Poker is one of the most popular card games in the world, and there are lots of variants to choose from. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert player, you will find a variant of poker that’s perfect for you. In this article, we’ll take a look at the most popular poker games and give you a brief overview of each one.
In this article, we’ll start with Texas Hold’em, which is the most popular variant and is often considered the “standard” poker game. We’ll then move on to other popular variants of Poker like Omaha, Stud, and Draw poker. By the end of this article, you’ll have a good understanding of different variants and all Poker rules to confidently choose the right poker game for yourself.
Texas Hold’em
If you’re looking for a game of poker that’s relatively easy to learn and offers a high level of excitement, then Texas Hold’em will be the perfect game for you.
In Texas Hold’em, each player receives two cards (which are known as hole cards) that are theirs to keep private. Ater that, the dealer deals 3 community cards face-up in the middle of the table. These cards are shared by all players and anyone can use them to create the best hand possible.
Players can use any combination of their two hole cards and the three community cards to create their hands. The goal of this game is to make the best hand possible, and the player who has the best hand at the end of each round will win chips. The player with the most chips at the end of the game will be announced winner.
Omaha
Omaha is a lot like Texas Hold’em, but there are a few key differences. For one, each player is dealt four hole-cards instead of two. And secondly, you have to use two of your hole cards and three of the community cards to create the strongest hand.
Another big difference is that there’s a lot more betting in Omaha. In fact, there are four rounds of betting: after the hole cards are dealt, after the flop (when three community cards are dealt), after the turn (when a fourth community card is dealt), and after the river (when the final community card is dealt).
The way to win in Omaha is simple: you must have the best hand at the end of the final round of betting. But because there are so many cards involved, it can be tough to make a winning hand. That’s why Omaha is sometimes called a “drawing” game because players often need to rely on drawing additional cards to improve their hand.
Seven-Card Stud
Seven-card stud was the most popular variant of Poker before Texas Holdem came into the picture. It is still considered an absolute blast in the world of Poker.
In Seven-Card Stud, each player is dealt two hole cards (cards that are face down and only visible to the player) and one face-up card. All players who receive a hand will put some amount in the pot, called “ante”. There are then four betting rounds, during which players can choose to fold, call, or raise.
After the first betting round, each player is dealt another face-up card. This continues until each player has seven cards total. On the seventh street, each player will receive a final face-down card. Once this is done, the players must make the best five-card hand, out of the seven cards they have received. The final betting round takes place after the seventh card is dealt. And the best five-card hand wins the pot.
Five-Card Draw
In Five-Card Draw, each player is dealt a separate hand (which is hidden and only visible to the players) before betting begins. After the first round of betting, each player may then choose to draw (or trade-in) up to five cards and replace them with new ones from the deck. The second round of betting then takes place, which is called the showdown. After this the player who has the best hand wins the pot.
Five-Card Draw is often ranked as the simplest form of poker. This variant of the game will be a good starting point if you’re just learning the game. This is also a popular variant for home games as teh rules are easy to explain to new players and the game doesn’t take too long to play.
Chinese Poker
This poker variant, Chinese Poker is played between 4 players, but can be played between 2 to 3 players as well.
Here, each player is dealt thirteen cards and must arrange them into three poker hands (the best 5-card hand called the backhand), (mid 5-card hand called the middle) (a weak three-card hand called the front hand). The backhand is the highest, followed by the middle and then the front. The front hand must be the lowest-ranking hand of the three.
Once everyone has set their hands, the player with the highest-ranking backhand starts the betting. They can either bet 1 unit or 2 units. In a two-unit bet, the other player can either call or raise to 4 units. If they raise, the first player can either call or fold. And that’s how betting continues until one player has either called or all other players have folded.
The game ends when both players have set their hands and there is a winner for each of the three hands. The winner gets 1 point for each unit they bet on a winning hand. If there is a tie, neither player gets any points.
High-Low Split Games
In high-low split games, the pot is divided between the highest hand and the lowest hand. The highest hand is determined by the standard poker hand rankings, and the lowest hand is usually ace-to-five lowball but can be ace-to-six lowball or deuce-to-seven lowball.
To qualify for the low half of the pot, the player must have a hand that is eight high or lower. For example, if the highest card in your hand is an eight, and the next highest card is a six, you would have a qualifying low hand. But if there was a nine in your hand instead of an eight, you would not have a qualifying low hand.
The most common high-low game in this variant is Omaha Hi/Lo, which is played with four hole cards and five community cards.
Conclusion
There you have it! A guide to some of the most popular poker games played around the world. Now that you know the rules, you can put them into practice. Start by gathering a group of friends together, or you can even try your hand at online poker.
Don’t be afraid to bluff – that’s part of the game and if used right, this technique will be a lot of fun! If you are just getting into the game, remember, the more you play, the better player you’ll become. So, what are you waiting for? Browse the best apps and websites online and start playing today!
