Online Casino Poker Variations

2007 April 05, Erana Hansen

Poker, in its many wonderful variations, is the most popular card game in the world today. Its popularity lies in its simple rules which, once learned, offer the player tremendous opportunities to improve their skills and become very successful at the game.

However many poker players also enjoy the variations of poker offered at the casino gaming tables. These poker variations include Caribbean Stud Poker, Tequila Poker, Three Card Poker, Pai Gow Poker and of course Video Poker. All of these games are played as player versus dealer games, and offer keen poker players a range of exciting bets and game play to enjoy.

So what are the differences between traditional table poker and casino poker variations?

One of the main differences is that traditional poker is always played player versus player. You do not play against the house, meaning that players can use their skill to 'bluff' other players off the best hand. However when you sit down at a casino poker game, you are always playing against the dealer. Even though you may be playing with other players, everyone is playing against the dealer, and they cannot 'bluff' you. This means the games are easy to learn and play for a novice, as the rules of what cards win are very clear. The best hand always wins!

Ever heard a 'bad beat' story? If you're a regular poker player then there's no doubt that you've heard plenty, and perhaps given out a bad beat or two in your time! A 'bad beat' is when a strong hand gets beaten by a weaker hand, when a miracle card comes to improve the weaker hand so that it wins the pot. The heartache of having a Four-of-a-Kind lose to a Straight Flush cannot be described in words! The good news is that when you get Four-of-a-Kind in a casino poker game variation such as Video Poker, you don't have to worry about any opponents laying a bad beat on you! Your huge hand is always rewarded with a large payout.

Playing poker can be a very emotional game with many variables affecting play. You can find yourself betting too much when you 'tilt' (get upset) and lose more than you planned on. However when playing a casino poker game, such as Tequila Poker, you don't have to raise your bet amount during play. You can just bet the same amount each time and you will find it much easier to stay within your budget. If you haven't tried it yet, Tequila Poker is a tremendously fun game that is a great way for poker players to relax and get off 'tilt'.

Just remember that with casino poker games that you are always playing against the house, not against the other players. There are still strategies for each game that you can employ to use your skill to give yourself the best chance of winning the hand, but you don't have to worry about being bluffed or suffering a bad beat. Casino poker games are a great way for traditional poker players to unwind for a few hours. Just relax and enjoy the change of scene and you might even win a few extra bucks!