Poker Variations: Ultimate Guide to Types of Poker Games

The name Poker evokes the single-game format. But it has never been just one game. It is a collection of distinct styles that have evolved over centuries. Tracing its roots back to a 10th-century Chinese domino-card game, poker endured through generations, finding new life in 19th-century America with versions like five-card draw and seven-card stud.

Its breakout moment came in the 1970s when Texas Hold’em took centre stage at the World Series of Poker, turning it into the most widely played form today. But if you want to explore poker variations, there’s far more. Let us unpack the main types of poker games, how they differ, and why exploring each one can refine your skill in the game.

How Poker Games are Categorised

Poker is a versatile game with over 15 variants. Poker games are categorised based on four factors: Card structure, Betting structure, Game format, and Rotation style. Each category is further divided to produce many variants available.

There are three main types based on card structure:

• Community Poker, where players share cards placed on the table like in Texas Hold’em
• Stud Poker, where players receive a mix of face-up and face-down cards, as in Seven-Card Stud
• Draw Poker, where players receive all private cards and can exchange some to improve their hand, e.g., Five-Card Draw.

The second factor is betting structure, which determines how players can place their bets. These include:

• Limit games with fixed bet sizes
• No-limit games, where players can wager any amount at any time
• Pot-limit games, where bets can go up to the size of the current pot

Third, poker varies by game format: some reward the highest hand, while others reward the lowest hand (lowball). Some split the pot between the best high and low hands (high-low games).

Lastly, there's the rotation style or mixed games. Multiple poker formats are played in sequence to increase the complexity. Popular examples include HORSE and 8-Game Mix. Needless to say, mixed games challenge a player’s skill across several types of poker games.

What variant is the best for you? It is based on your skill, experience, and interest.

List of Poker Game Variants

The poker game has three main variants, under which there are several poker variants. These three types of poker are stud, draw, and community card games. Essentially, most variants of poker use the same poker hand rankings, regardless of the play pattern. Here's a list of different types of poker games you can play:

Community Card Poker Variants

Community card poker games are the most popular and simplest. Players receive private hole cards and share a set of face-up community cards, which are placed on the table. The goal is to create the best five-card hand by combining personal and shared cards. Rounds are based on the staged reveal of the community cards.

Texas Hold'em: The World's Most Popular Poker Game

Texas Hold 'em is one of the most popular poker game variations. It offers various table selections and stakes to choose from. Texas Hold'em poker has several variations based on the betting limits function.

In this variant, the players are dealt two hole cards each and wait for five community cards to be dealt. The game is played in four betting rounds, and the players must make the best hand using five cards from their hole cards and community cards.

Omaha Poker

Pot Limit Omaha poker game has three poker variants - Omaha Hi, Omaha Hi/Lo, and 5-Card Omaha. The poker rules followed in Omaha poker variations are the same as those in Texas Hold 'em poker, with the main difference being that players are dealt four hole cards instead of two. The players must make the best hand by combining two hole cards and three community cards.

• Omaha Hi

  After Texas Hold 'em, Omaha Hi, also known as pot-limit Omaha, is the most popular variant in the community card games category. Omaha Hi refers to the highest bet receiving the entire pot after the end of a segment.

• Omaha Hi/Low

  Omaha hi/low is similar to the Omaha Hi poker variant, with the difference in the pot division. While the highest bet is rewarded with the entire pot in Omaha hi, the pot is divided at the end of each hand into two parts, in Omaha hi/lo, for the highest and lowest five-card variations.

• 5-Card Omaha

  In the 5-card Omaha poker variant, each player is dealt five hole cards. The players must make the best hand by combining two hole cards and three community cards. 5-card Omaha is played in a pot-limit format.

• 6-Card Omaha

  As the name suggests, each player is dealt six private cards instead of four. However, the rule of combining two hole cards and three community cards to form the best five-card hand remains the same.

Draw Poker Variations

Each player is dealt a hand at the beginning of every round in the draw variant, with the cards faced down. The players can change their hands and choose to either discard the card or keep it. The different forms of Draw Poker include 2-7 triple draw poker and 5-card draw poker.

2-7 Triple Draw Poker

Players can choose their 5-card hand in this game, but the cards should be faced down or unexposed as per poker rules. The players are given three chances to make the best low hand. Poker hands such as straights and flushes are essential in this game.

5-Card Draw Poker

In this game, players choose their cards, which are hidden from their opponents. The objective is to aim for the highest-ranked 5-card hand. The player with a more significant hand defeats other players.

Stud Poker Variations

Stud poker involves players being dealt a mix of face-up and face-down cards in multiple rounds. However, there are no shared cards. Players must build their hands individually and decide based on the visible cards of their opponents.

Seven Card Stud

In Seven-card Stud, seven cards are dealt to each player: 2 face-down and five face-up cards. Players must choose their best five-card hand to determine the winner. It involves multiple betting rounds after each card is dealt. There are no community cards like in Texas Hold'em.

Razz

In the Razz poker variant, players attempt to make the best low hand. The game's ranking system does not count flushes and straights against the lowest hand. Moreover, the Aces are ranked lower, making A-2-3-4-5 the best possible hand.

Mixed Poker Variants (For Advanced Players)

Mixed games combine multiple poker formats in a single session, rotating between them by time or hand count. Mixed formats test a player’s adaptability and all-around poker skills.

Badugi: The Four-Card Lowball Game

Badugi poker is quite similar to the draw and lowball variants of poker. This type of Poker uses a high-ranking system to determine the best hand. Badugi is not extremely popular but is played as a home game and in select online poker rooms. It is also played in tournaments in mixed poker games events with other forms of Poker.

Open-Face Chinese Poker (OFC)

Chinese Poker is different from traditional Poker and is a relatively new game. In the OFC poker games, players draw cards from a deck and attempt to make the best hand. Players don't place bets during the rounds and instead play on a points basis. At the end of the game, points are tallied to determine the winner. Open-face Chinese poker is relatively easier to understand and play. Some of the variations of OFC poker include:

• Pineapple Poker
• Double-check
• Backhand
• Turbo
• Front Hand
• Middle Hand

HORSE Poker

The horse word in horse poker stands for Hold 'em, Omaha hi/lo, Razz, stud, and Eight-or-better. Horse poker is mainly played in live games with high stakes. The game can be a bit complex, as players must keep in mind the rules for five different types of poker games while playing.

Short Deck Poker

Short deck poker is a Texas Hold'em-type variant popular for high-stakes cash games and tournaments. However, the poker hand rankings in short deck poker differ from the rankings in Texas Hold'em. For instance, a Flush can beat a Full House in this variant. Also, the 2s and 5s are removed from the deck in the game. Short-deck poker is played with 36 cards, hence the name short-deck.

FAQs

How many variations of Poker are there?

Poker has over 15 variations. Texas Hold’em, Omaha, 7-Card Stud, and 5-Card Draw are the most popular among them. However, depending on betting structures (limit, no-limit, pot-limit) and mixed game formats like 8-Game Mix and HORSE, there are additional variations as well.

What is the most popular variant of Poker?

Texas Hold'em is the most popular variant of poker worldwide, thanks to its widespread presence on online platforms and in televised tournaments. It is the simplest variant, comprising four rounds. With two hole cards and five community cards, players aim to build the best five-card hand or bluff opponents.

What is the easiest poker variant to learn for beginners?

Draw Poker is considered the easiest form of poker for beginners. Games like Five Card Draw and Deuce to Seven Draw are straightforward. Each player receives their own hand and has the opportunity to replace cards to improve it.

What are the poker types on the MPL app?

The MPL app features four popular poker formats: No-Limit Texas Hold’em with 2 private cards and Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO), 5-Card PLO, and 6-Card PLO in which players receive 4, 5, or 6 private cards but must use exactly 2.

Can I play poker variations for free on MPL?

Yes. You can play variations of poker for free on MPL. The free poker games also offer real cash prizes. However, not all variations on MPL may offer free games.

How do I choose the right poker variation for me?

Choosing the right poker variation requires trial and error. However, the best poker variations for beginners are No-Limit Hold'em, followed by Omaha, Razz, or Chinese Poker. Consider factors such as game complexity, the number of starting cards, and whether it utilizes community cards. Your skill level matters just as well. Experiment with different variants to find the one that suits you.

Are there any live poker variations unique to India?

Yes, India has a unique live poker variation known as "Indian Poker" or one-card poker. Each player is dealt just one card in the game. They hold the card to their forehead, making it visible to others but not to themselves.

What is a 'mixed game' in poker?

A mixed game in poker is a format where players rotate between multiple variants of poker within a single session. For example, H.O.R.S.E. and 8-Game combine variants like Texas Hold'em, Omaha, and Razz. Compared to the single variants, mixed games increase challenge and strategy. They're more suitable for skilled players.

How important is bluffing in different poker variations?

Bluffing is a crucial element across most variations of poker. While beginners might avoid it, skilled players use bluffing to capitalise on opportunities and maximise profits. In games like Texas Hold’em or Omaha, bluffing is especially vital. Without it, you're playing only half the game strategy.

What are the stakes typically available for poker variations on MPL?

MPL Poker offers a range of table types and game formats. Players can choose from Standard, Rapid, and Run It Twice (RIT) tables across various variations of poker, including No-Limit Texas Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha. With features like multi-tabling and multiple table sizes (4P, 6P, 9P), the stakes on MPL vary to suit both low-stakes and competitive players.