Popularity Of Different Types Of Poker Games

There’s no denying that poker has quickly become one of the most popular card games in the world today and with plenty of variations to choose from, it’s easy to see exactly why so many people are wagering their bets at the tables.

The variation allows for anyone to find a form that suits them best, which is just one reason why the game has become so popular over the years. So, what variations are there and is the variety the only reason for the game’s popularity? We’re exploring further below.

What Types Are There?

While there are countless variations to choose from, there are of course some that are more popular than others. From the recognisable Texas Hold’em that even those new to gambling will recognise from TV or movies [3], to the modern creation of the Chinese Poker variant, here are five of the most popular methods of play around today:

- Texas Hold’em

As mentioned before, Text Hold’em is probably the most recognisable form of poker that you’ll come across. If you need a place to star when it comes to learning to play poker, this game is most definitely it. It’s the go-to method of play for tournaments, not least because it’s quite possibly the simplest variation available, especially for those new to the game.

Within this variation, players are dealt two cards each face-down and will use these alongside five face-up ‘community’ cards that will be placed within the middle of the game. You may come across the terms flop, turn and river and this simply refer to the first three cards, the fourth and then the fifth. Players leave bets between each turn of a card, and the winner of each hand will have the best five-card hand after the final card is turned.

- Omaha

Omaha is a similar gameplay to Texas Hold’em, with the biggest difference betting that you have four cards rather than two. You also have to use exactly two of the cards in your hand and three on the table to be able to make a winning hand. The betting rounds are the same, but the hands that you’d find popular within Texas Hold’em aren’t quite as popular in Omaha. You’ll also find that most online tournaments of Omaha are played in a pot limit format [4], in which players can’t bet any more than the amount already in the pot.

- Seven-Card Stud

While not necessarily the most widely played version of poker, seven-card stud still has quite a following when it comes to players. There are no community cards within this type of gameplay, and instead, players are dealt two cards face down, and one face up. The person with the lowest face up card will begin the betting cycle. After one round of betting, another card is placed face up, and so on until each player has seven cards with the final being face down.

The winner will have the best five-card hand, but made from the cards they have.

- Chinese Poker

Chinese poker is the most recent form of the game on this list, but also one of the most entertaining. This variation was invented back in 2011, with players being dealt open faced cards from a single deck, trying to make the best hand possible. Players are dealt 13 cards, and the aim of the game is to make three poker hands with increasing rank. If they are unable to do this, or they are misplaces, then the hand is declared to be ‘dead’ and usually comes with a penalty of sorts.

- Razz

This variation is similar to seven-card stud with the major exception being that players need to make the worst hand as opposed to the best. Avoiding ‘winning’ hands is the aim here, though a ‘wheel’ hand (A-2-3-4-5) is thought to be the best hand you can have in the game. This tends to be popular amongst professionals and big gamblers in particular, and knowing how to quit the table before losing [5] can also work wonders for keeping your bankroll in this game.

So Why Is It So Popular?

With all of these variations to choose from and more, it’s no wonder that poker still sits as one of the most popular games within the gaming and gambling industries. However, there’s so much more to its popularity than that. From the simple fact that good players can pull in a lot of money if they play it right, to the fact that even novices have the chance to win big through sheer luck, the promise of possibility could be the biggest draw the game has.

The concept that ‘anybody’ can win quickly catches the attention of anyone looking for a bit of fun with the potential of a substantial prize at the end of it. People with a few dollars in their pocket could try their hand at novice tables with the potential to walk away with huge cash prizes simply by placing a bet or two and managing to be lucky enough to get a good hand. The rags-to-riches mentality is one that too many people have despite the fact that the probability of such an outcome is much rarer than you may think [6].

All in all, however, poker offers people the opportunity to sit down and play a card game that the media has gone on to glamorise over the years. With the adrenaline rush that comes with gameplay and the draw of the possibility of winning, it’s no wonder that poker and all of its variants are quickly becoming more and more popular both online and in land-based casinos.