Other Games to Play That Can Be As Fun as Poker

The most competitive poker players could use a break sometimes you don’t have to stop experiencing the thrill of playing games and the challenge of making strategies work.

There are plenty of other games you get into to refresh a change of pace you’re looking to sharpen different strategic skills, or want something you can alternate with your favorite poker games to vary your gaming experiences.

If you’re looking to play new card games or you’re interested in trying something new like live betting or board games, here are some alternatives that might interest you.

Let’s start off with card games that are reminiscent of your favorite pastimes. They can also be fun to play because they usually offer a similar and even familiar blend of skill and strategy that you’re so used to deploying when playing poker.

Like poker, Gin Rummy requires you to analyze your hand, make calculated decisions about which cards to keep and discard, and try to anticipate your opponent's moves. There's also a psychological element, as you try to bluff your way to victory. This type of card game is faster-paced as rounds would usually last for a few minutes.

Even if most players would immediately think that blackjack is a much simpler game compared to poker, it still involves calculating probabilities and making strategic decisions based on incomplete information. In this game, you need to weigh the risks and rewards of each move, just like in poker. Though you’re not exactly competing with other players on the same table, you’re still playing against someone in this game which is the dealer.

Cribbage might seem like a quaint card game with its wooden board and pegs, but there’s more to it that poker players might enjoy. This game requires you to analyze your hand and make strategic decisions about which cards to keep and discard. 

It has a scoring system that rewards players for forming certain combinations of cards. In a way, this game helps players hone their hand-evaluation skills, probability assessment, and strategic thinking.

Betting might not strictly be a "game" in the traditional sense, but like poker, this too allows you to make strategic decisions. This might be something you can enjoy if you’re looking for something that’ll challenge your specific set of skills that you’d also use in playing poker. Here’s why:

• Strategic Thinking:  Betting is also about analyzing statistics, assessing risk, calculating probabilities, and adapting your strategies based on the ever-changing landscape of the sport. That’s pretty much what sharp poker players are also doing.
• Diverse Options: Sportsbooks usually offer a diverse range of betting options that allows you to tailor your bets to your knowledge and comfort level, just as you might choose different poker games or tournaments.
• Emotional Control:  Just like in poker, managing your emotions is key to success in sports betting. No, you don’t necessarily have to practice your poker face in placing your bets as it's about being able to separate your bias from your decision-making and staying disciplined and rational even when your favorite team is on the line or when a losing streak is threatening to derail your strategy.

If the strategic intensity of poker is what you crave, but you want something faster-paced, try live betting. You have to make real decisions in live betting to adjust your strategy based on how a team is performing (in poker, like how the other players have been playing).

Believe it or not, the strategic thinking and social dynamics of poker can be found in the world of board games too.  These tabletop challenges offer a different kind of mental workout, but one that can surprisingly complement your poker skills. Here are a few titles that might pique your interest:

• Settlers of Catan: Catan is a poker tournament where resources are your chips, and settlements are your winning hands.  You'll need to wheel and deal with other players, forge alliances, and adapt to the luck of the dice to build your empire. 
• Splendor: This a game of engine-building and optimization where you carefully plan your moves to outpace your opponents.  Just as in poker, you need to balance immediate gains with long-term strategy and anticipate your opponents' plays to come out on top.
• Chess: If poker is a battle of wits and cunning, chess is its pure strategic counterpart.  It's a game of mental warfare where you anticipate your opponent's moves, plan your attacks, and defend your position.

So, there you have it. That’s a whole deck of exciting alternatives to explore when you're ready to shuffle things up with your gaming habits. Some of these, especially card games and sports betting, are usually available at your favorite online casinos where you play poker. 

Some, you might have to enjoy with some friends or family, like the board games. The bottom line is that all these are fun poker alternatives that allow you to be strategic and competitive.