Poker is one the most loved card games that attract players across the world through various online gaming sites these days. The game that started aboard the steamboats in the south of the US around 1830 has been the cynosure to the eyes of gamblers around the globe since then. Being considered as one of the main revenue grossers among casino games, the online game of poker continues to grow unabated in leaps and bounds across the globe.
In the current scenario, we witness a large number of new online gambling sites coming up to cash on to the unprecedented rise in the numbers of players playing poker online. The professional, as well as recreational players, have readily adopted this new avatar because of the sheer comfort of playing from any location they may be at. With each passing day, there is a new addition to the number of players who play it out of passion. And for many of them, it has become a source to support their livelihood.
All these sites understand the requirements of online casino gaming in India and look to provide accurate and fast results in multiplayer tables and various online tournaments through state of art software. These gaming sites allure the players with great joining bonuses and other regular offers to place wagers on many new variants of poker.
Here are some of the major versions to play poker online
Texas Hold’em
Texas Hold ’em is currently the most popular variant of poker. It offers various table selections and stakes to choose from based on the betting limits.
It is played in four betting rounds, and the players must make the best hand using five cards from their hole cards and community cards. To start with, the two players to the left of the button place bets called “blinds”. Once two hole cards have been distributed to each player, the action starts with the player to the left of the big blind where he may call raise or fold. Then it is the turn of the next player in line clockwise. After this first betting round, 3 cards are dealt onto the table as ‘flop’. These “community cards” can be used simultaneously by all the players to use them to have the best poker hand. In the next round, 1 more community card is dealt as the “turn”, followed by another betting round and then the final “river” community card. After one more round the surviving players must show their cards. The player who has the best 5-card poker hand (comprising of any combination of their 2 hole cards and 5 community cards) wins.
Pot-Limit Omaha
Coming 2nd in popularity charts of poker games is Omaha Hi. In this game, the “hi” refers to the highest hand being awarded the total pot at showdown. Omaha Hi is usually played as a pot-limit game, which is more commonly referred to as Pot-Limit Omaha (or PLO).
While Texas Hold’em is game-packed with action, Pot Limit Omaha takes that to another level. The game of Omaha starts with four hole cards as against two in Texas Hold’em. Ultimately you can only use two cards to create your final hand. When it comes to variables and hand combinations, this game entails 4 hole cards instead of two.
Stud Poker Variations
Stud poker is quite different from other versions of poker as it does not have any community or hole cards. It is majorly played in poker tournaments. The deal of the cards is done in such a way that the cards are placed in a face-down and face-up manner. The wagers are placed at the end of each round. Stud poker has two further variants – seven-card stud and five-card stud.
7-Card Stud
Stud poker used to be the most common form of poker before Texas Hold’em In this game each player is given his hand. Some of these cards in one’s hand will be face-down and hidden from players, while other cards will be face-up for the rest of the opponents to see.
Five-card stud is played very less these days. It has been the primitive version of the stud poker game where 5 Card are dealt with each player total of five cards instead of seven. 5 Cards are given in a manner where you have one face-down card and four face-up cards.
Caribbean Stud Poker
In this version of Poker, you don’t compete with the other players. Rather you are up against the dealer. This gives a new dimension to this version much to the excitement of the players. The rules are like those of a 5-card stud but here the dealer has to show one of his cards throughout the game. What makes Caribbean Stud Poker stand out is a progressive jackpot in play.
Horse Poker-
This version is mainly played in live games with high stakes. It’s virtually a mixture of five variants of poker – Hold ’em, Omaha hi/lo, Razz, stud, and Eight-or-better. The game can be a little complex as you have to thoroughly understand the rules for five different poker variations.
Chinese Poker is comparatively a newer version in which the players draw cards from the deck to make the best hand. The game is slightly different from traditional poker as it is played on a point basis. In the end, the player with the highest point is declared a winner. It is rather an easy game to play. Some of the versions of Chinese poker are- Pineapple, Turbo, and Backhand, Front hand, middle hand, and Pineapple.
Video Poker
Being one of the simplest forms of online poker games, it is available either in the standard version or as other variations that offer features such as jokers wild and deuces.
Pai Gow Poker
In this version, you play to beat the banker, which is represented by the casino or against one player at the table. The joker is also added to this variant for extra fun. Here you are dealt with 7 cards, which are to be split into a 5-card hand and a 2-card hand. Your 5-card hand would need to rank higher than the 2-card hand. To win this game both the hands of the player must win against the banker. In case one hand wins but the second one loses, it’s a push, and the stake is returned.
Badugi and Razz are lesser-played variants of Poker.
Online Poker Tournaments
Presented in various formats, poker tournaments are popular for a horde of reasons. With the greater return on your investment in these tournaments, you could turn a smaller INR investment into huge sums. The best part is the lower probability of your losing out bigger amounts if the game is not going your way. Probably this motivates several players to opt for these tournaments. Some of the variants are Multi-table, sit & go, shootouts, double or nothing, etc. The variety keeps on growing as poker’s popularity keeps on soaring.
You can enjoy the best of online poker games by registering at FairPlay club which is the most trusted betting exchange for ever-increasing Indian players who love to play Poker online. This is one of the best online casino sites that allow Indian gambling enthusiasts to have their money’s worth with an array of benefits to having the best online casino experience.