Where to Find the Most Realistic Poker in PC Games

The reach of poker has always extended far beyond the casino gaming table. The game, in all its many variations, is one of the most popular played in land-based casinos because of the challenges it presents in managing skill and strategy. Poker is a unique game as well because it directly pits players against each other, something that the likes of roulette and blackjack don’t do.

The fact that players take on each other for the prize pot means there is always extra tension and drama involved. That element of competition gives the game great appeal, which means that the game has also found its way into other media like TV shows, movies and PC games that aren’t specifically about poker, but feature it as part of the storyline.

Modern Way to Play

Poker fans don’t have to even worry about finding a local casino to go to. All legal online operators give players the chance to explore traditional table games and slots without leaving home. Visit legalcasino.uk, for example. This site reviews and compares operators and their game catalogues. The top-rated casinos featured there often offer poker, blackjack, roulette, and other options that can be played online anytime, anywhere.

These platforms provide easy start-up access to casino games. This modern way of playing poker ties into another major industry – gaming and sometimes the worlds of poker and PC games collide.

Red Dead Redemption 2

One of the biggest open-world games ever, Red Dead Redemption 2, lets players explore the vast settings of the Wild West. In it, you can stroll up to a saloon or a makeshift table in someone’s yard and enjoy a poker game.

The game is extremely realistic and in RDR2, poker is played under Texas Hold’em rules. Money can be earned through poker to go and buy stuff in-game, and within the poker games there are three challenges to complete, like winning 5 hands and taking 3 hands in a row.

Interactions with NPCs are fantastic as they bring different characteristics and playing styles to the table, creating plenty of atmosphere. Poker has been extremely well portrayed in RDR2 and is playable in locations Valentine, St. Denis, Blackwater and Tumbleweed.

Far Cry 3

Open world survival game Far Cry 3 has a mini-game of poker which is accessible at different skill levels. Again this is No-Limit Texas Hold’em, which provides players a way of making cash for supplies. The poker mini-game is actually pretty good and across the two islands there are eight opportunities for poker in Far Cry 3.

Adding to the intensity of the drama is the fact that most of the poker games are held in secret locations, locked away from the world. It’s a first-person view too, staring across the table at some wild, dangerous players, who, as a tip, tend to call more often than in the real world.

The player sees their character’s hands holding the cards, and the NPCs make reactions to whatever the player does. A Poker Bully award can be earned when winning $1,500 in cumulative cash at games too.

GTA Online

Gambling in GTA Online is available through games like 3-card poker. The game doesn’t quite hit the high-tension atmospherics of the aforementioned titles, but it adds something a little different, played at the Diamond Casino & Resort. When first entering, you’ll need some credits to start up with and GTA$500 gets 5000 Casino Chips with daily limits.

The graphics are excellent of course, and Rockstar has done a tremendous job of recreating a casino setting. The player takes on the dealer at the table, remembering that in 3-Card poker straights rank higher than flushes, but a straight can be beaten by three of a kind and a straight flush.

So there are differences between 3-card poker and Hold’em, and the former is probably a version that most aren’t as familiar with. The nice thing about the casino setting in GTA Online is that you can play a few hands, go off and look at some slots or horse racing, and then come back to poker.

Watch Dogs

Watch Dogs is another video game in which poker is covered very well, with four levels of play. The nuanced aspects of poker don’t quite hit as well as it does in RDR2, for example, as opponents can be a bit repetitive in playing style.

But Watch Dogs poker is still competitive and there are some nice touches like Aiden using his hacking skills to get a leg-up on his opponents. The mini-game still adds a nice element to the overall game and is a way to build some in-game currency.

Popular Mini-Game

Poker remains a popular mini-game in PC titles and can be found in plenty of formats, from low to high-stakes games. Some are linked to in-game rewards and bonuses, adding to the complexity and titles like Far Cry 3 and RDR2 really bring home the intensity of the poker, where there is a little more at stake.