What are the Most Popular Types of Poker?

Poker holds its place as one of the most beloved table card games around the world, and South Africa is no exception. Over the years, the game has evolved significantly, giving rise to a multitude of exciting variations.

Today, players in South Africa can discover many poker variants, each with its own set of rules and gameplay. This offers a fantastic experience for every kind of player, from casual punters to seasoned pros. Our main goal here is to help you understand what these different poker types offer and guide you in picking the perfect one for your South African poker journey.

Texas Hold'em: The King of Poker

Let's start with Texas Hold'em, the most popular poker variation worldwide and a big hit in South Africa too. Each player gets two private cards, followed by five community cards dealt across three rounds of betting.

• Your aim is to form the best possible five-card hand by combining your private cards with the community cards.
• The card rankings in Texas Hold'em are standard poker fare, from a High Card right up to a Royal Flush.
• Texas Hold'em in South Africa is available in various formats, including No-Limit, Pot-Limit, and Fixed-Limit.

Omaha Hi: More Cards, More Fun

Omaha Hi is another seriously entertaining online poker variant that offers fantastic winning opportunities for Capetonians and Joburgers alike. The gameplay is similar to Texas Hold'em, but with a key difference: you're dealt four hole cards instead of two. However, just like in Hold'em, you must create your best five-card hand using exactly two of your hole cards and three from the five community cards.

Why should you consider Omaha Hi at a South African online casino? Receiving more hole cards at the start of each hand makes creating a five-card combination a bit easier. On the flip side, finding Omaha Hi tables might not be as simple as finding Texas Hold'em. Nevertheless, it's an excellent choice for beginners looking for a bit more action.

Omaha Hi-Lo: A Pot Splitting Challenge

This online poker variant is largely similar to Omaha Hi, with one major twist: the pot is split equally between the highest-ranked and the lowest-ranked five-card poker hands. However, don't just aim for the lowest hand blindly; specific conditions apply before you can claim that portion of the pot. For instance, all five cards in the 'low' hand must be ranked eight or lower, hence the common name 'Omaha 8 or Better'.

Because players need to strategise beyond just making a standard five-card poker hand, Omaha Hi-Lo can be a bit complex for absolute beginners. But once you get the hang of it, Omaha Hi-Lo is one of the most rewarding poker variations to play in South Africa. Remember, the highest qualifying 'low' hand is 4-5-6-7-8. The absolute lowest possible is A-2-3-4-5.

Seven Card Stud

Seven Card Stud is one of the oldest types of poker games in casinos. Players are dealt with seven cards, three of which are faced down and four faced up.

To win the pot, the player must make the best possible five-card combination using all seven cards. Seven Card Stud is typically played in a Fixed-Limit format.

Jacks or Better

Evidence has it that Jacks of Better started the video poker industry. But despite other new variations in the industry, Jacks or Better has managed to stay in the hearts of many poker players. That’s because its top player return rate of 99.5% is one of the highest. However, you’ll only enjoy this payout while using an optimal strategy and playing at specific tables.

To play, you’ll be dealt five cards, after which you decide ones to keep or discard before drawing new cards. Just think of it as a five-card draw, as discussed in other variants above. But as mentioned, winning a Jacks or Better hand heavily relies on your strategy and a bit of luck. For example, you can draw three cards if your hand has a pair and four if you have a single high card.

Deuces Wild

Think you’ve seen it all with Jacks or Better? Deuces Wild offers players even a lower RTP at 99.75%. This poker variation uses a 52-card deck with deuces (2s) playing as wilds. In slot machines, wilds substitute all other standard symbols on the reels, which happens in this poker variation. If this happens, creating a winning hand is easier than in other poker variations.

Playing Deuces Wild is also very easy. Begin by placing a bet, and then you’ll be dealt five cards. You can hold or dispose of all the five cards and get new ones as you seek to create a winning hand. But always remember to play this poker game on full paytables to enjoy better payouts. All in all, it’s one of the most exciting and highly interactive poker variants around.

Razz

Razz is another very popular variation of poker, which is quite similar to the Seven Card Stud. Here, the goal is to make the lowest possible five-card hand. Aces are always low in Razz, and straights and flushes do not count against a player's hand.

Draw Poker

Draw poker is one of the most entertaining variations of online poker, in which each bettor is drawn five cards. The player can discard any of his five cards and get a new one from the dealer.

This variation is usually played by more experienced players as it’s hard to master, considering the fact, most of the cards are not visible to bettors.

Other Popular Types of Poker Games

There are many other types of poker games at casinos which are not that popular. Some of these include:

• Pineapple: A variation of Texas Hold'em where players receive three private cards instead of two and must discard one after the flop.
• Chinese Poker: Chinese poker is a variation in which each player is dealt thirteen cards. Those cards have to be arranged into three different hands.
• Badug Poker: Badugi is a poker variation in which players have to make the lowest possible four-card hand. It should not include pairs of cards from the same suit.

How to Pick the Best Variation of Poker

It may be hard for some beginner poker players to select which poker variation to play, considering the wide variety. A great way for players to pick the best variation of poker is to take into account their preferences.

If action and bluffing are the things that sound exciting, Texas Hold'em or Omaha might be the best choices for the player. On the other hand, if the player prefers a more strategic game that requires careful observation of opponents, Seven Card Stud or Razz might be better.

Another essential thing to consider when picking the best poker table, is for the player to set his limits, as every table is different. Setting win and loss limits, also setting a budget for each poker session, can be of big importance.

Overall, it’s best for each player to try out a few variations and continue with the one that fits him the most.

In Summary

Nowadays, players can find a lot of different poker variations online, but each has its own rules and gameplay, so each player should pick what suits him the most. No matter if the player prefers the fast-paced action of Texas Hold'em or the more strategic approach of Seven Card Stud, there is a poker game out there for everyone.