Poker has been played in online casinos for years, but we bet there are more types of poker than you're even aware of. In this blog, we will talk you through the different types of poker games and show you the most popular.
Texas Hold 'em is one of the most popular variants and is usually the game everyone thinks of when playing poker. But other types of poker games shouldn't be overlooked, either. Our blog will give you everything you need to know about the most common types of poker games, so next time you head to the tables, you'll have much more variety to choose from.
How Many Different Types of Poker Are There?
Types of poker are so numerous that compiling them all in a single blog would be impossible (there's even poker with dice, if you can believe it!) That is why we chose to get you acquainted with the most popular types of poker and guide you on how they work.
Regardless of the poker variant, there are a couple of things to remember. First, poker, unlike most casino games, is a game of skill. Although chance plays a significant role in this card game, you won't get far relying on pure luck.
Second, bluffing is an integral part of poker, and it's what sets it apart from every other casino game. If you don't practice your poker face together with your skills, you may expect to lose the pot even if you hold the strongest hand.
In the lines below, we will discuss different types of poker games at casinos and how they work. However, if you need clarification on the rules, we suggest you pore over our piece on how to play poker, which will lay the foundation for every variant of the game.
That said, the following are the most famous types of poker, and we will discuss all of them in depth:
- Texas Hold'em
- Omaha Hi
- HORSE
- Razz
- Chinese poker
- Short deck
- Pineapple
- Badugi
- Five-card Omaha
- Five-card draw
- 2-7 triple draw
- Seven-card stud
#1 Texas Hold'em
Undoubtedly the king of poker, Texas Hold'em is the standard poker variant at casinos and tournaments. Although the rules of Texas Hold'em are easy to learn, it will take you a lot of practice to master the game.
Here's a short overview of Texas Hold'em gameplay:
Initially, you are dealt two pocket/hole cards (face down) and must wait for five community cards to be revealed in the middle of the table. Once revealed, you must use your two hole cards and any of the five community cards to create the best 5-card combo out of the possible poker hands depicted in the image below:
While you're at it, you can also check out poker hand nicknames that you can use as you start to grasp poker to make you sound more at home with the game.
#2 Omaha Hi
Omaha poker, including Omaha Hi and Omaha Hi-Lo, can be traced back to the Midwest during the early 20th century.
The game likely evolved from Texas Hold 'em, which was already popular in the region and was probably a result of players experimenting with variations of Hold 'em.
One theory suggests that Omaha emerged as a natural progression from Texas Hold 'em, with players in Omaha, Nebraska, or nearby areas developing their twist on the game.
Omaha Hi is popular among players looking for an action-packed table, welcoming 2-10 players and featuring four betting rounds: unlike two hole cards in Texas Hold 'em, in Omaha Hi, you are dealt four hole cards while five community cards are immediately revealed.
The aim is to create a 5-card poker hand of the highest value using your hole cards and three community cards.
#3 Omaha Hi-Lo
Omaha Hi-Lo is similar to Omaha Hi and equally popular but with one significant difference. In Hi-Lo, you must form two hands using your hole and community cards: one high-valued and one low-valued hand!
#4 HORSE
HORSE is an acronym for the following five poker variants:
- Texas Hold 'em
- Omaha Hi/Lo
- Razz
- Stud
- Eight-or-Better
HORSE is often seen in the World Series of Poker and is usually played with high stakes in a live setting. This type of game is the ultimate test for poker players and will see them combine their skills from other variants into one game.
There are five rounds in the game, and each is played according to individual game rules, so we won't go into the details of each.
#5 Razz
Razz poker is often played in home games and mixed-game formats. As with most poker variants, the origins of Razz are unclear, but the game probably emerged during the mid-20th century.
The name Razz may have originated from the slang term raspberry, which means to deride or make fun of, a possible reference to Razz being a lowball poker game where the lowest hand wins.
Razz gained popularity in the 1970s and 1980s, particularly among poker players in California, becoming a regular feature in mixed-game rotations, often alongside other lowball variants like 2-7 Triple Draw and Badugi.
In Razz, the goal is to make the weakest possible five-card hand from seven cards dealt to them. Flushes and straights do not count against the player's hand, and the ace is always considered low, making the best possible hand A-2-3-4-5, also known as the "wheel" or "bicycle."
Betting in Razz follows the typical betting structure of most poker games, with rounds of betting interspersed with opportunities to draw additional cards.
#6 Chinese Poker
Chinese Poker, also known as "Pusoy" or "Russian Poker," is believed to have originated in Asia, which explains various names associated with it and its popularity in countries such as China, the Philippines, and Russia.
Chinese Poker likely evolved from traditional Chinese card games played for centuries before players seeking new and unique game variations combined it with poker in the late 20th century.
This poker variant differs from the others and doesn't follow traditional game patterns. However, it remains one of the more common variants as it is beginner-friendly, and if you have a good knowledge of essential poker hand rankings, you should pick this one up in no time.
Chinese Poker usually involves four players but can accommodate 2 to 3 players. Either way, players are dealt 13 cards and must split them into the following three hands:
- Strongest 5-card hand
- Middle-strength 5-card hand
- Weakest 5-card hand
You will then show your hands in this exact order. You can win by having the best hand in each of these three categories, which means if you don't have the strongest three hands, you can still win a share of the pot with one hand!
#7 Short Deck
The exact origin of Short Deck Poker, aka Six Plus Hold'em, is somewhat murky, but it's believed to have originated in China and Malaysia. The game's name, "Short Deck," refers to removing cards from the standard 52-card deck, typically the twos, threes, fours, and fives, leaving 36 cards (deuces through aces).
The fast-paced action game with subtle strategic nuances, Short Deck Poker, follows similar rules to Texas Hold'em but with some key differences.
Due to the reduced deck size, hand rankings are adjusted. In most Short Deck games, a flush ranks higher than a full house because it's harder to make a flush with fewer cards in the deck. Also, a three-of-a-kind beats a straight.
Instead of blind bets, Short Deck is often played with an ante-only structure, encouraging action and ensuring that there's always something to play for in each hand.
Finally, drawing hands like straight and flush have more potency in Short Deck because fewer cards are missing from the deck. Players are, therefore, more likely to complete their draws, leading to more action and bigger pots.
#8 Pineapple
Pineapple Poker is a variant of traditional Texas Hold'em whose exact origins are unclear, but it's believed to have emerged in informal poker circles before gaining wider recognition.
Pineapple Poker follows similar rules to Texas Hold'em with some key differences.
Each player receives three hole cards, with the extra card adding complexity and strategic depth to the game, as players must decide which two of their three hole cards to use when forming their hand.
After placing their initial bets, players must discard one hole card before the flop. This decision is crucial as it influences the range of hands players can have and adds a layer of strategy to the game.
The rest of the game follows the Texas Hold'em format, with a flop, turn, and river, and players making the best five-card hand using two hole cards and three community cards. The pot goes to the player with the best hand at the showdown.
#9 Badugi
This more unusual poker variant has been growing in popularity recently. This game differs from other poker variants because you are dealt four cards instead of five. Badugi is a common variation of draw poker.
It shares some similarities to Texas Hold 'em regarding the number of betting rounds and blinds, and if you're familiar with Hold 'em, you should also pick the rules of this one up quite quickly.
The main difference between Badugi and its older cousin is the objective. The main goal in Badugi is to make the lowest possible four-card hand with cards of different suits. A Badugi hand consists of cards from different suits and ranks; the lowest hand wins if no player has a Badugi. Also, Aces count as low, while straights and flushes don't count against the hand.
#10 5-Card Omaha
The next on our list of the most popular types of poker is 5-card Omaha. We can't say when and how this poker variant originated, but it's safe to assume it derived from Omaha poker.
As the name suggests, in 5-card Omaha, players are dealt five hole cards, giving them a significant edge compared to two hole cards in Texas Hold 'em. Players still need to use precisely two of their hole cards when constructing their hands, but they have more options.
Thanks to the increased number of hole cards in 5-card Omaha, starting hand selection becomes even more crucial. While in traditional Omaha, players typically look for hands with good potential for making strong post-flop hands, in 5-card Omaha, players need to be even more selective, as starting with five cards offers more possibilities but also increases the likelihood of having a weak hand if not carefully evaluated.
As a result, the potential for strong hands increases in 5-card Omaha, meaning that players are more likely to see bigger hands. Consequently, with higher hand values, 5-card Omaha rounds are more action-packed.
#11 5-Card Draw
This is one of the easiest poker variants to get the hang of, which is why it is so common. One of the reasons it's so easy to play is that there is less strategy involved, making it perfect for beginners and just as fun for pros.
5-card draw uses the standard poker hand rankings, with Royal Flush as the best hand. Like Hold'em and Ohama, it shares similar betting rounds, and each hand starts with a player being designated as the dealer.
#12 2-7 Triple Draw
Unlike some of the other poker games, this game (also known as Deuce to Seven) is a more advanced poker type and the aim of the game changes! The 2-7 Triple Draw goal is to get the lowest-ranked hand. The game is action-packed (and a little crazy at times), involving a lot of strategising.
This is a four-round betting game with three draws per game. Betting rules and table structure are similar to Texas Hold 'em and Ohama, so if you're already familiar with these variants, you may be able to pick up this one quicker.
You can choose which cards you want to discard during each game round. You don't have to choose any to discard, but you also have the option to discard up to five. The dealer will then replace any cards you discard. A maximum of six players are allowed at the table at any one time, and if you're looking for something different to try, this one is worth a shot.
#13 7-Card Stud
Before Texas Hold 'em exploded, this game was the most popular.
This variant involves two to eight players, and each player will be dealt seven cards. Three cards are dealt face down, and the rest are dealt face up. You aim to make the best possible 5-card poker hand out of your seven cards.
The game relies on standard hand rankings, with a Royal Flush as the best hand. It is another easy variant to pick up, which means beginners can easily pick up pace after just a few hands.
Classifying Different Types of Poker Games
Different types of poker games can be classified according to several parameters of gameplay, pot structure, and table size, i.e., number of players. Let's quickly dissect these various poker classifications.
Draw Poker Types
- 5-Card Draw
- 2-7 Triple Draw
- Badugi
- Chinese Poker
- Razz
- HORSE
- Pineapple
Stud Poker Types
- 7-Card Stud
Community Card Poker Types
- Texas Hold'em
- Omaha Hi
- Omaha Hi-Lo
- Lowball Poker Types
- (Lowball) 5-Card Draw
- 2-7 Triple Draw
- Razz
- Badugi
Note: All types of poker can be reversed to their Lowball or Low Poker versions. Lowball simply denotes a poker game where the lowest hand wins. Most commonly, however, the term is used for lowball 5-card draw.
Hi-Low Split Poker Types
- Omaha Hi-Lo
Poker Types According to Betting Structure
By betting structure, we mean the size of the pot. There are three basic types of poker according to the pot size:
- Pot Limit Poker - This is the most popular form of poker, where the main rule is that you cannot bet more than what's in the pot.
- No Limit Poker - As its name suggests, in No Limit Poker, you are allowed to bet as much as you want, including using all your chips if you like.
- Fixed Limit Poker - Each game applies a specific betting limit, meaning you can only bet a certain amount during each round.
Poker Types According to Table Size
The number of players at the table can also be used as a parameter for classifying a game of poker:
- Full Ring - Denotes a full poker table with nine or ten players
- Shorthanded - Refers to a game with six or fewer players
- Heads Up - A poker game played by only two players
How to Choose the Most Suitable Type of Poker
Once you get the basic gist of poker, you can crack multiple variants. The rules are relatively simple and most players can master the rules quickly. However, becoming a good poker player takes a long time.
Those who make it to the World Series Poker tables don't get there by luck! They get there through a love of the game, sheer determination, and hours upon hours of poker hands. Practice makes perfect, so go now and start honing your skills!
Good luck!
