The online casino world has exploded into life in recent years but while many casino enthusiasts will be drawn to classic games of blackjack, roulette, and slots, poker is proving especially popular due not only to the range of types available but also the range of skill sets required.
While other games such as those mentioned above rely predominantly on chance and luck, poker is a game crafted by skill and with the increased levels of contemplation involved, there are greater levels of psychology applied to try and beat the other players at the table.
The addition of live poker to online casinos has introduced a new form of interaction where a player’s psychology is tested to a higher degree, evoking emotions and behavioural traits normally seen in a real-life game of poker. SpiderBets’ live poker tables offer the full variety but with so many different variants of a game that has existed for centuries, which type of poker is the one for you?
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Control the level of emotion!
The most known version of poker is Texas Hold’em. It is the variant used at major competitions and although all types of poker require skill, Texas Hold’em requires an added level of emotion and composure that needs to be maintained to psychologically defeat your opponents. This is known as the “poker face,” and “bluffing” is a strategy commonly deployed by more experienced and skilled players to play with their opponent’s thinking.
With slower rounds compared to a game such as short deck poker, more concentration is required to assess and analyse what other opponents might have, and to contain any excitement at drawing pocket Aces. With short deck poker, more hands are played at a quicker rate with higher chances of hitting better combinations such as flush, full house and straight due to the fact a 36-card deck is used with the 2s, 3s, 4s and 5s removed.
A lot of the psychology is also removed by the fact players are more inclined to play as opposed to fold, leading to less slow play at the table. Although both versions of poker follow the same game development pattern of flop, turn, river, just remember that flush beats a full house in short deck.
Decide what decisions to make!
There are common traits shared by all types of poker including Omaha, short deck poker, stud poker, five-card draw and 3 card poker. All involve cards and a systematic ranking of hands that can prevail over others. Then there is the strategic element. And finally, the fight for the community pot.
However, what distinguishes poker games such as Omaha and stud poker is the number of cards dealt, also known as hole cards and the use of community cards to form the best hand possible. The disciplines and levels of patience and concentration involved in each of these two types could determine which is for you, if either are.
7 card stud poker places greater emphasis on your awareness of the face up cards other players possess in the absence of community cards. With the hand leader in each “street” initiating the betting for each round, the dynamics can constantly shift. In a relatively quick paced game, quick calculations, and assessments as well as a good memory are required to keep up with the play, which in turn affects your own betting patterns.
On the flip side, Omaha uses the community card structure to form hands alongside two of four hold cards. For players who like the prospect of more combinations and options, Omaha is for you. Betting proceeds very much like Texas Hold’em but unlike Hold’em, the increased number of possible winning hands leads to less thinking time, which in turn makes decision making slightly easier, and a faster game. Patience is less of a virtue, but strategic nous and probability mathematics are beneficial.
Poker for your personality
From the brief exposure to a few of the more popular types of live poker available at online casinos, there are different skills and personality traits required for each. Some overlap in these aspects, but there are live games such as Texas Hold’em that are designed for the more patient player. On the flip side, more instinctive players and risk takers can get involved with faster pace action on short deck or 7 card stud tables. Overall, the different variants of poker provide a type for every individual. Once you identify who you are, you can explore which poker game suits your personality best.
