Online Casino Spotlight

Casino Hold ‘em is a card game that puts a unique spin on the popular poker variant Texas Hold ‘em.  The game was created by Stephen Au-Yeung in 2000, first going live in the casinos of Egypt, Russia and South Africa.  Today, it is played in more than hundred land-based casinos around the world and a countless number of online casinos.

Object of the Games

Casino Hold ‘em is very similar to Texas Hold ‘em.  The key difference is that it is essentially a house game, meaning that instead of competing against other players, you are playing against the casino.  The overall goal of the game is to beat the dealer by assembling the best hand possible out of your two initial cards and five community cards.  If your hand has a greater value than the dealer’s, you win.  Similar to Texas Hold ‘em, winnings vary depending on the hand you assemble.  Casino Hold’em also offers an added level of excitement by placing a side wager, a bet that pays out if a pair of aces or better is dealt within the initial five cards.

Antes and Side Bets

What makes Casino Hold’em such as desirable game is that not only is the player paid out at the standard rate of 2 to 1 if they have a better hand, but also higher winnings for rare poker hands.  The payout table for this game is typically as follows:

Royal Flush – 100 to 1

Straight Flush – 20 to 1

Four-of-Kind – 10 to 1

Full House – 3 to 1

Flush – 2 to 1

Straight or less – 1 to 1

Also known as AA+ bonus bets, side bets are paid out based on the value of your two initial cards and three community cards.  A Royal Flush usually payouts at 100 to 1, a Straight Flush 50 to 1, Four-of-a-Kind 40 to 1, Full House 30 to 1, Flush 20 to 1, and a Straight 7 to 1.  Take note that the pay structure may be different depending on where you play, a factor that often means the house has a greater edge.

House Advantage

In Casino Hold’em, the house edge, not including the side bet, will vary greatly depending on the rules enforced by the casino operator.  However, most pay tables are structured to show a house edge that ranges from approximately 2% to 2.5%.  In the ante table outlined above, the edge would be 2.16%.

Optimal Strategy

There is really no standard strategy for Casino Hold’em because the game play for each individual hand is based on the value of all five cards you receive.  For this reason, a number of strategy calculators exist to help players gain an edge.  Perhaps the best strategy is knowing that the skilled player raises at a rate of about 82%, meaning at worst, only 18% of the hands should be forfeited.   However, even these are just estimates that depend on a broad range of factors and mainly only apply when the player has little to no chance for a flush or a straight

Online casinos have exploded to popularity in recent years as more players come to grasp the intricacies of web-based wagering.  The major draw to these casinos is the array of games up for grabs.  The most common options you have are table games and there are quite a few to choose from.  Because there is such a wide variety, it is good to know just what is available so you don’t find yourself wondering aimlessly from room to room.

Head up with the Dealer

Table games are generally the same games you will find at the tables in brick and mortar casinos.  Two of the most popular choices are baccarat and black jack.  Both of these games are favorable to the player and make a great option for beginners.  Baccarat has become such a hit because it is simple and doesn’t require any real skill to play.  While the concept isn’t difficult, blackjack tends to be a little more challenging.  However, the fact that it does require a little know-how and gets so intense makes a favorite among serious players.  Because winning against the dealer is much harder, you will probably want to get familiar with blackjack before placing a wager online.

The Many Faces of Poker

There are many other card games available but most fail in comparison to the popularity of poker.  With poker you get options such as Texas Hold ‘Em, Let it Ride, Caribbean Stud Poker, Tri Card Poker and the list goes on.  In many of these games, you aren’t necessarily playing against other players, but against the dealer, similar to black jack and baccarat.  There are numerous poker rooms online, most of which offer generous incentives such as bonuses, promotional offers and huge progressive jackpots that seem to never stop growing.  Competition is heavy in the poker room so you definitely don’t want to approach the tables without your skills and virtual game face intact.

Dice and the Big Wheel

The main table games that don’t involve cards are craps and roulette.  Arguably the most popular land casino game, roulette typically gives the house a higher edge but that doesn’t take away from the excitement involved with spinning the wheel.  This game is often a first choice of beginners for the simple fact that it doesn’t require any skills – roulette is the ultimate game of luck.  Roulette comes in many niche variations such as French, European and American, which ironically is the least popular.  Craps is another risky game filled with plenty of sucker bets that make it harder to distinguish between the good wagers.  Though exciting an nearly as fun as the real life version, this isn’t a table you want to try without your head in the game.

The plethora of online casino games is enough to make your head spin.  While many of the rules are the same, it would be wise to get some information on online play before heading into a room.  Fortunately, there are numerous communities and tutorials that will provide you with essential tips on how to play virtually any game.  Even better, there is also a nice variety of casinos that will allow you to play for free and gain the confidence you need to play for money.