The open-world beat-em-up, ‘Knuckle paradise’, is coming to Steam in 2027
Press release:
April 24 2026 - ARTE France and independent studio Flying Oak Games reveals Knuckle P[...]
While the world of video games might love to throw Total War: Gears of Duty Truly-Honestly Definitive Game of the Year Edition Remaster at us every other week, it’s also trying to innovate to keep things interesting.
Whether that’s with a dating sim/ visual novel or a bureaucracy sim, there’s always something weird and wonderful to push those novelty-seeking serotonin buttons in our brain.
Just because poker’s been around since the dawn of time (well, since the early 19th century, but in gaming terms that’s forever), don’t assume that it can’t do the same.
In fact, it’s a tough environment out there. Places to play poker abound online, and if the operators want to keep their customers interested they need to keep things fresh. There are new variants all over the place, and here we’re going to bring you some of the best.
Texas Hold ‘em
The biggie. The classic. The stuff gambling legends are made of. The version your shady uncle probably plays in smoke-filled rooms with his drinking buddies.
Texas Hold ‘em is the game most of us think of when we think of poker and the most widely played in the world of online poker. Players compete for chips or money contributed by themselves and their fellow players, aka ‘the pot’.
They don’t have any say over the hand they’ve been dealt, but they do get to decide how to play it (there’s a popular saying about that – you’ve probably heard it) and try to predict the cards and moves of their opponents. Each player is dealt two cards before several rounds of betting as five communal cards are slowly revealed.
Texas Hold ‘em is tense, strategic and the poker master’s game of choice. If, however, you’re new to the game or a little rusty, you might want to sharpen up your skills on something a little easier going before you jump in to a game of Texas Hold ‘em.
Exchange Poker
Exchange Poker might be a place to start. Played without the pressure of other players at the table, this is the laid back poker fan’s game of choice.
Players can see and bet on any one of four hands laid out before them. You can hold out for the ‘flop’, ‘turn,’ or ‘river’ to try to bag the best odds (or lowest risk). It’s a great way to pick up the odds and tactics of Texas Hold ‘em, especially as you can watch as many hands as you like before placing a bet.
Short Deck Poker (aka Six Plus Poker)
On the rather less chilled end of the spectrum, Short Deck poker has blown up in the world of online gambling recently. Big events in southeast Asia have been attracting some serious players from around the world to compete in this more action-packed variant of Texas Hold ‘em.
Last July, World Series of Poker commentator and pro Nick Schulman made waves winning a Short Deck tournament for a massive $272,084 after never competing in a tournament before!
It actually goes back to a time when there were less cards in the deck – all deuces, threes, fours, and fives are entirely removed from the pack. The game then unfurls in the same way as any other game of Texas Hold ‘em.
The difference, of course, is that without those low value cards in the mix the maths of the game is entirely changed and the rankings are different as straights are now ranked lower than three of a kind. The effect, as seasoned poker players will have already guessed, is a more action-packed game.
Seven Card Stud Poker
An oldie but a goodie. Before Texas Hold ‘em, Seven Card Stud was king of the table. With no community cards, players bet solely on the cards they’ve been dealt.
It means fewer high hands, which translates to somewhat less nerve jangling games with less players chasing around after straights and flushes. The upshot is a stronger focus on calculating odds and aggressive early betting. This is another one you could use as a stepping stone towards Texas Hold ‘em.
Pai Gow Poker
Another more recent variant, Pai Gow Poker is a rare treat. Players line up against the dealer (or a designated ‘banker’) and are each dealt seven cards.
These must be arranged into two hands – one five card ‘high’ hand containing the best poker hand and a ‘low’ two card hand. Stakes are split evenly between them then the hands are set against the dealer’s equivalent.
Omaha Hold ‘em
Pretty close to its more southerly cousin, Omaha Poker has a few twists of its own that make it a tense and entertaining alternative.
The biggie is the fact that players are dealt four cards rather than two, but still use two of them alongside three of the five community cards. The result, of course, is that the odds of landing a big hand are much higher, making this a potentially riskier game than its Stetson-wearing relative.
So, if you thought poker was all Texas Hold ‘em, think again! If you fancy your chances at these new versions of an old game, there are a lot of different options for finding your level. Whether you want to take a few baby steps or charge headlong into the really nervy stuff, there’s a game out there waiting for you.
/Rina Jonhson
More by Robin Ek:
Tags: Casino, Gambling, Gambling legends, Online casino, Poker, Video games
