Column: Does Online Poker Need Dealer's Choice Games?

Following the addition of 5-card Omaha to the tables at PokerStars, Barry Carter asks if it's time we introduced more of the niche games played in Dealer's Choice games to the online felt?

Courchevel (click to enlarge)

This week PokerStars revealed it was adding 5-card Omaha and Courchevel to its roster of available games. Two formats which are new to online, but popular variants in live casinos and home games all around the world.

The offering of games online has grown exponentially in the last few years and we have seen 5 card draw, 2-7 draw, Badugi and triple stud all being played online. Though it has to be said that these niche games do not attract a huge amount of traffic.

It seems every online poker room right now is trying to make poker more fun for recreational players to improve the overall ecology. Are these niche variants of poker the way to go, and should we finally have Dealer's Choice games online?

Dealer's Choice

More cards = more action

There is a reason why Dealer's Choice games are popular in live casinos, and that is that they are fun. They are a much more social form of the game which encourage more conversation by simple merit of the fact that each participant chooses their own game, thus giving everyone something to talk about.

The variety makes the game a lot livelier and interesting. There is always something new to think about in Dealer's Choice, and often you find yourself playing in completely new games you have never played before.

As a general rule the niche games on offer create a lot more action. They tend to include more cards or drawing for cards; both of which encourage people to play more pots and stick around on more streets than if they were playing Hold'em. This is good for recreational players as it means they can play more hands, and good for serious players because they can exploit recreational players playing lots of hands.

There is also a much bigger knowledge gap in these games, because less strategy advice is readily available for them. For people concerned that Hold'em is solved, mixed games are a great area for a hard working serious player to enjoy a significant edge, both on recreational players and serious players trying them for the first time.

Keep it simple

Non Hold'em doesnt get good TV ratings

Here is the problem I see with Dealer's Choice type games as a long term solution - people do not like to be confused, and most Dealer's Choice games are confusing even for experienced players.

Most recreational players come to poker for Hold'em. There is a beautiful simplicity about the two card game that takes a minute to learn and a lifetime to master. Most people can understand what is going on very quickly, which is why they stick with it.

Even games which seem 'standard' these days like PLO are too complex for the average new player starting out. The rare instances where PLO and Stud have been shown on TV did poorly in the ratings, and let's not forget this fact has forced the Players Championship, which is an eight- game mix, to be a Hold'em only televised final table.

I do think that recreational players can enjoy dealer's choice formats, but at the very least as an acquisition tool it will not work. It is much better served as something for players who have been around for a while to create a refreshed interest in the game.

Putting the fun back into poker

Bring a home game feel online

Even though I only view Dealer's Choice games as a niche online, I do hope the poker rooms embrace them because it would be fun.

I think we all would love to rail high stakes Dealer's Choice games played for thousands of dollars online. In this sense they could work as a fun branding tool if they replicated what most of us think takes place in Bobby's Room.

I have no idea how difficult it would be to implement (I guess the short answer is 'very') but it would be amazing if an online poker room could create a way for players to create their own variants of the game, where they pick how many hole and community cards are dealt, how many betting rounds, hand rankings etc.

That seems like an unlikely option, but an actual 'Dealer's Choice' format where you get to pick the format from all the games available once an orbit would be lots of fun. It would never be one for the grinders because the hands player per hour would invariably slow down, but I don't think any of these formats are meant to be mass multi-tabled anyway.

I don't think niche poker variants are the answer to bringing in new players, but I do think they could be an excellent way to shift poker back towards a recreational mindset with existing players. I also think it would prove a fascinating game to rail at high stakes.

By Barry Carter

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