Blackjack is the most played table game at online casinos. But there is a fair number of players that like poker based casino games. Here the players play against a dealer hand as in blackjack or against a payout table as in video poker. A new variant of casino poker game called Heads Up Hold’em has just gone live at Playtech powered Omni Casino. Heads Up Hold’em is different from the other online casino poker games in its betting structure and side bets. You can play Heads Up Hold’em at the Omni Casino desktop and mobile gaming platforms.

Heads Up Hold’em is played with a standard deck of 52 cards. You have to first place an Ante bet and an equal amount on the Odds side bet. You see your two pocket cards and decide whether you want to check or make a Play bet equal to three times the Ante bet. The three flop community cards are then dealt. If you had checked earlier then you may make a Play bet equal to two times the Ante bet or check again. If you had already made the Play bet, then you must check. The final two community cards are then dealt. If you had checked twice, then you must either make a Play bet equal to the Ante bet or fold. If you fold then you lose both the Ante and Odds bets. If you had already made the Play bet then you must check.

After the betting is completed, the highest ranked poker hands are automatically made for the player and dealer using any combination of their own two cards and the five community cards. These hands are compared using the standard poker hand rankings to decide the winner. The dealer needs at least a pair to qualify. If the dealer does not qualify then the Ante bet pushes. If the dealer qualifies then a winning Ante bet pays even money. A winning Play bet pays even money whether or not the dealer qualifies. The Odds bet pays out according to a payout table based on the player hand and who is the winner.

If you want more excitement then you can go for one or more of the optional side bets. The Bad Beat bet win if you lose to the dealer despite having a straight or higher. The Triple Plus bet wins if you get three-of-a-kind hand or better. The Pocket Bonus wins if you are dealt two starting cards that form a pair, ace and face or pocket aces.