Getting to Know Poker
It is often said that with the huge number of Poker variants around, there will be one that will definitely fit your style and personality. That is very true, but the question is, if you are new, where does one start?
It is a fact that there are numerous Poker games out there, and the Internet has given rise to more variants. However, in general, the games can be divided into three main groups. Draw Poker, Stud Poker and shared Poker games, or community games.
Draw Poker is the traditional way of playing, and the basic rules are that each player is dealt five hole cards, and in between the betting rounds, they may be replaced. Although Draw Poker has a lot of variants, it has been eclipsed in popularity by Stud and Shared Poker games.
However, Draw Poker still has its followers, and if you want to get a taste of what classic Poker is all about, then this game, or one of its variants, could be the one for you.
Stud Poker is very popular, both in casinos and online gambling sites. There are basically two types, 5 Card and 7 Card Stud. As in Draw players contribute to the pot, and the game begins with players being dealt two cards, one in the hole and the other exposed. Between each betting round players are handed more up cards. The final up card is usually in the hole.
Stud has more variants than Draw, and besides 5 Stud and 7 Stud, are hi lo games, wherein the objective is to try and get the highest and lowest combinations in one hand. This makes the game more complex and exciting.
By far, the most popular are shared games. In this type of game, a series of cards (usually five) are lain all the table, and the players must use these cards along with their own to try and make the highest possible combination. There are a lot of community card Poker games but the most popular is Texas Holdem.
Texas Holdem has two main variants, Limit Holdem and No Limit Holdem. The main difference is that the former, very popular in casinos, places a restriction on the amount one can bet. In No Limit there are no such restrictions, and anyone can go all in at any point.
Even if you have never played Poker, doubtless you would have seen No Limit on television, as it is the format of choice in events like the World Series of Poker.
Next to Texas Holdem the most popular community card Poker game is Omaha Holdem. It is in many ways similar to Texas Holdem, with the notable exception that four cards are initially dealt (compared with two in Texas Holdem).
For this reason, more strong hands are likely to be formed. Besides Omaha Holdem, its variants include Pot Limit Omaha, widely played in Europe, and Omaha Hi Lo.
As you play you will come across other variants like lo games, or "worst hand". This includes 2-7 Triple Draw and Razz. There is also H,O.R.S.E. (Holdem, Omaha, Razz, 7 Stud, and 7 Stud eight or higher). In Horse, the game changes to the succeeding variant based upon the agreed game situation.
The best way to learn which is for you is to simply play one game and see if it fits you. Although there are a lot of Poker variants, the fact is that learning one will make it easier to learn the other.
Which ever you choose, you are guaranteed to have a great time.