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Alternatives to Texas Holdem: Blackjack and Backgammon


While Texas Holdem is all the rage at the moment, it may be gone tomorrow. For the diehard Texas holdem players, when the fad passes, they'll still be playing Texas holdem until their grave. But for the rest of us, it's always important to have backup games to play in case you get tired of Texas Holdem.
Online blackjack has is a new twist on a timeless classic casino game. Where you once played at the blackjack tables in a swanky casino, you now can play from the comfort of your own home. And with a blackjack guide online you can learn the basic blackjack strategy and get blackjack tips so you can play blackjack right away. What's nice about blackjack is that it's relatively easy to learn and it's a casual game that doesn't require hours of devotion at a time. You can play a hand in about 10 seconds or you can play hand after hand for hours. The casino's edge can be lowered to a negative amount if you learn to card count.
If, however, you know how to play online blackjack casinos, just using basic blackjack strategy will give you a very high, almost 100%, expected return. If you're uneasy about putting money up, it's easy to find free blackjack online sites where you can practice your strategy until you're comfortable enough to play for real money. There are specialty blackjack training websites where you can get step-by-step instructions to play perfect blackjack strategy. Some of them are free and are so good that you'd be foolish to actually pay for blackjack training.
If blackjack sounds too simple or too tame for you, you might want to consider playing backgammon. Backgammon has been around in one form or another for thousands of years. It originated in the Middle East and continues to be popular there today. Backgammon games are varied; there are hundreds of variations that are played and a high level of skill is needed in order to play backgammon accurately and proficiently.
New backgammon players can find sites to learn how to play online backgammon games. Good backgammon sites will offer basic tutorials and introductory lessons for new players. What's appealing about backgammon to Texas Holdem players is the high level of strategy and knowledge that is required to play the game well. Part of backgammon is betting and Texas Holdem players will enjoy the finesse that is required to bet. Bluffing can also come into play when playing backgammon.
Before you begin playing backgammon for money, find a site that offers free online backgammon so you can practice and learn the flow of the game. You can also play against other human players in practice mode to get a feel for what it's like to play backgammon online.
Check out these alternatives to Texas Holdem if you're looking for something to spice up your gaming.