Poker Variants

There are more variations to the game of poker than grains of sand on earth, but some of the most popular variations – ones found both offline and online – are detailed below: Texas Hold’em. Texas Hold’em is the mother of all poker variations and the most common and popular form of poker played today. Dealer’s choice card games are variants from the traditional games of poker and more often played during a home game than the casinos. Our selection of dealers choice poker games are based on. A poker variant is a game of cards that follows the single main rule of Poker: the ranking of hands or a simple variation of it (such as adding additional possible 'hands' like three pair, or reversing the order of the hands, for Lowball). Some variants of poker are more 'poker-y' than others, but if hands aren't ranked, it ain't poker.

Today, when someone asks if you play poker, they generally mean Texas Hold ‘Em – a game that’s become increasingly popular over the past decade thanks to the World Series of Poker and movies like “Rounders.”

But there are many versions and variations of poker, the main types being stud, draw and community card games. At “friendly” tables, the dealer often has the choice of deciding the type of game. More structured tournaments usually specify the format from the get-go.

Below are a few of the most popular versions of poker that you may encounter at your weekly dealer’s-choice poker game. If you don’t know these, you’ll be at a disadvantage when something wild (like FOLLOW THE QUEEN!) is called.

Common terms you should know

Before we dive in to the specific games, there are a few terms every player (and prospective player) needs to know:

Ante – the minimum amount you must gamble to get into the action of the game.

Blinds – money (generally in chip form) put on the table before the cards are dealt; there are typically two blinds (called the “small” and the “big”) and ensure money is being wagered with each hand; blinds rotate from player to player with each new deal.

Call – when a new wager has been placed, a “call” indicates that player’s willingness to match the raised amount.

Check – if no new wager has been made and the player doesn’t wish to raise, they may “check”.

Raise – the player wishes to increase the table bet.

For a more complete list of poker terms, check out Wikipedia’s glossary of poker terms.

Popular poker games

In “stud” games, players are dealt a number of cards (typically 5 or 7) and must use those original cards to make their best hand.

In “draw” games, the players may decide to trade in some of their cards (generally up to 3) in an effort to improve their hand.

In “community card” games, the players are dealt “hole cards” face down (cards that are uniquely theirs) then play off the community cards to make their best hand. What makes them “community cards?” The other players at the table also may play off them.

Texas Hold ‘Em

Played in the World Series of Poker, Texas Hold ‘Em is easily the most popular poker game in America today. In Texas Hold ‘Em, players are dealt two “pocket” or “hole cards” then wait for 5 community cards to be revealed.

Betting takes place in four rounds: once after the hole cards are dealt, once after the first three community cards are revealed (referred to as “the flop”), once after the fourth community card is revealed (“the turn”) and lastly after the fifth community card is flipped (“the river”). Players must make their best hands with any combination of 5 cards (their hole cards and the communal).

Omaha

Omaha is another type of Hold ‘Em that can be played by 2-10 players at a time. Like Texas Hold ‘Em, there are four rounds of betting, but unlike that version, each player is dealt four hole cards and the five community cards are immediately revealed. Players must make their best 5-card hands from two of their hole cards and three of the common.

7-Card Stud

In 7-Card Stud, each player is dealt 7 cards, three down and four up. Players must make best possible 5-card hand from their 7.

5-Card Draw

Poker Variants List

Each player is dealt 5 cards, but on the initial go around, the player may choose to trade in up to 3 of them.

High / Low Chicago

This stud game can be played for the highest hand or the lowest. In High Chicago, the player with the highest spade face-down wins half the pot. In Low Chicago, the player with the lowest spade face-down wins half the pot.

The other half of the pot is won by the player with the best hand. If someone, however, has the best hand and the winning spade (high or low, depending on version), that player will win the entire pot.

This game can be added to, and played simultaneously with, many other poker variations.

Follow the Queen

Poker Variants Home Games

This is a 7-card stud poker game in which the wild card is designated to be the next exposed card after a queen is flipped. If no queens are flipped, there are no wild cards that hand.

And keep in mind there are almost infinite ways to win at poker, and many rules are malleable. It is important to know the specific guidelines of the game you’re in…

For example, be sure to know:

• If a high hand or low hand wins in your game (some games offer hi/low, in which the high hand and the low hand split the pot).
• If an Ace is high or low.
• If there are wild cards.
• If there is a pot limit (how much money can be wagered on any single hand).
• If the deck is a typical 52 or some other amalgamation (for example, a “royal deck” uses two decks but only cards 9-A, which results in a deck of 48).

At Clearwater Casino Resort, one of the top Seattle casino resorts, we offer 3-card poker on the floor as well as regular poker games and tournaments in our Poker Room where we pay out more than $50,000 in tournament cash every month!

Many poker fans believe that online poker is all about Texas Hold’em and maybe Pot Limit Omaha. While there’s no denying the fact that those versions of the game attract the biggest crowds, most of the major poker rooms support countless variations of the basic poker formula. If you’re interested in expanding your horizons and checking out some of the most exotic variations of the game, reading this guide should definitely give you some idea what to expect.

Stud Poker Variants

Texas Hold’em

Texas Hold’em is the most popular poker game and accounts for the vast majority of traffic on most poker networks. If you’re new to poker, starting your poker adventure with Texas Hold’em would probably be a good idea. The game can be played with up to 10 players, but short-handed and heads-up variants are also fairly popular. At the start of the game each player receives 2 hole cards. The board on the other hand is composed out of 5 cards. The first three are revealed during the second round of betting, which is called the flop. The next card is revealed on the third round (turn), while the last card is placed on the board on the river and is followed by the final betting round.

Omaha

Omaha is the second most popular poker variant in the world. The game is surprisingly similar to Texas Hold’em – the only major difference is the fact that all players receive 4 hole cards instead of 2. Quite obviously, Omaha strategies are quite different from the ones that work in Hold’em. If you’re new to this variation of poker, you definitely shouldn’t rely on your Hold’em experience too much.

5-Card Omaha

5-Card Omaha is a different take on classic Omaha. In this variation of the game, each player receives five hole cards rather than four. As you’d expect, switching from standard Omaha to its 5-Card variant is easier than making the transition from Hold’em.

Seven-Card Stud

Seven-Card Stud used to hold the status that Texas Hold’em enjoys today. In this game, the players start with two downcards and a single upcard. A game of 7-card Stud begins with each player placing the ante. This in turn is followed by four rounds of betting, which correspond to three additional upcards and one more downcard. By the end of the game, each player has to make a five-card poker hand from the seven cards that are at his disposal.

Razz

Razz is a different take on the Seven-Card Stud formula. In this game, all players have to make the best low hand using their cards. In Razz, all aces are always considered to be low. Flushes or straights don’t determine how strong a hand is. The best hand in Razz is A2345.

Five Card Draw

Five Card Draw is arguably the simplest poker game that you can play online. Players receive five hole cards, which is followed by a round of betting. Each player may opt to discard any of the cards and draw to fill his hand back up to five. After the final round of betting, players compare their hands and decide who claims the pot.

2-7 Triple Draw

Fun Poker Variants

2-7 Triple Draw is a rather exotic version of the classic Five Hand Draw. In this game players can draw cards three times rather than once. Furthermore, all pairs, straights and flushes are counted against your hand. The Ace is always considered a high card. All in all, the strongest hand in 2-7 is 23457 off-suit.

2-7 Single Draw

As you’ve probably already guessed, 2-7 Single Draw is just like 2-7 Triple Draw, but there’s only one round during which players are allowed to discard and draw cards.

Ace-5 Lowball

Ace-5 Lowball is yet another variation of Five Card Draw. In this game, your objective is to hit the lowest combination after three drawing rounds. Aces are considered low, straights or flushes don’t count against the players. As the name implies, the best combination is Ace-5 Lowball is A2345.

Triple Stud

Poker Variants Pagat

Triple Stud is a complex mix of Razz, Seven Card Stud and Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo. The variations are switched every eight hands.

H.O.R.S.E

This mixed poker game requires the players to master Hold’em, Omaha Hi/Lo, Razz, Stud Hi and Stud Hi/Lo. The game is always played with a limit betting structure. The games are usually swapped every

Mixed Games

Popular Poker Variants

Mixed games are a broad category of tables and tournaments that require you to play different poker variations due to their structure. The most popular type of a mixed poker game is H.O.R.S.E, which stands for Hold’em, Omaha Hi-Low, Razz, Seven Card Stud, Stud Hi-Low and is played with a Limit betting structure. The games cycle every round.