If you want to play poker online, then you are lucky because there is no shortage of games. While Texas Hold’em is easily the most popular, there are several more variations to choose from. Here are just a few of the many poker games you will encounter when shopping from online casinos:
Omaha Hi
In the game of Omaha Hi, every player is dealt four-hole cards, which are placed face down, followed by five community cards, which are dealt face up. The main objective is to get the best five-card hand possible from two-hole cards and three community cards.
Similar to Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hi involves four rounds of betting. Bets occur:
- After the first hold cards are dealt out.
- After the first three community cards are made known.
- After the turn community card is dealt face up.
- After the river card is dealt face up.
Omaha Hi/Lo
Omaha Hi/Lo poker is somewhat similar to Omaha Hi, but there are subtle yet significant differences. In this game, the pot is between the Hi hand and Low hand. This means that two winners can be yielded for each hand played. A single hand can be both a Hi and Low winning hand.
For example, if your hand consisted of an A, 2,3,4,5, you might have a winning straight Hi hand and a low hand. If there is no outright Lo hand winner, the entire pot goes to whoever won the Hi hand. Another interesting point of the game is that different cards can be used for Lo and Hi card considerations. You can also use the same hand for both.
Seven Card Stud
Seven Card Stud is quite different from the Omaha games above. In this poker game, every player gets a total of seven cards during the game: three down cards and four up cards, which all other players can see.
In the first round, all participants receive two down cards and a single up card. Players are permitted one bet and three raises in each betting round. In the next round, players are dealt another face-up card, and a similar betting cycle occurs. The down card is dealt with in the final round. After the last betting round, any player that has the best five-card hand of the seven dealt with wins amongst the remaining players.
Texas Hold’em
There is no way that we could have left out good ole Texas Hold’em. There are many different forms of the game, but the main rules are that every player is initially dealt two down cards, better known as pocket cards.
Betting occurs, and then 3 community cards are dealt face up, which all players can use. Another betting round takes place before a 4th community card, the turn card, is dealt face up. Following another round of bets, the fifth and final community card, better known as the river card, is dealt face up.
If any player remains, another betting round ensues. Players can be eliminated in any of the above rounds if they go “all in” or if one player is left in any given round after betting or folding. The player that has the best five-card poker hand wins the game and the pot.
What You Should Know About Online Gaming
While many casino games are identical, there is no denying that online casinos are different from their physical counterparts. Depending on how you look at it, these differences could be for the better or worse.
Having an understanding of these differences is very important for someone preparing to make their first wager online. This article will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of online gambling as they relate to the experience in a land casino.
The Good Side
For some, the beauty of online casinos is the mere thrill that comes along with playing. However, several more are attracted to all the incentives and promotional offers. Because the competition has become so heavy over the last few years, casinos are doing whatever they can to attract new business. This is evident by the wealth of bonuses offered to new customers.
Some casinos will give up to 100% of your initial deposit as a bonus, free money that gives you added depth to your bankroll.
The other advantage of online casino play is convenience. You don’t have to worry about traveling out of your way or dealing with noise, smoking, and other irritations associated with real-life casinos. You can play right from your computer, at your own pace, and even save a little money because there is no waitress to tip and no gas charges.
The Bad Side
Even when dealing with a reliable live casino online, many drawbacks can take away the experience. For example, cashing out your winnings can be a slow and difficult process. Aside from the waiting periods on the casino’s end, there may also be delays with your credit card company.
You can expect to wait anywhere from two to four weeks in-between cashing out your account and waiting for it to be applied to your credit card. Wire transfer and debit cards usually go faster at around 3 to 5 business days.
Another disadvantage with online casinos is often the lack of customer support. Some companies provide excellent service with a toll-free phone number or email, but others aren’t so responsible. You will have a rough time with a company that takes days to answer emails and has no phone number to call.
When deciding to play online, you are also binding yourself to the rules of the casino. This means that fighting disputes is usually a lost cause, especially once you’ve agreed to terms of usage.
Stay on Top of the Rules
While you must be cautious of the casino, the players pose one of the biggest threats to the online gambling industry. This issue has boiled over so much that a few casinos have started to blacklist players looking to defraud the business.
Players are getting themselves blacklisted for seemingly trivial matters like disputing or threatening to dispute charges, as well as more serious offences such as using stolen credit cards and manipulating the gaming software. Unfortunately, some bad apples are making it a bit harder for everyone.
While there are pros and cons, you must know the rules to ensure a smooth gaming experience. In taking the time to work with a reputable casino, you are sure to enjoy the many benefits and profits that are available at online casinos.
