Texas Hold'em Poker
Texas Hold'em poker is the most popular poker game type among all poker games, because it's simple to play, but offers a huge variety of tactical and strategic decisions. Texas Hold'em poker is action-packed, fun, and always rewards the player that uses the best poker strategy.
It's believed that this poker variant was invented sometimes in the early 1900's in Texas, USA, after which the game became famous all around the States. Texas Hold'em poker became available in Las Vegas casinos in 1967, and from that moment on it became the favorite game of many.
People attribute the exponential increase in popularity of this poker type to the fact that it offers four betting rounds compared to the two betting rounds in Draw Poker that was played before Hold'em became famous.
Playing the game is simple, yet one must have a comprehensive knowledge about card values and several strategies in order to be successful. Check out our Texas Hol'em rules guide to learn more.
Omaha Poker
Omaha is another extremely popular type of poker available in online poker rooms or real life casinos. It's extremely similar to regular Texas Hold'em poker, but it contains some key differences in gameplay.
In Omaha poker, a player is being dealt four cards, and his task will be to use two of these four cards to form a winning card combination with three of the five community cards. The player with the highest ranked hand will win.
The number of the cards a player is being dealt increases the volume of strategic decisions necessary, which makes Omaha somewhat complicated, but in the same time extremely entertaining.
Omaha poker became popular relatively later than Texas Hol'em, first being introduced to Las Vegas in 1982, but in just a short time it became an instant success. Read our Omaha Poker rules guide for further guidance.
7 Card Stud Poker
7 Card Stud Poker was the most popular and famous poker variation before Texas Hold'em became available. But this doesn't mean that 7 Card Stud is not popular anymore, in fact, this poker type is closely competing with Hold'em and is said to be the second mostly played card game available.
7 Card Stud Poker rules are a lot different than Texas Hold'em rules in the matter of game play, card combination building and betting. While in Hold'em players receive two cards, in Stud a player receives 7 cards, three face-down and two face-up.
At the end of the round, the remaining players at the table will have to form a card combination of five cards out of their seven cards. The best combination wins. Note that in 7 Card Stud Poker there are no community cards being dealt.
Other Poker Variations
5 Card Draw Poker
5 Card Draw Poker is similar to Texas Hold'em, but it contains an element that is hugely different, namely the fact that people are allowed to discard their cards.
The game begins the same way as Texas Hold'em, meaning that players will be required to place some mandatory bets, called 'blinds" and "antes. After this is done, the dealer will deal five cards face-down to each player.
Next follows a betting round, and after it's finished, people will have the possibilities to discard up to five cards from their hands. This possibility is optional, and one may keep each one of its cards, if desired.
In the final round each player will have to reveal its cards, and the one having the best card combination, meaning the highest valued hand, wins the pot. If more people have the same card combination, then the pot will be split.
Caribbean Stud Poker
Caribbean Stud Poker supposedly was invented sometimes during the 80'ies, which makes it one of the youngest poker variants available.
Before receiving the cards in Caribbean Stud Poker, each player will have to place an ante bet. After this is done, the dealer will give out five cards to each player and also five cards to himself. Each player card will be given out face down, but the dealer will receive one card face-up, the rest face down.
After this, players will be required to either fold (abandon the game and lose the ante bet) or play (requires doubling the player's ante bet). Then the dealer will reveal his four cards that were placed face down.
Now, the most important thing to remember is that the dealer must have Ace with a King or higher in his hand in order to continue playing. If the dealer doesn't have this cards, he will pay out the players with even money.
But if the dealer does have a card combination containing the mentioned cards, then he will continue playing and in the next round each player has to compare his or her card combination with the dealer's cards. The higher hand wins.
These are the most common types of poker games available. If you want to learn more about poker, then read our additional articles.