Online Rummy vs. Poker: Comparing the Thrill of Two Classic Games

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Online Rummy vs. Poker: Comparing the Thrill of Two Classic Games

Play online Rummy and Poker to experience the thrill of playing with your own strategy. The more players you play with, the more exciting it becomes. You get to experience different styles of different players. You also learn from their playing style.

You will need at least 2 to 6 players to play online Rummy. The objective of all the players while playing Rummy is to meld the cards. 

Poker games online are as thrilling as playing Rummy. It goes without saying that there are differences in rules. The dealer deals two types of cards—hole cards and community cards. Hole cards are dealt to players, and only that player can see it. Community cards are revealed on the table, and all players can see them.

India is home to online rummy. With the wide popularity of the game, it is expected to reach 1.4 billion US dollars by 2024. 

On the other hand, poker games online are also increasing their fan base in the country. 

Understanding the Basics

Let’s get a basic understanding of Rummy and Poker. 

What is online rummy?

Online Rummy is similar to traditional Rummy games, but players can play more varieties on online platforms.

The number of cards dealt to players varies depending on the particular Rummy variant you are playing. In some games it is 13, and in some others it is 5.

Players try to meld their cards with sets and sequences. As soon as a player melds their cards, they declare their hands.

What is poker?

Poker is widely popular in the USA. The game is now widely available to play on several online platforms. 

The objective of poker players is to make a combination of the best hands among all the players. To make the best hand combination with 5 cards, they can use community and hole cards.

Gameplay Comparison

There is no doubt that online card gamers love playing both Rummy and Poker. However, they have different rules and winning criteria.

Rules and Objectives

If you have played online Rummy, you’d know that Rummy variants like 13 Card Rummy or 101 Pool Rummy are penalty-based games. If you have the most number of scores or have exceeded a certain point limit, you are eliminated from the game. 

On the other hand, poker is all about making the best hand using hole cards and community cards. 

Winning criteria

In an online rummy game, as soon as a player melds his cards, he declares the hand. At the same time, other players show their cards. The first player to declare the hand score zero while the score of other players is the sum of cards at hand that they could not make sets or sequences with.

After all the rounds, the player with the lowest score wins the game.

In poker, after the final round, players show down or reveal their cards. The player who makes the best hand wins the game.

Role of skill in each game

Poker and rummy are games of skill, as espoused in a study by IIT Delhi. 

Scholars who conducted the study expressed their views supporting the need for skills in these popular card games. To win the game, a player must have excellent cognitive ability, memory retention power, and the ability to make decisions under pressure.

Similarly, poker games online require a lot of study outside of the game. The more you study, the better your chance of winning is.

Thrill Factor

Psychological play and strategic decision-making are some factors that make the game thrilling to play.

Strategic Depth

Strategic decision-making in Rummy and Poker makes the game more thrilling. In Rummy, you can strategically use Jokers or other cards in hand to make sets and sequences. In poker, a player needs to consider a lot of factors like the number of opponents, pot size, position of the table, and playing style of opponents. 

Psychological Play

Bluffing is a significant part of the poker game. When you have the possibility of making the best hand, you remain calm. It confuses your opponent, leading them to make wrong strategies. 

In Rummy, players need to calculate opponents’ moves. They continuously try to calculate the sets and sequences their opponents are trying to make.

Popularity and Player Base

Both Rummy and Poker have become two of the popular games in the worldwide gaming communities. Let’s explore the reasons behind their popularity.

Global Appeal

Rummy and Poker have gained global popularity, especially during the pandemic. The lockdown turned people to online gaming culture. A survey result by YouGov suggested that approximately 38% of the respondents believe Rummy is a skill-based game. 

It suggests a positive approach of users to the game that helps in gaining popularity around the world. As per a study result by Custom Market Insights (CMI), the global online poker games market will hit approximately 170 billion USD by 2030.

Cultural Influence

Rummy is widely popular in India, while Poker is widely played in the USA. 

Traditionally, card games had been played by Indian families in their leisure time. Hence, Rummy is seen as a way of engaging with friends and families. 

While in the USA, Poker and Rummy have been in the market since the 19th century. Hence, its online version has become popular in the country as well.

Online Platforms and Accessibility

The online rummy and poker market has gained wide popularity in gaming. Let’s see what some popular platforms are and their features. 

Availability of Online Rummy

A23 Rummy and JungleeRummy are some of the platforms that offer the opportunity to play online Rummy. These platforms offer a variety of rummy games and user-friendly UIs for ease of access to playing.

Availability of Online Poker

You can play poker games online on platforms like PokerBaazi, MPL Poker, Gamezy, and others. These platforms offer players the opportunity to play Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and other variants of poker. They also offer practice chips to players.

Pros and Cons

When you are playing online Rummy and Poker games, you should also know their pros and cons.

Pros and Cons of Online Rummy

Advantages

  • Can help you release work stress at any moment
  • Helps to have a fun and engaging time with friends
  • Improves cognitive skills
  • Strengthens decision-making skills
  • Increases emotions controlling ability

Challenges

  • It can be addictive
  • You need to control spending
  • Playing online can decrease the chance of socially interacting with others

Pros and Cons of Online Poker

Advantages

  • Poker games online offer the opportunity to play from  you do not need to wait for a table
  • From beginners to pros, everyone gets the opportunity to play
  • To make it more challenging, you can play multiple tables at the same time
  • Online Poker platforms provide performance statistics, helping you improve your gameplay

Challenges

  • There is a fair chance of getting addicted to the game
  • You cannot know the reliability of the game’s algorithm
  • Technical issues like device malfunctions or connectivity issues may cause you to lose a hand

Conclusion

Both online rummy and poker are increasing in popularity among online card games. A different set of rules and strategic play makes these games worthwhile. While Rummy requires you to meld your cards, Poker, on the other hand, needs you to make the best hand among all players.

If you are confused about which to choose between the two, then you should start playing both games. Once you play, you’ll understand its rules and tricks to win. Then choose the one that you enjoy the most.

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