Casino Hold'em Poker

Nowadays the most common and popular poker game is Texas hold'em. It is no exaggeration to say that the world has gone crazy for this game. It has won the hearts of millions of people, and many of them have decided to make career in poker. Major hold'em competitions have multi-million dollar prize pools and a huge army of fans who dream of becoming participants of such events one day while watching them.

Gambling operators can only profit from this popularity of hold'em. However bear in mind that gamblers play against each other in this kind of poker. The establishment acts as an intermediary that may earn on commissions charged from the pot. In addition, not all customers like to play against other users.

Therefore, it was necessary to somehow adapt the rules of Texas Hold'em Poker to convert it into a typical game of chance in which the house serves as an opponent of the users. Casino Hold'em Poker originated in this way.

History

This novelty (if it can be considered a novelty) was invented by Stephen Au-Yeung. This happened in the late nineties of the twentieth century. It is interesting to note that the author treated it as a way to train novice gamblers to play Texas Hold'em but then noticed its great potential.

The traditional version was developed in 2000. We are going to discuss this variant below. A few years later it was in demand at casinos all over the world. Casino Hold'em Poker (sometimes it is referred to as Caribbean Hold'em Poker) was licensed in 2007 for use in British establishments.

In recent years various games intended for online gambling have appeared in the portfolio of most major software manufacturers. So, it can be met virtually on any popular gaming website.

Traditional Rules

The initial version of Casino Hold'em Poker had the following rules:

• A 52-card deck without jokers is used.
• It is possible to make two kinds of bets: a basic bet called ante and a side bet called AA (optional).
• Both the player and croupier receive two cards. The player can see only his hand.
• Three face-up community cards are placed in the middle of the table.
• The user can either fold or call (this bet is equal to two antes).
• Then the croupier deals the fourth and fifth community cards.
• Five-card hands are formed from seven cards (two pocket and five community cards).
• Then the croupier checks for at least the lowest-ranking hand (a pair of fours and better). If it is absent, the ante is paid (1:1), and the call bet is returned.
• If the dealer has a paid hand, his cards are compared with the client's hand. If the dealer wins, both bets lose. If the player wins, his ante is paid according to the multiplier for the collected hand (they are listed in a special table). The call bet is paid 1:1.

Then the current round is over.

A side AA bet is paid without taking into consideration the main hand. Payouts are provided for a customer if the five-card hand (two pocket and three community cards) contains a pair of aces or better. Winnings are calculated according to individual multipliers.

To be sure, the developers of online games rarely confine themselves to the standard rules for Casino Texas Hold'em, adding to them some innovations. The most interesting models of major companies are discussed below.

Odds and Strategy

It should be admitted that it is quite difficult to develop a unified strategy for Casino Hold'em Poker (like, for example, in blackjack or video poker). Seven cards take part in a round, so that it is not easy to make a convenient and understandable table.

Various computer applications that can cope with this task may be helpful. There are such programs for mobile phones that have the intuitively understandable interface, various modes, and numerous options.

This article may provide you with information that players acting according to the optimal strategy participate till the end of the round in approximately 82% of cases. The house edge can be reduced to 2%-2.5%.

There is no sense in making an AA bonus bet, since it has a very high casino advantage.

Models from Different Brands

Let's take a look at the offers of well-known manufacturers of online casino software. Let's start from the models that have basic rules. Then we will gradually move to the games with special features.

Casino Hold'em (Playtech)

The rules of this game are very similar to the classic ones. The player makes an ante and receives two cards. Three community cards are placed on the table. Then you need to either fold or call, making a bet that is equal to two antes. The winner is determined according to the standard principles.

We are not going to pay attention to bonus bets. Combinations in the first five cards are paid for them. Odds can be found in the paytable.

Casino Hold'em (NetEnt)

The traditional rules prevail in this model. It is necessary to make an ante. A side AA bet is optional. Then you will notice two pocket and three community cards. If you want to keep playing, you should call (two antes).

Then the dealer reveals the cards, checks for a hand, and so on. Payouts are calculated depending on your hand. The bonus bet wins if you have a pair of aces or better in the first five cards.

Casino Hold'em (GamesOS/CTXM)

This game is designed in accordance with the standards mentioned above. Firstly, the ante made. Then two pocket and three community cards are dealt. If the player makes another bet that is equal to two antes, the dealer places the remaining two cards and acts according to the standard scheme.

Bonus bets are also paid for the presence of certain poker hands (from two aces to a royal flush) in the first five cards. 

Casino Hold'em (SoftSwiss)

This is a traditional game with the standard rules. Make an ante, see five cards. Then make a decision whether to call or fold. If you call, the croupier deals two more community cards and if at least the lowest-ranking hand is collected, hands are compared.

This model does not have bonus payouts, side bets, and jackpots. Its advantages include a realistic graphics and interface understandable in any language.

Casino Hold'em (GameScale)

The standard rules for classic Casino Hold'em Poker, stylish design, user-friendly interface, and realistic animation are features of this development of the well-known company.

There are no unique features in this model, so we recommend that those who are interested in the traditional variations of this game should try to play it.

Poker 3 - Heads Up (Betsoft)

This model should be tested by every fan of Texas hold'em who wants to play against the house. It is a 3D poker. A realistically drawn opponent will sit in front of you. You will play against him one on one. He represents a casino.

Moreover, the rules are as close to the traditional Texas hold'em as possible. The gameplay consists of several stages with the opportunity to raise or check. Bonus bets are not available. We recommend that you should test Heads Up from Betsoft.

TXS Hold'em Professional Series (NetEnt)

The rules for this development of the famous brand slightly differ from the traditional Casino Hold'em, but they successfully simulate the original Hold'em Poker, because it offers a system that allows increases bets at different stages.

The customer makes an ante and receives two cards. If he or she calls and makes a bet, the croupier deals three community cards. Then, you need to decide whether to raise or check. Such decisions should be made when the fourth and fifth cards are dealt. Bonus bets are not available.

Texas Hold'em Bonus (Nextgen)

Developers of Nextgen also released a model in which they were trying to recreate the atmosphere of the traditional Texas hold'em. Cards are dealt in several stages, as it is common in traditional poker games. After each deal there is a unique betting round (it is necessary to decide whether to raise or fold.)

This game is characterized by the interesting layout, user-friendly control panel, and other pleasant features. There are bonus bets that provide payouts for non-standard hands (read about them in the review.)

3 Card Hold'em (Felt)

This is a model with several betting rounds. Users can double the bet after each of them. We are not going to describe in detail all these rounds, since they are understandable for all gamblers who are familiar with Texas hold'em rules.

It should be noted that you can make two kinds of bonus bets. Pairs and suited pocket cards are paid for one of them. The second bet provides payouts for poker hands in the first five cards dealt by the croupier.

Triple Pocket Hold'em (Microgaming)

This is a very unusual kind of poker. Its main feature is the fact that the dealer plays two hands simultaneously. If the customer wants to win, he or she should beat both these hands. The player has the opportunity to give his or her cards to the dealer in order to compensate for this unprofitable rule. In other words, he or she can use the pocket cards or make the dealer play them.

There is no betting round in this game. There is no need to make side bids to confirm the intention to keep participating in the round. Payouts are calculated in accordance with the multipliers from 1:1 to 50:1, depending on your hand.

Multi-hand Hold'em High (Microgaming)

As the name of this model implies, you can play one or several hands. You should make decisions on each box separately, and the dealer reveals cards one by one.

It is interesting to note that the client can keep playing by making a bet that is equal to the ante or raising. An optional side bet that provides payouts for certain hands composed of two pocket cards (suited cards, ace-king of one suit, or ace-king of spades) is available.

Hold'em Showdown (Playtech)

This model is one of the first online versions of Casino Hold'em Poker. The croupier deals two cards to himself and on four boxes of possible opponents, and the player has to choose one of these four pairs and make a bet either on the customer or dealer.

Then the dealer reveals five community cards, participants collect hands, and the winner is determined. If you predict the winner, you will get a payout. There are also additional nuances of the rules. Read about them in the review.

Progressive Texas Hold'em Bonus (Felt)

Apart from the model of Texas hold'em mentioned above, the portfolio of Felt has a game with progressive jackpot. In this game it is necessary to make decisions about the bet size after each betting round. There are also bonus bets on poker hands formed in the first five cards.

Progressive jackpots are drawn on the separate fixed bet. It is won by he who will collect a royal flush in the five cards. Separate payouts are provided for a three of a kind and better.

Conclusion 

As you can see, modern online casinos offer a lot of variants of Casino Texas Hold'em. You'll easily find models with the standard Casino Hold'em Poker rules and developments that successfully simulate the original hold'em with several betting rounds. Fans of unusual versions will be able to have fun with the help of unique types of poker, which are available in abundance.

We want to remind you that detailed reviews of all the models can be found following the links. We will be glad to know about your favorite models. Feel free to share information about your personal experience and add data to this article.