We are bringing you a unique poker format, based on Texas Hold’em – PokerStarsTempest Hold’em with antes that increase until a showdown is reached, an extra pre-flop blind, and just two options for all players: all-in or fold! Find all the necessary details in the text below and join the entertainment!
Available exclusively at PokerStars, PokerStars Tempest Hold’em is easy to pick up and packed with fast, fun action.
- Deep Water Hold'em is a brand new game that PokerStars just released in conjunction with another format called PokerStars Tempest. OP-Poker James tests out t.
- Tempest is for gamblers Tempest is the opposite, being an extreme short-stacked game. Players can only buy-in for 5 to 10 times the Giant Blind. This alone automatically means there is much less room for poker decisions and strategy than in Deep Water.
The Rules
At the beginning of each hand, every player posts an ante. The value of antes for a given hand is based on previous hands dealt at the table:
PokerStars Tempest Hold’em We are bringing you a unique poker format, based on Texas Hold’em – PokerStars Tempest Hold’em with antes that increase until a showdown is reached, an extra pre-flop blind, and just two options for all players: all-in or fold! Find all the necessary details in the text below and join the entertainment!
- If the previous hand had a showdown, the ante is reset to its lowest value.
- If the previous hand did not have a showdown, the ante value increases. (up to a maximum value, displayed in your game window)
In addition, the player sat to the left of the Big Blind posts a third blind called the Giant Blind, which is double the value of the Big Blind.
The hand then plays out according to Texas Hold’em rules, but with two significant differences:
- Players have only two options, pre-flop: togo all-in or tofold.
- Every pot is ‘capped’, meaning that no player can wager (or lose) more than10 Giant Blindsin a single hand.
Table Of Contents
Since the very first poker hand ever dealt, poker players have likely been complaining about the quality of their cards. Now, PokerStars is offering them the chance to do something besides simply moan about their poor luck.
With Swap Hold'em, PokerStars' latest game creation, players have the option to discard their hole cards — one or both — in favor of new ones.
According to Poker Industry PRO ($), Swap Hold'em is now available worldwide for both play and real money after initially being released for testing in the U.K.
Mechanics of Swap Hold'em
Swap Hold'em looks like regular six-max hold'em, although PokerStars has released special table designs to play host to the game. Players buy in for up to 100 big blinds and post blinds as per usual.
Tempest Holdem Strategy
Where things diverge is as soon as the first decision point comes up for each player. Along with regular betting and checking options, players can click one or both of their cards any time it's their turn. The selected cards will pop up, darken, and have a vague 'X' on them. A faded 'Swap' button will light up and give players the opportunity to swap out the selected card or cards.
Tempest Holdem - Image Results
Should the player elect to swap, the cards are thrown away and new ones delivered. A small graphic will appear next to the player's cards to indicate a swap occurred and how many were swapped.
'Like other new games we’ve introduced on PokerStars, this one presents players with new strategies, and dynamics never previously thought up'
Only one swap is allowed, so players can't swap one and then decide to swap the other at a later time. The swap can be executed at any time when action is on a player, with the only restriction being the option is lost when a player is all in.
If you've swapped, you can hover your mouse over the swap icon and see the old card or cards.
A similar ability was part of Power Up, Pokers' innovative esports-like offering that was retired last November.
'Like other new games we’ve introduced on PokerStars, this one presents players with new strategies, and dynamics never previously thought up,' wrote Stephen Bartley for PokerStarsBlog.
Indeed, strategic adjustments include when and which cards to swap, and an Omaha-like blocker effect where players can know up to four cards in the deck in order to help with decision-making.
PokerStars released the following video showing the game in action:
Latest in PokerStars' Line of Novelty Games
Since PokerStars first rolled out a novelty format, Split Hold'em, in March 2018, the world's leading online poker operator has continued to churn out various games well outside the normal selection of poker offerings.
According to PRO, Swap Hold'em is the eighth such offering to go live, with most staying in the client for about two months.
6+ Hold'em and Tempest Hold'em have been the longest-lived, both having been released in 2019 and remaining in the client through the time of writing. As 6+ Hold'em has been in the client for more than a year, it seems it could be a permanent offering.
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Tempest Holdem
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