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PokerStars Offers New Hold’em Variant in Showtime Hold’em

A few weeks ago, PokerStars released Split Hold’em, a new variant of Texas Hold’em that used two board to increase action. PokerStars recently pulled Split Hold’em from their lineup and have now introduced a new variant for players to try.

Showtime Hold’em is PokerStars’ newest game, giving poker players more information than ever during a hand. This unique form of poker is akin to Seven Card Stud where a number of cards will be seen by players, allowing them to make better decisions than in standard Hold’em games.

What is Showtime Hold’em

No, Showtime Hold’em is not connected in any way to the Los Angeles Lakers. Instead, it is a new form of Texas Hold’em where once you fold your hand, it is available for view by other players. When you fold that A-9 suited in late position, other players will be able to see your tight fold and make decisions in that hand as well as future hands.

Imagine being in on the button and having everyone else folded to you on the button and being able to see the cards folded. That’s possible in Showtime Hold’em. From that point, you will be able to make better decisions. When a potential straight or flush presents on the board, you’ll be able to see how many real outs your opponent may have. You’ll also get a better idea of whether they are merely representing a pair of aces when an ace hits the flop or if they are bluffing.

According to Director of Poker Innovation and Operations Severin Rasset, “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.”

PokerStars Ambassadors Fintan Hand, Lex Veldhuis, and Ben Spragg tested out the new variant and you can watch them play in the video below:

Showtime Hold’em Adds an Added Level to the Game

For smarter players who like to deeply analyze every hand, Showtime Hold’em is a great game as you can constantly put your opponents on wider ranges because you can merely eliminate cards already showing. This is similar to Seven Card Stud where you can see everyone’s third street card. After third street, you still know the upcards that were folded and this allows you to make decisions on later streets.

In Showtime Hold’em, you get to see every folded card and this allows you to make better decisions throughout the hand. Which cards can be used as blockers. Who is playing a tighter range? Who is speculating pre-flop and giving up early on the flop? You can learn these answers and many more with this game.

For now, Showtime Hold’em is being offered on a trial basis similar to Split Hold’em. Due to the amount of information available to players in this game, it is easy to see this game being popular to more analytical players. For those that prefer to limit the amount of information given during a hand, this will be a game to avoid.

The one thing that we think that PokerStars might have wanted to do differently is to offer this game during a different time of the year. Starting next week, the majority of the poker world is going to be focused on the 2018 World Series of Poker, including those in other countries.

While it is true that PokerStars does not operate in the United States outside of New Jersey, players will be focusing a lot of time on sites that offer WSOP satellites or potential buy-ins to the WSOP Main Event. While the difference in the number of players during WSOP season may not be substantial, it may be enough to help the site decide whether to keep the game long-term or whether this is merely a fun short-term experiment.

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