Showtime Holdem
Showtime Hold’em is similar to the globally popular game of Texas Hold’em, but with one crucial difference: all folded cards are left face-up for the duration of the hand. The result is more information available to each player, leading to new possibilities and greater depth of strategy.
PokerStars new Showtime Hold’em game could be one of the better variants of NL Hold’em trialled by the site this spring, as it incentivises players to be more observant about their opponents’ cards. Players who take advantage of the extra information available could find Showtime Hold´em extremely lucrative.
PokerStars new Showtime Hold’em game could be one of the better variants of NL Hold’em trialled by the site this spring, as it incentivises players to be more observant about their opponents’ cards. Players who take advantage of the extra information available could find Showtime Hold´em extremely lucrative.
Following on from the site´s previous trial with Split Hold´em Poker, PokerStars has today launched another new cash game – Showtime Hold´em. In this variant of the game, whenever a player folds their cards, they remain visible throughout the hand to other players seated at the table.
Showtime Hold’em’s release comes just a few days after the PokerStars’ previous temporary poker variant, Split Hold’em, ended its six-week run. Just like Showtime, Split Hold’em was a traditional Hold’em poker variant with the only twist being that it was played with two separate sets of community cards dealt simultaneously. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. The games do not offer 'real money gambling' or an opportunity to win real money or prizes. The games are intended for an adult audience. Practice or success Showtime Holdem Pokerstars at social casino gaming does not imply future success Showtime Holdem Pokerstars at 'real money gambling'. 12AM 1AM 2AM 3AM 4AM 5AM 6AM 7AM 8AM 9AM 10AM 11AM 12PM 1PM 2PM 3PM 4PM 5PM 6PM 7PM 8PM 9PM 10PM 11PM 12AM 1AM 2AM 3AM 4AM 5AM 6AM 7AM 8AM 9AM 10AM 11AM 12PM 1PM 2PM 3PM 4PM 5PM 6PM 7PM 8PM 9PM 10PM 11PM 12AM.
Being able to see what cards have already been folded provides more information about the cards remaining in the pack, and can make a significant difference to players waiting for key cards to improve or complete their hands. It can also make a significant difference to the betting actions of players holding high pairs when other high cards have been folded in the pre-flop round of betting.
In addition to having more information available about outs and odds, being able to monitor what cards players are discarding provides an insight into the nature of the players themselves. For example, if a player is usually folding reasonably strong hands in early and middle positions, but then raises from UTG in the next hand, the likelihood is he or she has a premium opening hand – or is a very good bluffer.
Release of the Game Not Entirely Unexpected
Speculation that Showtime Hold´em would be launched once SCOOP had finished has been circulating around the poker media for several weeks. Back in April, players noticed the graphics for Showtime Hold´em – and another game expected to be launched during the World Cup – included in a PokerStars software update (we won´t ruin the surprise by telling you about the World Cup game now).
What was not known was how the game would be played. Some in the industry suggested that players would be forced to show one card once the flop had been dealt, while others felt the most likely change from standard NL Hold´em would be that players had to show their cards at showdown. In fact, if you win a pot without the hand going to showdown, you still have the option of mucking your cards unseen.
The actual version of the game that has been released is far more interesting than was speculated, and it could help improve players´ skills. As is often recommended by PokerNewsReport staff, the priorities in any form of poker should be Player – Position – Cards
, and Showtime Hold´em incentivises players to pay more attention to the action going on around them to gather more information about opponents.
See Showtime Hold´em in Action
If you are tempted to head over to PokerStars and try a session of Showtime Hold´em, take a minute or two to watch the video below first. This was recorded during the recent EPT Monte Carlo and features PokerStars ambassadors Lex Veldhuis, Ben “Spraggy” Spragg and Fintan “EasyWithAces” Hand discussing the new variant and trying out a few games.
We anticipate the novelty value alone will drive plenty of players to the tables – but maybe not so many top-level players who would like to keep their playing strategies secret. Severin Rasset – PokerStars´ Director of Poker Innovation and Operations – believes some players will warm to Showtime Hold´em as it sets them new challenges. He said:
It is a real pleasure to offer this second temporary variant to our players. The possibility to see all folded cards will introduce some fascinating strategic adjustments to the traditional and well-loved NL Hold’em game.
Showtime Hold´em will be available at PokerStars for a limited time only, so don´t miss out on your opportunity to learn more about the betting tendencies of your opponents – visit PokerStars today.
Related Poker News:
PokerStars has distinguished itself this year with limited-time introductions of new poker variants. It is now possible that the online poker giant will bring two of them, Showtime and Split Hold’em, back for multi-table tournaments.
In an interview with Poker Industry Pro, PokerStars Director of Poker Innovation and Operations Severin Rasset indicated that the games might reappear due to player feedback.
“Some players were disappointed that they could not find games when we turned them off, so this is something that we want to potentially offer,” said Rasset.
What are all these PokerStars variants?
So far in 2018, PokerStars has released and withdrawn three different games. All three offered different mechanics and strategies for players to attempt to master.
Split Hold’em
The first variant, Split Hold’em debuted in March 2018. The concept was relatively simple: every hand would feature two full boards of community cards –two flops, two turns, and two rivers.
Essentially, it’s an entire game of running it twice. Each board would be worth half the pot. Players could win on either board or, potentially, scoop the entire pot.
Pots in this variant would typically be larger than an average Hold’em game. Players would have less idea why an opponent bet or which boards the opponent was betting.
Split Hold’em ran until May 2018. Then, PokerStars introduced Showtime Hold’em to the masses.
Showtime Hold’em
Compared to Split Hold’em, Showtime Hold’em was less of a shift from typical gameplay. Instead, the twist would occur when a player folded their cards.
Any players who folded would have their hands revealed to the entire table, The folded hands would remain visible for the rest of the hand.
There are two ways this twist would affect the game. The first is obvious: it became much easier to understand the type of opponents at a table.
Tight players accustomed to getting paid off might get folds. Loose players accustomed to getting folds might get called more often.
Showtime Hold'em Pokerstars
The other main difference would be that the odds would need calibration. The knowledge that certain cards had or had not been involved already would be invaluable information for marginal decisions.
The game introductions keep rolling at PokerStars
Rasset’s comments coincided with the site’s withdrawal of another variant, Unfold. As with the other two formats, PokerStars ran Unfold in a six-week trial period.
In Unfold, players contributed antes to a side pot at the beginning of each hand. After the flop, a folded player could match the side pot and retrieve their mucked cards.
The best “Unfolded” hand would receive the pot. However, folded players had no shot at the main, and could take no further action after buying back in.
Amazingly, PokerStars is not finished with running new variants out for players to try. In fact, PokerFuse is reporting that the site will release two more games in 2018 – Six Plus Hold’em and Fusion.
Six Plus Hold’em is also called Short Deck, and as its name implies, the game plays with all cards under six removed. The result is a Hold’em game with a tighter range of holdings for everyone at the table.
Showtime Holdem Pokerstars
The game made a big splash at Macau this summer, with poker pro Nick Schulmanwinning his first short deck tournament in July. Undoubtedly, PokerStars players have been clamoring to try it out.
Showtime Hold'em
PokerStars will also roll out Fusion. Fusion remains a bit of a mystery, but will combine elements of different games.
In short, players of all calibers will not fail to find something new on PokerStars. Even though it’s the largest site on earth, PokerStars doesn’t seem to be resting on its laurels.