Review: Poker on steroids – 'Balatro' is all about trick cards

Knowing the rules is the first step to being good at card games. But in 'Balatro', it's not that simple. — Photos: LocalThunk/dpa

BERLIN: Card games often follow this pattern: You randomly draw cards, find the best combination and play them at the right time. In Balatro you need more than just a lucky hand, because certain special cards make all the difference.

A basic understanding of poker is needed to understand the principle of the game – as well as some maths. Each round consists of three blinds (minimum bets), in which players find and play the cards in the classic poker combinations such as full house or flush.