Great Games for When You Want a Break from Poker

Poker is a game that it's difficult to get bored of. The more your knowledge of the game increases, the more you realize there is to be learned.

Poker really is a game that grows with you, and that's a big part of the appeal. However, sometimes you want to shake things up a bit.

You might have been getting bogged down in working out pot odds, or you might have had a few unsuccessful games and just want to take your head out of the game so that you can come back fresh.

We've created a whole list of games that will provide the sort of entertainment that will appeal to most poker players.

Slots

If you want a game with glitzy graphics that you might even be able to play on the same site as the one that you play poker on, then it's got to be a slot game.

There are literally thousands to choose from, and the majority of casino sites have them available.

You'll find different types of slot games, from modern video slots with features like wilds, scatters, free spins, and progressive jackpots, to more traditional ones with fewer features.

Whether it's car racing, sea fishing, or treasure hunting, whichever interests you have, there's usually a slot game that will fit those interests.

Vegas Slots Online has prepared a rundown of some of the best casinos offering real money slots at the moment, helpfully including exactly which bonuses are available for new customers.

You'll also be able to see at a glance whether a casino has a mobile app, how many other games they offer, and the deposit and withdrawal methods that you can use.

Blackjack

Those who are quick at mental arithmetic will love a spot of blackjack. This card game is faster moving than poker, as the elements of the game are simpler.

The aim of the game is to have a hand of cards that totals 21 or less but as close to 21 as possible.

If a hand totals more than 21, then the player goes bust and is out of the game. Play begins with everybody being dealt two cards in their hand.

Each player looks at their cards and decides whether to stick with the hand they have or hit/twist for an extra card. These rounds of sticking and twisting continue until every player is satisfied with their hand.

It's then time to reveal the cards and see who the winner is.

Although the rules are simple, the fast pace of this game makes it great fun and endlessly playable. There's plenty of information on the blog about blackjack strategy if you're interested in finding out more.

Chess

If you fancy a change of scene from your usual casino site but still want to put your logic skills to good use, then a game of chess might be exactly the thing you're looking for.

Chess has long been considered a bright man's game, and if you've played before, you'll know why.

Unlike poker, chess is what is known as a game of complete information, meaning that both players can see all of the pieces and therefore know all of the moves that are possible to them.

Poker is a game of incomplete information, meaning that players can see their own cards and the community cards but nothing else.

This means that with chess, there is a lot less guesswork than with poker.

Indeed, in a game of chess, the only thing that you need to guess is what your opponent's next move might be.

Of course, it's impossible to guess correctly every time, which is why it's so important to really study the strategy of this game.

There are hundreds of books that go into great detail on opening gambits, cornering kings, and techniques for different styles of chess.

Taking this game up as a hobby might end up eating into your valuable poker time, but for a game that's stood the test of time like chess has, it's probably worth it.

Article by

Ivan Potocki

Ivan played poker professionally for over five years but finally decided to merge his passion for writing with poker and became one of the leading writers in this industry. You can connect with Ivan via his LinkedIn profile and follow him on Twitter.