Poker and Its Different Variants
Poker may be the most popular card game in the world but few know all of its different variants.
There are literally hundreds of poker variants out there but fortunately, one can categorize them into a few categories as most of them have very similar characteristics in their game play that there is no denying that the two poker variants are very much related.
Classification of poker variants involves taking into account the card game's mechanics, the rules which are unique to them, and the betting structure that is applied within the game. When one uses the aspect of game mechanics, the classification comes further down to three more categories: the high games, the low games, and the high-low split games.
High games, which include poker variants such as Texas Hold 'Em and seven card stud, are so called because whoever has the highest hand in the end of the showdown wins. The same is the case with low games, whose roster of variants include Razz and Draw Lowball, as they give the pot to whomever has the lowest hand after the showdown. Less common are High-Low split games whose winners are whoever has the highest or the lowest hand as both wins the round and splits the pot.
Another classification of poker variants are by taking into consideration the unique rules that they employ. Variants with special rules include Baseball and Follow the Queens. Such variants include special rules so as to spice up the proceedings of the game liven up the players accustomed to playing the traditional variants.
Newbie players should be wary of joining such games though as they might be daunted by weird rules and such games are commonly frequented by hustlers who prey upon unwitting beginners. It is best for amateurs to stay away for the meantime from such variant aberrations.
The last aspect that classifies the different poker variants is the betting structure that the card games employ. Commonly, games are limit games which have fixed bets, both at the minimum and the maximum. Some games, on the other hand, are either no-limit games or pot limit games.
No-limit games are just like that; there is no ceiling as to what amount a player can bet or raise so long as the player can afford it. One is ultimately kicked out when one opts out of the game or one has nothing to wager anymore.
Pot limit games are games where the bets and the raises are restricted by what is in the pot.
These different poker variants signify that poker aficionados should not make themselves be tied with only a couple of poker variants as there are many more variants to try and explore and doing so enriches one's appreciation and understanding of the popular card game.