I'm in the mood to get a casino game, mostly to play blackjack, but it'd be great to play other types of games. Originally, I was going to pick up the Hard Rock Casino game, based on the license alone. After reading some reviews on Amazon, though, I decided not to get it. I've heard Hoyle Casino is good. The reviews on Amazon say that Hoyle 2004 doesn't offer much in the way of improvements over Hoyle 2003. In fact, some reviewers were upset that in the latest edition you need the CD to run the game.

Should I go with Hoyle 2003? I can find that for $10. Is there a better game out there? Thanks.

Hoyle was always fun. If you can afford the new one, get that, but if you're short on cash get 2003.

I'd imagine that the only differences are types of slots or rule changes, little details like that.

I thought if you did the full install you wouldn't need the CD to run 2004, but I was wrong. The only thing I don't like about Hoyle 2004 is that there isn't any no-limit tournaments.

You can download a pretty good free blackjack sim at:

http://www.s-a-g-e.com

Thanks for the replies. I went ahead and got Hoyle 2003 yesterday. I want to play the game on both my laptop and desktop, so the selling point was that I didn't need the CD to run the game after a full install.

This should help me learn the rules to some table games before my next trip to Vegas.

I am looking for a good PC game for Texas Hold 'em. Any ideas?

Figured this thread was a good place to start.

I just got the new one at Target for $19.99 that had been mentioned in another thread... Donohoe Digital's Tournament Poker No limit Texas Hold'Em.

The AI is pretty good. Only occasionally do I see an AI player stay in a hand all the way and end up losing with a weak one, allowing me to look back at how the hand progressed and wonder why he stayed in.

And even then, given the nature of the game, it's tough to argue it's unrealistic since even top players can completely misjudge their opponent and stay in with a losing hand.

My wife seems to like www.pokerstars.com

don't know how well/realistic the funny money players play, but keeps her off my a$$ for a decent amount of time everyday

Real Deal Casino. 24 games. Great variety. Cheap.

I'll 2nd DD...

http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthr...ighlight=texas

Great way to get hours of Holdem practice in. IMO, it's better than the unrealistic play of the free no-foldem holdem online poker sites. Playing for real money is better but then you have to worry about player collusion via telephone or voice chat.

Thanks for posting about the Donohoe Digital poker software. This was the first I've heard of it. Nice price, too.