Poker Games For Players 18+ And Up

Types of Poker Games Available to Players 18 and Over

There are several main kinds of poker that players enjoy, and the most trustworthy poker sites offer plenty of digital felts for each one. The different kinds of poker will appeal to different players, and you can generally choose from the following:

• Texas Hold ‘Em
• Omaha
• Omaha Hi/Lo

Please be aware that the poker games list above is not comprehensive, but every major poker operator offers each of these at the very least. Be sure to browse the poker game selections at different sites to see the best of what every service has on hand. And remember, you can always sign up at multiple different poker sites to ensure the best choice of games.

Texas Hold ‘Em vs. Omaha

While there are lots of poker variants out there, the main types of poker games you’re going to come across are Texas Hold ‘Em and Omaha. The difference between Texas Hold ‘Em and poker games like Omaha is something of much interest among greenhorns, as the games vary significantly, and most players tend to gravitate towards one or the other.

That said, Texas Hold ‘Em is more popular overall, which means that most high-level tournament poker will offer classic Hold ‘Em action. The poker hand rankings are the same between the games, and for now, the main distinction is that while Hold ‘Em has two “hole” cards (i.e. cards that are dealt to each player) that must be combined with the three river cards, Omaha gives each player four hole cards, two of which must be used with the three river cards. Omaha Hi/Lo is just like classic Omaha, only the pot is split between players with the best (highest) hand and the worst (lowest) hands.

Because Omaha and Omaha Hi/Lo offer more chances to win and make strong poker hands, many beginners start out with these variants before refining their poker strategies for the main Hold ‘Em events.

Pros And Cons Of Online Poker

Benefits

• No Poker Face – When you play poker on the Internet, you don’t have to worry about hidingyour wide eyes whenever you’re dealt a good hand. You can grin from ear to ear without making your opponents suspicious, and you can laugh and cheer without the rest of the table folding. Online poker requires no poker face. Heck, you don’t even have to wear pants! (Albeit strip poker is probably more fun IRL than online.)
• Maximum Anonymity – When you’re a good gambler, it’s generally not advantageous for others to know who you are. Win too much at a California card room, for example, and you’ll soon find yourself unable to find challengers or barred from the premises entirely. That doesn’t happen at 18+ poker sites, which means you’ll always have a seat at the table.
• Speed Play – Speed play poker allows gamblers to enter a pool of players as opposed to just one table. You face different opponents for every hand, and when you fold one hand, you can be immediately placed in another game at another table. Most 18+ offshore gambling sites offer this fast poker variant.
• Multi-Table Play – “Multitabling” is an online poker method where you can play at several tables simultaneously. Different sites have different maximums, though it isn’t uncommon to see limits of 10+ tables available. If volume is your game, online sites are all in on multi-table poker.
• Timed Pacing – With live, in-person poker, there is usually some downtime as tension builds and players calculate odds and bluff each other out. With the online game, there is a hard timer that guarantees the pace of play remains constant.
• Auto-Fold Options – As a way to promote the timed play nature of online poker, the top sites will let players automatically fold their hands if it’s their turn and they lose connection temporarily or are otherwise AFK (“Away From Keyboard”).
• Easy Research – If you’re playing poker in person, you can’t really jot down notes about your opponents’ moves. The best players do this in their heads naturally, but the average player needs more concrete ways to keep track. Playing online, it’s easy to keep notes about every hand your opponents play, referring to them round after round.
• Play Anywhere – Nothing beats the sheer convenience of online poker games. Because all the best poker vendors offer full mobile suites for their card games, you can play anywhere in the US that you have an Internet connection. Ante up wherever you are, whenever you want!
• Free Poker Games – All the best poker sites have free online poker games available, where you can test out the gameplay before spending real money. You can’t do that in Sin City!
• 18+ Allowed – At all the top online poker sites, you only have to be 18 and over in order to sign up and play. However, if your state has minimum poker age laws in effect, it is recommended that you abide by these, even when playing with an offshore operator.

Drawbacks

• Limited Bluffing – One of the main tools in the poker pro’s arsenal is his or her ability to bluff their opponents. Bluffing is such a core part of poker that many old timers won’t play online because that aspect of the game is so comparatively limited. If you want to know how to bluff at online poker, there are several schools of thought on the subject. But ultimately, if bluffing is a big part of your repertoire, online may not be the best solution for your needs.
• Can’t “Read” Opponents – In poker, body language is critically important. Often, the difference between winning a big pot and folding a strong hand is the confidence that comes from watching your opponents and seeing if they show any “tells.” You can’t do that online. (Of course, the future is always fast approaching, and VR poker games could revolutionize the online environment in just a few short years, allowing you to see and react to your opponents in real time.)
• Limited Social Element – As with other kinds of casino gaming, for many players, the biggest allure to poker is the nature of the event itself. Many players enjoy the bright lights and crowds of a classic card room, as well as the hustle and bustle of the venue in general. Comped drinks and food services are also common considerations for in-person poker.
• No WSOP Qualifiers – When you play poker at offshore sites, you cannot earn seats at the World Series of Poker tournaments that are held all around the USA. Overseas poker sites are not affiliated with the WSOP, but you can get a lot of good practice at these venues in case you ever decide you want to try for a bracelet!

No Limit Vs. Pot Limit Poker

There are two main types of financial poker rules (or betting structures) to be aware of: no-limit poker and pot-limit poker. A third version, called fixed-limit poker, is also common, but it is not as readily available online and is only included here for reference.

If you want to know what games each poker site specifically offers, you can read our detailed reviews here.

• No Limit Poker – Commonly abbreviated as NL poker, no-limit is the game most televised poker viewers are familiar with. Effectively, any player can raise any amount at any time, regardless of the pot size. No limit poker often has players going “all in.”
• Pot Limit Poker – Also called PL poker, pot-limit poker limits the amount any player can raise to the maximum current pot size. If there’s $40 in the pot, for example, your maximum raised bet can be only $40.
• Fixed Limit Poker – Limit poker, or fixed-limit poker, has predetermined bet sizes. These typically include the “big bet” and the “small bet,” and players can only raise their opponents in these increments. Each table or house will have different limits in play.