Stud Poker

Written by Nigel

Stud poker is another poker variant that is quite popular with many poker lovers.  Under stud poker are a lot of other sub-variants.  For this post, let’s look at the main theme governing this group of poker games.  The binding theme for stud poker games is that each player at the table has a certain number of cards face up and a certain number of cards face down.

The cards which are face down, also called cards in the hole, are seen only by each player.  The face up cards, on the other hand, are the cards seen by all the players at the table.  The number of face up/.down cards is dependent in the specific type of stud poker you are playing.

The dealer can state stipulations at the table.  He can call certain cards to be wild cards, though this is not commonly done outright for face up cards.  Usually, wild cards involve face down cards so as to ensure that no one knows who has a wild card until the end.

Some stud poker games feature High/Low set ups.  This means that the pot is divided by the player with the highest hand and the player with the lowest hand.  Though this means that you have less winnings, more players stay at the table with this kind of set up.

Another stud poker variation is called Lowball.  In this case, the player with the perfect low will win the pot.  The perfect low has to be established by the dealer before the deal or is dependent on the existing House Rules.

Texas Hold ‘em Poker (Part 1)

Written by Nigel

In this series of poker variations, I decided to begin with what many would consider the most popular form of poker today – Texas Hold ‘em Poker.  First things first, does this poker variant really originate from Texas?  It is perhaps a silly and irrelevant question but I just had to ask it.  The answer is yes – at least to a large number of people.  Yet the truth is, there is no evidence of it real origin.  In any case, that is not important now, as Texas Hold ‘em is played all over the world.

What is your goal when playing Texas Hold ‘em Poker?  Much like other poker variants, your ultimate aim is to win the pot.  That is, the pile of money in the middle of the table, which is comprised of the bets of all the players.  How does one win the pot?  By forming the best hand out of the community cards and the cards in one’s hand.  There are 5 community cards, which we will discuss more later.

Normally, Texas Hold ‘em is played with big and small blinds.  A dealer button is also used to indicate the dealer.  This is passed around the table in a clockwise fashion after each hand is played.  The position of the blinds rotate along with the dealer.

This poker variant has its own three sub-variants – limit, no limit, and pot-limit.  The most popular of the three is limit hold ‘em, which we can usually play in casinos.  TV shows and the WSOP feature no limit hold ‘em.

(more next time)

Poker Basics

Written by Nigel

Let’s start with some of the basics that everyone interested in poker must know.  Contrary to some beliefs, poker is not one single game.  It has, in fact, countless variations.  As such, rules and game play vary a lot.  However, there are certain things that are similar to the different variations of poker.

For one, poker is generally played with a standard deck of cards.  That means 52 cards in a deck.  Casinos do not make use of the Joker although some variants of poker do make use of this card but usually this happens at home games.

In general, the game play involves rounds of betting into a common fund, known as the pot.  That is, people at the table take turns making their moves and betting.  How many times people bet, how cards are drawn, and the like all depend on the type of poker that is being played.

Today, perhaps the most popular variant of poker is Texas Hold ‘Em Poker.  This is the game you see being played by celebrities on TV.  However, there are other interesting poker variants such as Draw Poker, Stud Poker, 13 Card Poker, Pai Gow Poker, Omaha Poker, and more.  As we go along this blog, we can take a look at some of the most popular poker variations.

For now, let us stick to learning more of the basics of this fascinating card game that has captured the interest of countless people.  I leave you with this quote from W.C. Fields: “Is that the game where one receives five cards?  And if there’s two alike that’s pretty good, but if there’s three alike, that’s much better?”

[tags]poker, rules, poker variations[/tags]

Introductions

Written by Nigel

As you can probably surmise from my blog’s title, I am nuts for poker.  For the uninitiated, poker is a game of many variants.  In this blog, I would like to be able to share my passion for this game.  Whether it be Texas Hold ‘em poker or 13 card poker or pai gow poker, I will not let it pass by.  Rules, tips, strategies, stories, ramblings, and everything poker – that is what you should expect from this blog.

I would like to say on the outset that I believe that poker is a mixture of skill and luck.  I know that poker is one very hot topic all over the world these days, but most especially in the US where all sorts of legislation have been created – and are being created – to stifle this game and its proponents.  Yet I also believe that there is nothing wrong with poker per se.  It is up to us, those who have a passion for the game, to stand up for it and let others know what poker is really all about.

I guess that is what I am here for.  I am just an ordinary person with an ordinary blog – a blog out of thousands and thousands out there.  Yet I do believe in the power of information and self expression.  So why don’t you join me as I discover and uncover the intricacies and nuances of poker?  I do not promise to know everything and to be right about everything.  I do promise though, that this journey will be as good as it gets.

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