If you’re anything like me, you love poker. Poker is one of the most fun and popular gambling games I have played with anyone. Family, friends, strangers – everyone can take a hand at playing poker and leave laughing and creating some good memories. And with the rise of online gambling sites, like me you can enjoy poker even at home.
But did you know that poker has several variants and each has its own playstyle? From the popular Texas Hold’em to the Three Card Poker, here are 6 online poker variants I know you need to know.
Texas Hold’em
Texas Hold’em is one of the most popular online poker variants you can find. It’s most popularly played in some of the big tournaments, such as the WSOP Main Event and the WPT World Championship.
The rules are pretty simple: The round starts with a player calling the big blind and another calling the small blind, which is usually half of the amount called by the big blind. Then each person receives two hold cards, which they can see for themselves.
Then a betting round follows. This is where you can see all the poker faces coming up and the usual words such as “Call”, “All in”, “Raise”, etc. A total of five community cards will be laid at the table, with the last two cards placed after subsequent betting rounds.
The aim is to create the best possible five-card combo out of the total 7 cards on the table (2 holes and 5 community cards) and win the pot. The rounds of betting keep the excitement high, as you can bluff or bet big on a strong hand, so it’s no wonder this game is a must in both live and online poker rooms.
It’s also a pretty common game among many online gambling sites. I often check reviews of Texas Hold’em games as and when they are posted to https://www.casinomeister.com/, as it saves me time and enables me to ‘get to the point’ with their in-depth industry insights and comparisons.
Omaha Hold’em
Next comes the Omaha Hold’em. If you like playing Texas Hold’em but need a bit more action, that’s when you can choose this variant.
The gameplay is pretty similar, except for the fact that each person receives 4 hole cards instead of 2. You have to create the best five-card combo from two of your hole cards and three of your community cards. This makes the game more exciting as there are many more possibilities and combinations you can make.
Seven Card Stud
The seven-card stud is also one of the most popular poker variants played throughout the world. It’s a bit more mind-challenging than the other variants since a small difference creates the biggest change in strategy for the game.
The difference? Each person gets 7 cards of their own with no community cards placed on the table. The cards are laid in this way: 3 cards are dealt face down and 4 cards are dealt face up. They will then have to create the best 5-card combo out of these 7 cards to win the lot.
It’s also a much slower-paced game that requires a lot of memory and analytical skills, so it fits well for people with a strong memory, unlike myself.
Five-Card Draw
The five-card draw is one poker variant that has a more element of surprise than the rest. It’s also one of the simplest and most straightforward games without much need for a poker face from anyone.
In the five-card draw, you’ll be directly dealt five cards face down. Now you’ll have an option to play or fold. If you play, you can exchange up to three cards for possibly better ones. If there are two or more active contenders after a draw, then a showdown takes place. Everyone reveals their hand and the best-ranked hand wins the pot.
Razz
Razz is the complete opposite of the 7-card stud. Like the 7-card stud, you receive 7 cards with 3 cards dealt face down and 4 face up. The objective? Try to make the lowest 5-hand combination to win the jackpot.
The lowest hand you can possibly have is A-2-3-4-5. This is a great variant for gamers who are looking to test their skills in a game where high-card strategies won’t apply.
Three Card Poker
Unlike other traditional poker variants, three-card poker is where you’ll play against the dealer. After placing the bets, each player receive 3 cards face up while the dealer receives their card face down.
Now you have the option to fold or place a bet equal to your previous bet. Once all bets are placed, the dealer then shows their card and the one who has the highest card wins the pot. There’s also an optional bonus bet that can pay out big if you get a strong hand like a straight or three-of-a-kind.
Other Poker Variants
Apart from the ones mentioned above, there are some honourable mentions worth looking out for:
- Pineapple Poker: A variant similar to Texas Hold’em, but gamers receive three hole cards and discard one before the flop.
- Crazy Pineapple: Similar to Pineapple Poker, but gamblers discard one of their three-hole cards after the flop.
- Badugi: A draw poker variant where gamers aim to have the lowest four-card hand with each card of a different suit.
- HORSE: A mixed-game format consisting of Hold’em, Omaha Hi-Lo, Razz, Seven-Card Stud, and Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo.
- Chinese Poker: Contestants receive 13 cards to arrange into three poker hands: two five-card hands and one three-card hand.
- 5-Card Omaha: Similar to Omaha Hold’em but with five-hole cards instead of four, increasing the complexity and hand possibilities.
- Irish Poker: A mix of Texas Hold’em and Omaha, where gamblers start with four-hole cards and must discard two after the flop.
- Pineapple Open-Face Chinese Poker: A variant of Chinese Poker where gamblers gradually receive cards to form three poker hands, with added complexity and strategic depth.
To Wrap It Up
Each of these variants has evolved from the standard poker game to make it more fun and appealing to local traditions and playstyles. It’s important that you try each one of these variants and see for yourself how good each option can be. In the meantime, gamble responsibly and stay safe!