Which poker game should I play?

If you decide to play poker in the U.K, you may not know where to begin. Once you start searching, you will soon discover that there are over a hundred poker games to play. To begin with it is worth knowing that poker games can be split into three main categories: Draw Games, Community Games and Stud Games.

 

Examples of Draw games:

• Deuce to 7 Triple Draw: This game involves 2 to 6 players. Firstly, 5 cards are dealt to each player followed by a round of betting. There are a total of 4 rounds of betting and 3 draws in the game. During the draw, each player can exchange up to 5 cards. The ace is regarded as the highest card and 2 is the lowest card. The winner is the player with the lowest hand.

 

• Five card Draw: This game involves 3 to 7 players. To begin with, 5 cards, faced down, are dealt to each of the players. The next step is for each player to place a bet into the pot. Once this is complete, each player can exchange up to 3 cards. This is followed by a round of betting and finally showdown. The winner is the player with the best hand.

 

Examples of Community Games:

• Texas Hold’em: This game involves 3 to 10 players. To start with 2 cards, facing down, are dealt to each player and 5 community cards are placed on the table. Each player places their bet into the pot and 3 of the community cards are shown. Again, a round of betting takes place, followed by another community card shown. Once again, a round of betting commences and the remaining community card is shown. After one more round of betting the winner is declared. The winner is the player with the best hand, using a mix of their own 2 cards with the 4 community cards.

 

• Omaha Hold’em: This game involves 3 to 10 players. 4 cards are dealt to each player, facing down. 5 community cards are placed facing up, on the table. The game is the same as Texas Hold’em except, the winning hand must have 2 of the player’s cards and 3 of the community cards. Again the highest hand wins.

 

Example of a Stud Game:

• 5 card stud: This game involves 2 to 8 players. Each player is dealt 1 card facing up and 1 card facing down. The player who has the lowest card, determined by the suit, bets first. (Lowest to highest – clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades.) The next player chooses to bet, call or fold. This process is repeated for a 3 further cards. The winner is the player with the best 5 card hand.