When playing at online casinos, you can get the feeling that it’s a slots world. And while slot play is fast and exciting, there are times when you might want to try something a little different, like a card game.
While a host of casino-style games are available, by far the leading card games at online casinos are poker games.
Casino poker games are played against the house and break down into two categories: video poker games which play like slots and casino games which play like live table games. These games shouldn’t be confused with online poker played against other poker players at sites like WSOP.com or BorgataPoker.
Here’s a look at two of the various poker table games available at online casinos in Delaware and New Jersey. They’re fun, quick and easy to play.
Three-Card Poker
This table game is one of the easiest poker games to master. Basically, you’re just playing a hand of poker with three cards against the dealer. The hands are the same as regular poker with one exception—straights usually beat flushes.
Three types of bets are made: the ante, play and pairs plus.
You have to ante to receive cards. The pairs plus bet is a bet that you will get a pair and is optional. You are then dealt three cards. You can look at them and decide if you want to continue with a play bet.
Very high hands, such as a three-card straight flush, are also paid a bonus. A straight flush can pay 40-1.
Pai Gow Poker
This game is a variation of a Chinese dominos game. Actually, it’s a combination of seven card stud and the original game.
Your goal is to make two poker hands—one five-card hand and one two-card hand. If your two poker hands beat the dealer’s two poker hands, you win. If only one of your hand wins, it’s a push. And if both of your hands lose, you lose your bet.
It’s up to you to arrange your seven cards. Remember, your five-card hand must be higher ranking than the two-card hand, which should be two high cards or a pair. It takes a little practice, but you’ll get the hang of it.
In Pai Gow, you make one bet, though some games offer bonus bets for high hands. By making the basic bet, and expecting to tie with the dealer a lot, you can ride one bet for quite a while.
