Poker is a centuries-old game with a popularity that has exploded worldwide thanks to the addition of online and video poker games, thrilling televised poker tournaments, and enduring popularity in movies and TV.
Another reason poker is so popular is that there are so many different ways to play. Some games are well-known and played globally, while others are less common. Here’s a look at some of the most popular poker variants played globally:
Stud Poker
Stud Poker is a traditional form of poker where players are dealt face-down (hole) cards and face-up (exposed) cards over multiple betting rounds. Each player forms the best hand possible using their community cards. Examples of stud poker games include Seven-Card Stud and Mississippi Stud.
Mississippi Stud
In a Mississippi Stud game, players compete against a pay table rather than against each other or the dealer. The game begins with an ante bet, and players receive two hidden cards. Then, three community cards are placed face-down on the table. Players have the choice to fold or place an additional 3rd Street stake.
After revealing the first community card, players must decide whether to fold or make a 4th Street stake. After revealing the second community card, another round of folding or betting occurs. Finally, the dealer shows the last community card, and players must decide whether to fold or place a 5th Street bet. The paytable determines the winner, with the best five-card hand taking the pot.
Seven-Card Stud
Seven-Card Stud is a popular variant of stud poker, where each player is dealt seven cards for the hand. It differs from Texas Hold ’em as it does not involve community cards. In Seven-Card Stud, players must make the best possible handout of their seven cards. The game typically involves a combination of betting rounds, with players striving to have the highest-ranking hand at the end.
Community Card Poker
In Community Card Poker, also called Flop Games, the dealer deals private hole cards to each player, placing several community cards face-up on the table. Players combine their hole cards and the shared community cards to create their best hand. Texas Hold ’em and Omaha are famous examples of community card poker games.
Texas Hold ’em
Texas Hold ’em is a poker variant in which players compete to make the most excellent five-card hand possible by combining their cards and the shared community cards.
In Community Card Poker, each player receives two private cards, commonly called “hole cards.” The first betting round commences with the player seated to the dealer’s left. Following the betting round, the dealer lays three community cards face-up on the table, known as the “flop,” another betting round begins, beginning with the player to the dealer’s left.
The fourth community card, the “turn” or “fourth street,” is placed on the table, followed by another betting round. Finally, the “river” or “fifth street,” the final community card, is placed on the table. The remaining players show their hidden cards after the last round of betting, and the player with the best hand wins the pot.
Players can combine their hole cards and community cards throughout the game to make the best five-card hand. The key to success in Texas Hold ’em is a combination of skill, strategy, and careful observation of opponents’ betting patterns.
Omaha
Omaha is a community card poker game that is legally named as Omaha Hold’ Em, but most players refer to it as Omaha or Omaha High. It is similar to Texas Hold’Em, however there is one major difference between the two. Players are dealt four cards instead of two in Omaha. You can only utilize two cards to build a poker hand and no more than two.
More hand combinations are required in Ohama than in Texas Hold’em, resulting in more strategic games. Furthermore, Omaha contains a Pot-Limit betting structure, which means that players can wager up to the whole amount in the pot.
Omaha requires players to be aware of the strength of their hand as well as the possible combinations they may create with the shared community cards. To make sound betting decisions, it is also necessary to consider the various hands that opponents may hold based on the community cards.
Draw Poker
Draw Poker is a form of poker where players are dealt a complete hand and then have the opportunity to improve their hand by drawing new cards. After the initial deal, players can discard some or all of their cards and receive replacements from the deck. The goal is to build the best hand possible. Five-Card Draw is a well-known example of a draw poker game and Badugi.
Badugi
Badugi is a lowball poker game that originated in Asia and has gained popularity worldwide. The goal is to make the lowest possible handout of four cards of different suits and rankings. To play Badugi, deal four cards to each player, begin betting, let players discard and draw fresh cards, continue betting, repeat the drawing and betting procedure, and eventually have a showdown to identify the winner with the lowest-ranking Badugi hand.
Five Card Draw Poker
The five-card draw is the simplest among the other variants of poker. The dealer distributes five cards face-down to each player, starting from the left of the dealer button. Players take turns to fold, call, or raise, beginning with the player left of the dealer.
Each player can exchange any number of cards for new ones from the deck. Another round of betting occurs, where players can check, bet, fold, call, or raise. If more than one player remains, a showdown takes place. Players reveal their hands, and the highest-ranking hand wins.
Takeaway
The online poker variants discussed in this article are just a few among all the available. Because of the ease of online platforms, gamers can play these different games from the comfort of their own homes at any time. Exploring the variety of poker games accessible online may give you infinite hours of fun, whether you’re a newbie hoping to learn the basics or a seasoned player searching for new challenges.
