Poker is believed to be based on old – even ancient – games but the poker that we know today was first introduced in the 1800s as the game that we know today as 5-card draw. Over the years it has evolved and diversified. Today there are multiple poker variations each with its own format for betting, hitting, standing and winning.

Some poker variations involve multiple decks of cards while others place limits on the number of cards that you can trade. Some poker variations consider specific combinations as winning hands but those may not be recognized by other variations. There are poker games for high-stakes VIP players and budget gamers.

Regardless of your preference, you can find a poker game that fits your skill level and inclination when you play at the SlotoCash online casino.

Poker

Playing poker involves a combination of skill, strategy and chance. The game has evolved tremendously over the years. Today's casino poker room features a diverse variety of poker options so regardless of your betting level, your playing style or your experience level, you'll be able to enjoy a vibrant gaming experience that encourages social interactions, presents dynamic challenges and offers multiple opportunities to achieve winning hands at every turn.

Poker is believed to have derived from "poque", a card game that was once played in France. It was similar to the game that we know today as 5-Card Draw – players were dealt 5 cards with which to build a hand with the highest poker ranking possible. After betting on their initial hand, players could exchange as many cards as they wanted as they worked to build the highest-value hand possible. After a 2nd bet on the new hands, the cards would be revealed and the player with the highest-ranked hand would win the entire pot.

Over the years, new poker variations emerged but all of the different types recognized the same basic rankings:

  • 1 pair
  • 2 pairs
  • 3-of-a-kind
  • straight (5 cards numbered consecutively)
  • flush (5 cards of the same suit)
  • full house (3-of-a-kind plus a pair)
  • 4-of-a-kind
  • straight-flush (5 cards of the same suit, numbered consecutively)
  • royal flush (a ten, Jack, Queen, King and Ace of the same suit)

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This remains the accepted gameplay and combinations in today's poker games, though different types of poker have different gameplay variations and rank the hands differently. One of the most popular poker variations today is Texas Hold’em where the initial hand that the player was dealt, composed of five face-up cards and two face-down (hole) cards, challenges the player to build the best 5-card hand while adhering to the traditional poker rankings.

Omaha poker is another popular take-off of 5-card draw where the player receives 4 hole cards and must build his hand while 2 of the 4 hole cards are combined with 3 of the 5 face-up cards.

When the online casino began to offer poker online in the 1990s, new variants were introduced because, thanks to video poker machines, it became possible to make more games available so that any gaming preference or any playing style could be met. Today, these video poker options are easily accessible to all poker enthusiasts with betting options for both budget players and high-stakes VIP gamers.

Some of the top poker alternatives include:

All American Poker

All American Poker is a poker variation that is derived from 5-Card Draw poker but in All American Poker the betting structure is different as there aren’t any rounds of betting after the initial bet. In addition, the payout structure differs  since hand rankings are different than those of 5 Card Draw Poker.

In All American Poker, flushes, full houses, Jacks or Better and three-of-a-kind offer standard payouts while Royal Flushes, Straights and Straight Flushes pay out at a higher rate.  Two Pairs and Full Houses pay out at a lower-than-standard rate in All American Poker.

Bonus Poker

Bonus Poker is one of the most unique poker games in the Poker Room because, unlike traditional games of poker where both the gamer and the dealer are dealt their own hands, in Bonus Poker, the dealer and the player each receive 2 cards, with the rest being made up by 5 "board cards" that are available to both. If the dealer's hand ties with the player's hand, the dealer wins. If the dealer's hand beats the player's hand, the player loses all bets (except the bonus bet).

This variation has only one betting round so you can either bet on your initial hand or cash out after the draw. The Bonus Poker paytable is similar to a 5-Card Draw paytable but there are additional rankings for 4 Aces, 4 cards 2-4, and 4 cards 5-King that are ranked just prior to a Straight Flush.

Double Bonus Poker

Like Bonus Poker, to win at Double Bonus Poker, you must make the best possible five-card poker hand from your own two cards and the five board cards that are accessible to both you and the dealer. The difference involves specific payouts which pay out 2x.

Aces and Eights

Many players prefer Aces and Eights Poker because the RTP is particularly high – 99%.

In Aces and Eights you collect bonuses or payouts for two specific hands – pairs of eights and pairs of aces. The other difference between 5 Card Draw Poker and Aces and Eights involves the initial deal where you receive 7 cards from which you build your poker hand with 5 of those cards. Some cards are face-down and others are face-up. Your final hand must include both face-up and face-down cards.

Explore poker entertainment with SlotoCash poker variations.

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