Poker is one of the most popular forms of gambling, both at online casinos and in land-based venues. However, for a newbie to the game of Poker, or even an experienced player looking to play a different version of the game, understanding all the different variations of this game can be infinitely confusing.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most popular types of Poker and how they vary in terms of rules and strategy:
Texas Hold’em
The most popular variant of Poker around, Texas Hold’em is the standard form of Poker offered in most Poker rooms, both at casinos and online. No Limit Texas Hold’em is often the type of Poker used in television shows and at celebrity events.
The reason Texas Hold’em is so popular is because it’s one of the easiest forms of Poker to learn and offers even amateurs the chance to win big. At the beginning of each game each player is dealt two cards with three community cards in the centre of the table. Players use their own hand as well as the three community cards, plus two more community cards delt after the next round of bets have been placed to try and get the best hand.
The player with the best five card hand wins the game.
7-Card Stud
Before Texas Hold’em shot to fame, 7-Card Stud was the most commonly played Poker variant however today it is not often seen in land-based casinos and is typically reserved for specific Poker tournaments.
In 7-Card Stud there are no community cards with each player being delt his own individual hand. Some of a player’s cards will be delt face down while other cards are delt face up and are visible for all to see. As in Texas Hold’em, the player with the best five card hand wins with the strategy based on the cards you have but also what cards you can see around the table and what you predict to be left in the deck.
Unlike the unlimited versions of Texas Hold’em, 7-Card Stud typically has a set betting structure with a capped value per hand. A short deck variant of Texas Hold’em is sometimes also played at tournaments in which only 36 cards are used in the deck. This reduced number of cards ups the ante of the game while increasing the likelihood for good hands.
Omaha Hi
Omaha Hi is a pretty easy game of Poker to learn with rules that are very similar to Texas Hold’em however players are dealt four cards. Players need to use two of the cards in their hand and three of the community cards to make their final five card hand. Because you are dealt more cards in the beginning, it is easier for Omaha Hi players to craft a good hand.
This Poker variant is also known as Pot-Limit Omaha with the highest hand at the end being awarded the entirety of the pot. Another variation of this game, known as Omaha 8-or-Better or Omaha Hi-Lo is played the same way but sees the final pot winnings divided between the highest rank hand and the lowest. For a low hand to win all five cards in the hand must be ranked 8 or lower.
Badugi
A unique form of Poker, Badugi uses a four-card hand instead of the five cards we have discussed in the three previous types of Poker. Badugi is a complicated game to learn because of the complicated ranking systems used to determine the best hand. Believe it or not, suits do not matter in a game of Badugi style Poker and Aces are always counted as a low card.
Also, as Badugi is a form of draw card game you won’t have any idea of how your hand ranks in relation to other players until the final winning showdown. This game, which originated in the 80s, can typically only be found at online Poker specific channels that offer a wide variety of games or in Poker tournaments where a mixed variety of games are played.
5-Card Draw
5-Card Draw is also a form of draw card Poker but is much easier to learn and play than Badugi. This form of Poker only has one draw round and two rounds of betting. This straightforward game offers players lots of excitement as you try to make the highest ranked five card hand. In the beginning each player is dealt their own private selection of five cards from which they can choose to fold, call or raise.
Thereafter there is a drawing round where players can choose to draw an additional number of cards. This is then followed by the final betting round before the winning showdown. Being an easy game to follow, 5-Card Draw is also a popular variant for tournaments and esports events as onlookers can easily see the exact hand of each player.
As a quick variant of Poker, it also allows for a number of hands to be played in a short period of time.
Razz
A stud form of Poker, Razz turns the game on the head as players actually are hoping to achieve the lowest possible ranking. Razz is often played in mixed games of Poker and is also relatively easy to play once you have an understanding of the rankings. If you love action and excitement, click this link to find the fun online.
Similar to other forms of stud Poker players are dealt a selection of face down and face up cards in Razz and a limited bet structure is used. In lowball games like Razz it is harder to determine your possibility of a winning hand until the later rounds, which can be both a pro and con, depending on what type of Poker player you are.
HORSE
While not a form of Poker per se, HORSE is an acronym for Hold’em, Omaha Hi/Lo, Razz, Stud, and Eight-or-Better, and often refers to tournaments in which a variety of different types of Poker are played. HORSE is most often played in high stakes live tournaments with viewers liking to see how the professionals fare with the different types of Poker.
