separate moves like in Texas Hold’em. While this game is still popular, you probably won’t find as may available tables for this variant of poker in the casinos.
3. 7-Card Stud
This variant of poker was pretty popular before Texas Hold’em began to circulate and it played with a series of seven cards, of which three are played facing down and four facing up. The aim is for players to get the best hand of five from the seven they have.
4. HORSE poker
This collection of poker variants are played back-to-back at the same time, it is played with a fixed-limit betting structure, and the game is switched after each complete orbit at the table. HORSE poker is an acronym for Hold’em, Omaha, Razz, Stud and Eight or Better, the names of the variants which make up the game.
5. 5-Card Draw
5 Card draw is played by each player being dealt 5 cards, of which the player must then trade in 3 of them. To win, the player will need to have the best five ranked studs. This is one of the simplest variants of poker and is great if you’re looking for a quick and exciting game or if you’re a beginner and don’t want to delve into the details of the game just yet.
6. Badugi
Badugi is a poker game that uses a different ranking system to the other most popular poker games. In Badugi, only 4 cards are used for ranking, in which it takes a bit of time to get used to the differences in this game. While it was most frequently played in casinos and home games in the early ’80s, it can still be found in some casinos today. Overall, there are quite a few games of poker to choose from, in which if you’re a beginner then it’s good to go for a game of 5-card draw, Texas Hold’em, or Omaha Hi. However, if you’re a seasoned player, then you may want to delve further into the world of poker and start exploring some of the other variants that are around.
