Poker has been known to exist since 1829. This card game was first recorded to be played in New Orleans with a deck consisting of 20 cards. Four bettors were involved in the game at the time. The game began to use a deck of 52 cards since 1850. Since the introduction of the game, poker has developed rapidly and becoming one of the most popular gambling games. Along with the development of casinos and other gambling houses, this game received many variants mostly created in mid 1900s in the United States. Some of the most popular variants of poker include:
1. Straight
Straight is the oldest variant of poker games. This variant allows a complete hand dealt to each of the players. During one round, the gamblers are permitted to change their bets (either raising or re-raising). This variant was later developed into more complex forms of card game such as Primero and three-card brag.
2. Draw Poker
While straight is a three-card hands game, draw poker uses five-card hands. In this type, after a complete hand is dealt and the players put their wagers, these players can change their hands by discarding unwanted card in hand and dealing with new hands. Developments in this variant create more kinds of draw games such as California lowball, Gardena jackpots, Kansas City lowball, Badugi, Baduci, California high/low split, Q-ball, and some more.
3. Stud Poker
Next to the straight variant, stud poker is the second oldest kind of poker game. The rule of this game is that a hand is dealt in a combination prearranged. The combination may be in the form of face-down and face-up, or streets round. The most common variant of this game is the seven-card stud, followed by the five-card stud. Other forms of this variant also include six-card stud, Mexican stud, Caribbean stud, Mississippi stud, Kentrel, Razz, etc.
4. Community Card Poker
Referred from its name, this game uses face up community cards which are shareable for players and dealt at the center of the gambling table. This game is basically the variation of stud poker. Different from the stud poker, players in community card poker are dealt with incomplete hands combined with community cards to create a complete hand. Currently, one of the most popular community card pokers is Texas hold ’em which was created around 1920s. Other examples of this variant include Omaha hold ’em, Manila, Pinatubo, and Pineapple hold ’em.
5. Other Variants
Apart from variants mentioned above, there are other kinds of card games using poker rules such as:
– Strip Poker
This variation uses the usual rules, except that the players must remove their clothing if they lose bets. Commonly this type uses simple card game variant such as the five-card draw.
– Five-O Poker
This game is played by two players who must play five hands of five cards continuously. When these five hands are down, a one-round betting is begun.
– Video Poker
Commonly available at casinos, video poker machines allow single player to bet, deal, and discard or replace cards. The outcome determines how much money the player will receive.