Card games have been keeping us entertained for generations. The modern deck of 52 cards that we know today has been around for about 500 years and over that time, games have come and gone. Over the past 100 years or so, it is safe to say that poker has been the most famous and popular card game of them all.
Now poker actually covers more than a dozen different games. In recent years, meaning since the World Series of Poker escalated the profile of the game and made millionaires of its top players, Texas Holdem has been the most popular version by some margin.
The game’s prominent role in the 2006 Bond classic Casino Royale cemented its position at the top. But the proliferation of safe online poker platforms where you can make a poker deposit and join the table of your choice means more choice than ever. So next time you play, why not expand your poker knowledge and experience with one of the following alternatives?
1. Five Card Draw
Another great version of the game that also got some movie fame, this was the poker variation that the protagonists played on the train in the 1973 movie The Sting. Each player is dealt five cards and a round of betting ensures. They can then discard as many as they wish and have them replaced. There is then another round of betting before those who have not folded reveal their hands.
If the rules sound familiar, that’s because video poker is essentially five card draw, but played against a pay table instead of other players.
2. Razz
If you want a poker game with a difference, Razz will be right up your street. The basic gameplay is the same as seven card stud, probably the second most commonly played poker game after Texas Holdem. However, the strategy is entirely upside down as to win, you need the worst poker hand. So you need to try you best to avoid or destroy runs, flushes and pairs.
Razz will get you thinking about poker in a whole new way. It’s great fun, and starting to become more commonly available online, although you might still have to do a little searching.
3. Let It Ride
While five card draw and razz are older games that are fun to rediscover, Let it Ride is an invention of the modern casino age. Invented in land based casinos, you won’t be surprised to learn it has made the transition to cyberspace.
The essence of the game is that the player places three equal wagers and is dealt three cards, while the dealer is dealt two. The value of the hand is dictated by the five cards in total. The player looks at his three cards and decides whether to withdraw one of the wagers or “let it ride”. One of the dealer cards is revealed, and again the player can withdraw one of the wagers. The final card is revealed and winnings start at evens for a pair of 10s or better up to 1000-1 for a royal flush.
