Types of Poker Games – Complete Guide
Types of Poker Games – Complete Guide
The Main Types of Poker by Game Variations
Hold’em Games
One of world’s most popular poker games (aka Community Card Poker). The most popular Hold’em games are Texas Hold’em and Omaha variants.
Texas Hold’em
During Texas Hold’em, all players receive two cards face down (so-called ‘hole’ cards). The betting round occurs, after which the Dealer opens 3 community cards face up (so-called Flop cards); 2nd betting round takes place, after which the dealer opens a 4th community card (Turn card); after another betting round, the 5th community card is dealt (River card), after which the last betting round occurs; if there are still players left after the last betting round, showdown occurs and the winner is determined by combining the players’ cards in hand and the community card. Players use any of the 7 cards (2 hole cards + 5 community cards) to make the best possible combination.
Omaha (Classic- High Card)
The main difference between Omaha and Hold'em variants is that the players receive 4 “hole” cards and need to use 2 out of those 4 to combine with 3 community cards for determining the winning combination.
Omaha variant has several sub-variants, depending on the number of 'hole cards (cards in players' hands):
Omaha3 (3 'hole cards and slightly different hand rankings)
Classic Omaha (4 'hole cards, standard hand rankings)
Omaha5 (5 'hole cards, standard hand rankings)
Omaha6 (6 'hole cards, standard hand rankings)
Omaha7 (7 'hole cards, standard hand rankings)
Draw Games
This game variant is played with no community cards, and (usually) played in the following sub-variants (the :
5 Card Draw (Old Poker game usually played in Europe, with no community cards, where you hold 5 cards and can draw (replace) some or all of your cards)
2-7 Single Draw (this is a lowball poker variant where the goal is to make the lowest possible five-card hand, with straights and flushes counting against you, and aces always high ( worst card))
2-7 Triple Draw (a game where you get to draw (replace) cards 3 times during a hand and where the lowest hand wins)
A-5 Triple Draw (similar to "2-7 Triple Draw" with different hand rankings)
Stud Games
Stud games vary in that you cannot swap any card in any of these games. A Stud game is more difficult if you don’t understand poker well because there are not as many decisions to make. Whenever a game is dealt a person is only asked whether to fold or play.
Unlike card draw games, in community card games, there’s essentially no need for strategies when selecting cards and putting them into play. It is significantly less difficult for poker games to learn than when requiring more options.
Stud poker is commonly known as Five Card Stud (but other variants, like 7-Card Stud is usually the most popular poker communities). The game is also the foundation of many other popular poker variants. In a number of bet rounds, a player has the choice of a face-up one-card show or a facedown five-card show. In each round, the player with the highest-ranked card has the option to place bets on the other players. The best hands win the pot.
7-Card Stud is also popular in Hi/Lo variant (Hi/Lo explained below)
Additinally, RAZZ variant is also popular. This is a lowball stud game where the lowest possible hand wins. Aces are low and straights and flushes don’t count against you.
Badugi
Badugi is a unique four-card lowball draw poker variant where the objective is to form the lowest possible hand with no paired cards and all four cards of different suits. The hand ranking system is significantly different from traditional poker games.
There are four rounds of betting in total. One round before the first draw and one round after each of the three drawing rounds. In each drawing round, players can discard any number of unwanted cards (zero to four) and receive new ones from the deck.
The most crucial rule is that a hand with more “valid” (unpaired, unsuited) cards always beats a hand with fewer valid cards, regardless of the card values.
Badeucey
Badeucey is a split-pot poker variant that combines Badugi and deuce-to-seven triple draw, where half the pot goes to the best Badugi hand and the other half goes to the best deuce-to-seven lowball hand. Players aim to make a four-card Badugi with no repeated suits or ranks (aces high) and a low hand of five cards with no straights or flushes (aces low). The game involves three drawing rounds to improve the hands.
Badacey
Badacey is a split-pot draw poker variant that combines Badugi and Ace-to-Five Triple Draw, where half the pot goes to the best Badugi hand and the other half goes to the best A-5 low hand. A key difference from other variations like Badeucey is that aces are always considered low for the low hand, and straights and flushes do not count against the low hand.
Additional Types of Poker by Scoring Variations
High hand (in Hi/Lo variation)
The pot goes to the player with the highest-ranking high hand, in High Hand poker, which is the most prevalent variant. The high hand rankings in this card game adhere to the standard rules found in popular variations like Texas Hold’em and Omaha.
Low Hand (in Hi/Lo variation)
In poker variations such as Razz or 2-7 Triple Draw, half the pot goes to the player with the lowest hand. Hand rankings are completely different in these games; hole cards with straights and flushes are typically disregarded. This means that a hand like Ace-2-3-4-5, also known as the “wheel,” becomes the most powerful hand.
Hi/Lo Split
In combination of these two scoring modes above, the gameplay focuses on splitting the money among the players with the best hand (High Hand), and the players with a Low hand win the other half of the Pot.
Antes
Prior to being dealt at the start of each hand, all players are required to make antes, which are mandatory bets. These antes serve the purpose of maintaining a constant fund in the pot and encouraging more active participation from remaining players. In certain games, such as Seven-Card Stud or Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo, they are commonly used alongside blinds – obligatory bets.
Pot limit
Pot Limit involves a unique betting system that lets players wager when dealt or increase their bets up to the present pot size. The maximum bet is set by the current pot value (max bet = current Pot amount), enabling larger bets and potentially resulting in substantial pots as the game unfolds. Pot Limit Omaha (PLO), a well-liked variation of the game, ususally employs this particular betting framework.
CAP limit
Each of the variants can be set to be played with CAP applied. Cap is basically a top-limit, usually set lower than the minimum buy-in; when players reach the Cap amount, it's considered as an "all-in" situation and the showdown begins regardless of the stage of the current hand.
