The Many Faces of Poker
June 27, 2008 – 2:19 amPoker is a game of cards that has been around for what seems like forever. Movies and books have covered poker in every era. Poker has been evolved into many different variations over time.
The different basic variations of poker are stud, draw, and community poker. With stud and draw, each player holds all the cards. In community poker, the dealer or table holds the last usable cards.
In stud poker, depending upon which type is being played, the dealer passes out the cards either face down or face up. Stud used to be played with either three or five cards but it is only five cards now. This division of poker dates back to the 1700’s when 3-card stud was popular.
Five-card stud, the most common variant, is where the players are dealt two cards face down and the first bet is made. A bet is made after each up card is dealt thereafter. The last bet, or fifth street, is made once all the fifth cards have been dealt.
Recently, seven-card stud has become the most popular version of stud. Casinos and online poker games normally only offer seven-card stud. This is a combination of stud and community poker.
Community poker is called so because the first two cards are dealt to each player in turn and then the rest of the cards are shared by the players. On the table, or the window, the final three or five cards are dealt. The players try to use these cards to create winning hands.
The most essential part of the game is bluffing in this type of poker. All the players have a good idea of what kind of winning hand can be made when they can see the remaining five cards. The most popular version of this variation is Texas Hold’em.
Televised games of Texas Hold’em have been made popular by Las Vegas casinos. This version of poker is seven-card stud that continues until all players have been eliminated. This player wins the entire pot of money once they are the last player standing.
Other adaptations of poker leave the option for the player to withdraw completely from the game to keep some of their winnings. Texas Hold’em does not allow leaving the game until either you have won the entire pot or you have lost your final hand. This aspect of the game is what makes it the most exciting.
The last type of poker is draw poker. In draw poker, the players are dealt five face down cards; the player then can exchange a number of their cards for new ones in hopes of creating a winning hand. Draw is the hardest type of poker, as it does not rely mostly upon talent; a player draws their new cards where the chance of winning is up to luck.
Poker has become one of the most popular gambling games in the nation. The fun of the game is trying to fool your fellow players into thinking you have a better hand than you do, or to get dealt that wonderful hand that will beat all others. No matter what your hand, the best part of poker is the bluffing.
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