Royal poker is a popular variation of Texas Hold'em that you can play at leading online casinos in the US. Learn everything about this poker game in our complete guide.
Poker is a favorite card game in the US and globally. Many players opt for this game because of the thrilling gameplay. Moreover, poker has various variations you can play at land-based and online casinos.
Royal poker is a common variant of the famous Texas Hold'em game. Though these two games have many similarities, they also have notable differences. The resemblance is the unwinding of a hand, and the difference is Royal hold'em has a deck of 20 cards in play.
If you find this poker variant interesting, here is helpful information to consider before you start playing.
What is Royal Poker?
As mentioned earlier, royal poker is a variant of Texas Hold'em. However, this variation follows unique rules from other poker games. First, Royal poker is played with 20 cards only since cards 2 and 9 are stripped from the deck. The 20 cards include 4 Tens (10), 4 Jacks (J), 4 Queens (Q), 4 Kings (K), and 4 Aces (A). Royal Hold'em is derived from the number of cards in play. It stands from all other poker games that use a deck of 52 playing cards.
The Basic Rules of Royal Hold'em.
Though Royal Hold'em was launched in 2005, it has attracted players from all walks of life. What makes this variant even more fun is the straightforward gameplay and rules. As you are aware, all the 2 through 9 hands are removed. Therefore, you will enjoy big hands regularly and numerous betting, and less folding. The thumb rule in Royal Poker dictates that only cards 10 through Ace are to be used in playing. Additionally, the game features only 5 cards of the same suit, with the best possible hand being a Royal Flush. Once the low cards have been removed from the deck, the game follows the same rules as Texas Hold'em.
Hand Ranking in Royal Hold'em.
As with other poker games, hands are arranged in a hierarchy in Royal Hold'em. The hand rankings in this variant are as follows:
Royal Flush
The royal flush is the highest hand ranking in a royal poker variant. All cards are arranged in a sequence starting with 10 (10) to Ace (Ace) and of the same kind.
Four of a Kind
This is the second-best hand ranking in a royal hold 'em variant. In this poker hand, 4 out of 5 cards are of the same kind. However, the suit does not matter in this hand rank.
Full House
The third best hand combination in royal hold 'em is a full house. In this hand, there is a combination of three of a kind and a pair.
Straight Flush
The fourth hand combination in this version is a straight or a straight flush. In this case, all 5 cards of the hand combination are arranged in a sequence starting from 10 (10) through Ace (A).
A Pair
A pair is considered the worst hand combination you can get in royal poker. In this case, 2 out of 5 cards in the combination are of the same value. However, the suit has no value in this hand combination.
How to Play Royal Poker
Now that you know the different hand combinations in the royal hold 'em, it's time to know how to play. Like other poker variations, playing this game is pretty simple. So, here are simple steps to get you started:
The Blinds
It starts with dealing two cards to each player, just like in Texas Hold'em. Then players post a big and small blind. The player on the left side of the dealer posts a small blind, and the player sitting adjacent to them posts a big blind. Note that the big blind is double the amount of a small blind. The two blinds are mandatory wagers that must be posted before the game starts. Players can view their cards and calculate the next move once they have been dealt.
First Round of Betting
The first round of betting starts after the cards have been dealt. The player on the left side of the dealer posts the small blind and the one sitting adjacent to them posts the big blind. Three cards are dealt to all players after the first betting round is complete. These are known as community cards, and the process of unveiling is called a flop.
Second Round of Betting
In this round, players can see three community cards and their hole cards. The player who posted the small blind starts the betting round. Players can raise, call or fold bets. The fourth community card is unveiled, known as the turn or fourth street.
Third Round of Betting
This round of betting follows the same suit as the second. Players have the option to raise, call or fold bets.
Last Round of Betting
The 5th community card, called the River, is unveiled after the third round of betting. This is followed by the fourth and final betting rounds. Likewise, players can raise, call, or fold bets.
After the final betting round, the showdown happens. In this case, the highest five-card hand wins the pot.
Conclusion
Royal poker is a fast-paced game where you must draw a very good hand to win. Ensure you practice and master the rules before playing at any online casino. Good luck and play responsibly.
