From casino tables to informal gatherings between friends and online tables, you can find different types of poker, each with its own rules and strategies.
And if you want to become a champion player, knowing the different types of poker is a good strategy.
From the most popular types of poker, such as the classics like Texas Hold’em and Seven Card Stud to the lesser-known variations like Badugi and 2-7 Lowball, you have a variety of options to enjoy the game.
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11 types of poker to get to know and master at any table
The types of poker is extensive, with different games and rules, including the following:
- Five Card Draw
- Texas Hold’em
- Crazy Pineapple
- Omaha
- Omaha Hi/Lo
- Courchevel
- Seven Card Stud
- Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo
- Razz
- 2-7 Lowball
- Badugi
Below, we’ve put together the main rules of each type of poker, as well as tips that will help you evolve as a player.
#1 Five Card Draw
In Five Card Draw the aim is to form the best five-card hand. At the start of the round, each player receives five hole cards from the deck.
After receiving the cards, the players place their bets based on the strength of their hands (or their ability to bluff rs)
The game has several rounds, in which players can bet, match the previous player’s bet, raise their bet or fold their hand.
The first round of betting begins after the players have received their five cards. At the end, players have the option to discard up to three of their cards and receive new ones in return.
After the discard, a second round of betting takes place. If more than one player remains in the hand (i.e. continues betting) after the second round, the showdown takes place, where the players reveal their hands and the player with the best hand wins the round (or the pot).
Doubts about some poker terms? Just go to our guide: “Poker Dictionary: get to know the game’s expressions and terms”.
How does the poker sequence work?
Poker hands follow the standard hierarchy, with the order of hands being from strongest to weakest:
- Royal Straight Flush: 10 to Ace sequence of the same suit.
- Straight Flush: Any other sequence of cards of the same suit.
- Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank
- Full House: A three of a kind and a pair in the same hand.
- Flush: Five cards of the same suit.
- Straight: A sequence of five consecutive cards of any suit.
- Three of a kind: Three cards of the same rank.
- Two pairs: Two cards of the same rank and two other cards of equal rank.
- Pair: Two cards of equal value.
- No pair: Highest value card in hand.
#2 Texas Hold’em
Texas Hold’em is one of the most popular types of poker in the world. Its objective is to form the best five-card hand using the two hole cards that each player receives and the five cards that are on the table.
The two closed cards are dealt at the start of the round, they are also known as “hole cards”.
The five community cards are dealt to the table in three phases, with three cards being dealt in the first round and the remaining two in the following rounds.
The game has several betting rounds, where players have the opportunity to bet, call, raise or fold.
The first round begins after the players receive their two cards. After the first three cards on the table have been opened, a round of betting takes place.
This is followed by the opening of the fourth card on the table and another round of betting.
The last card on the table is then revealed and another round of betting takes place.
If more than one player remains in the hand after the last round of betting, the showdown takes place, where the players reveal their hands and the player with the best hand wins the pot.
Read also: How to bet on Dafabet: complete guide for beginners
#3 Crazy Pineapple
Crazy Pineapple is very similar to Texas Hold’em, but players are dealt three hole cards (not two).
After the first round of betting, the players discard one of their three cards, then the rest of the game follows the rules of Texas Hold’em. 😉
#4 Omaha
In this type of poker, each player receives four hole cards and five cards are placed on the table in three betting rounds.
The players must use exactly two of their cards (remember that you will be dealt four cards) and three of the cards on the table to form the best five-card hand.
In the first round, three of the five cards on the table are opened. In the following rounds, they are opened one at a time.
The main difference between the types of poker – Texas Hold’em and Omaha – is that in the latter, players must use exactly two of their four hole cards, along with three of the five community cards, to form the best five-card hand.
#5 Omaha Hi/Lo
As in traditional Omaha, the aim of Omaha Hi/Lo is to form the best five-card poker hand, using exactly two of the four hole cards each player is dealt, along with three of the five cards on the table.
Meanwhile, the pot is split between the best high hand (Hi) and the best low hand (Lo).
The low hand must consist of five cards of different values below eight to be valid and win the ‘Low’ portion of the pot.
#6 Courchevel
The first card on the table is revealed before the first round of betting. Except for this, the game follows the rules of Omaha.
#7 Seven Card Stud
Seven Card Stud is a classic form of poker that was popular before Texas Hold’em, although it is still played in casinos.
The aim of Seven Card Stud is to form the best poker hand with five cards, using the seven cards that each player receives during the various betting rounds.
At the start of each round, each player is dealt three cards, two of which are closed cards and one open card.
The player with the lowest open card starts the betting round with a forced bet, i.e. he is obliged to bet.
After the initial round, four more cards are dealt to each player, one at a time, with a round of betting after each deal.
The game has several rounds and players have the option to bet, raise, call or fold during each of them.
If more than one player remains in the hand after the last round of betting, the cards are tabled.
The poker hands in Seven Card Stud follow the standard poker hand hierarchy, from a pair to a royal flush.
Players must form the best poker hand possible using five of the seven cards they received during the betting rounds.
#8 Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo
Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo, also known as Seven Card Stud Eight or Better (or Seven Card Stud 8-or-Better), is a variant of Seven Card Stud where the pot is split between the best high hand (Hi) and the best low hand (Lo), containing five cards 8 or below.
For the high hand, the rules are the same as for standard Seven Card Stud. For the low hand, the cards must be 8 or below. The “As” counts as the lowest card, so the best possible low hand is 5-4-3-2-A.
If there is no qualifying low hand (containing five cards 8 or below), then the high hand wins the entire pot.
#9 Razz
In the list of poker types, Razz is a unique variation that differentiates itself by looking for the lowest possible hand rather than the highest.
In Razz, each player is dealt seven hole cards over several rounds of betting.
The first and second cards are dealt without the other players being able to see what they are. The third card is open and visible to all players.
Subsequently, three more cards are dealt so that everyone can see, with a round of betting after each deal.
The sixth and seventh cards are dealt closed, with a final round of betting after each deal.
Unlike other types of poker, in Razz the hierarchy of hands is reversed and the best possible hand is the “wheel” (5-4-3-2-A).
“Aces count as the lowest card, and pairs, threes, flushes and colors are not considered to form the lowest hand.
#10 2-7 Lowball
Similar to Razz, in 2-7 Lowball, the aim is to form the worst possible hand, meaning that the best hand is 7-5-4-3-2, containing no combination of cards that would form a better hand.
Each player receives five hole cards and the game has several rounds of betting, similar to other types of poker.
Players have the opportunity to bet, raise, call or fold during each betting round.
#11 Badugi
Badugi is a type of poker that originated in South Korea and differs significantly from traditional forms of poker.
The aim is to form the best possible four-card poker hand, where the best hand is one that contains four cards of different suits and low values.
At the start of each round, each player is dealt four hole cards and several rounds of betting follow, just like other types of poker.
After each round of betting there is a new distribution of cards and players have the option to bet, raise, call or fold.
If two or more players have four cards of different suits and low values, the hand with the lowest card wins.
So, are you ready to have fun with the different types of poker? As we’ve said throughout this guide, Texas Hold’em is the most popular variation. That’s why proposing a poker night with one of the lesser-known options can make an evening with friends, or even a serious championship, even more competitive.
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