Discover the 10 Poker Variations Beyond Texas Hold’Em

Poker makes up most casino card games online and in land-based casinos. With its many variations, it’s hard to choose the best one that suits your playing style. Luckily, you can find your perfect poker match by exploring the 10 most common poker variations out there. 

Each game’s intricacies are different – you’ve got your lowball games like Razz and Badugi, then your nerve-wracking mixed game formats like HORSE. Read on below to find the best poker variation for your playing style!

10 Common Poker Variations Online

1. Texas Hold’em Poker

With good reason, Texas Hold’em is one of the most played poker variations nowadays. This version is a great place for beginners to start because the rules are rather straightforward. But there’s an almost infinite strategic complexity to it. 

In Texas Hold’em, players are dealt two secret cards and five community cards, which are shown face up. What’s the trick? Combine these cards to form the strongest five-card hand.

It takes guts, talent, and—as usual—a little bit of luck.

2. Omaha Poker Variations

Sick of the same old poker game? Omaha Poker is here to shake things up. Unlike Texas Hold’em, where you only get two cards, Omaha gives you four. This extra set of cards makes one of the most popular poker variations more strategic and exciting.

Furthermore, compared to standard Texas Hold’em, Omaha poker has less poker variance. Omaha hands, as opposed to the wider 75/25 range seen in Hold’em, typically have better balanced odds when players go all in, closer to 60/40.

There are three main poker variations of Omaha:

• Omaha Hi: This is the most popular variation. Players aim to create the highest five-card hand using two of their hole cards and three of the community cards.
• Omaha Hi/Lo: In this variation, the pot is divided between the player with the highest hand and the player with the lowest hand. This creates a dynamic where players are encouraged to chase both high and low hands.
• 5-Card Omaha: As the name suggests, players receive five hole cards in this poker variation. The rules for combining cards remain the same: players must use two hole cards and three community cards to form their best hand.

3. Badugi

Badugi is a lowball poker variation that offers a refreshing twist on the traditional game. Instead of aiming for the highest hand, players in Badugi compete to create the lowest possible hand.

How Badugi Works:

• Four-Card Hands: Badugi is played with four cards, unlike most poker variations that use five.
• Unique Suits and Ranks: To qualify as a Badugi hand, all four cards must have different suits and ranks. This creates a unique challenge compared to other poker variants.
• Standard Deck: Badugi is played with a standard 52-card deck, and it can accommodate 2 to 8 players.
• Betting Rounds: The game follows a similar betting structure to other forms of poker, with multiple rounds of betting after each card is dealt.

4. Razz

Razz poker is another one of the lowball poker variations. The goal is to create the worst possible five-card hand from your seven cards. It’s a complete reversal of traditional poker where high hands reign supreme.

Straights and flushes don’t count in Razz. The ultimate goal is to achieve the infamous “Wheel”: Ace-2-3-4-5. It’s a game of strategy, luck, and a bit of mind-bending logic. This completely changes the trajectory of common poker positions, with early, middle, and late positions being less pronounced than your average poker game.

5. HORSE Poker

H.O.R.S.E. is a mixed game format that tests a player’s versatility and adaptability. The acronym stands for Hold’em, Omaha Hi/Lo, Razz, Seven-Card Stud, and Eight-or-Better (Seven-Card Stud Hi/Lo). Each game is played for a set number of hands before switching to the next, demanding mastery of all five variations.

For beginners who want to play and win poker like a pro, H.O.R.S.E. can be a steep learning curve. Mastering five different poker variations or games simultaneously requires dedication and practice. And while H.O.R.S.E. is popular in high-stakes tournaments, it’s less common in casual settings. Finding games can be challenging.

6. Draw Poker Variations

Draw poker is a classic poker variant in which players can improve their hands by exchanging cards. Unlike poker variations like Texas Hold’em, which involve sharing community cards, draw poker relies solely on the cards dealt to each player.

At the start of each round, every player receives a hand of cards that are initially face-down. Players can then choose to discard any number of cards and draw replacements from the deck. This gives them a chance to create stronger hands.

There are several popular poker variants of draw poker, including:

• 2-7 Triple Draw Poker: In this game, players aim to create the lowest possible hand. Straights and flushes are particularly valuable in this variant, as they can help achieve a low hand. Players have three opportunities to improve their hand by discarding and drawing cards.
• 5-Card Draw Poker: This is the most straightforward form of draw poker variations. Players receive a five-card hand and have one chance to discard and draw replacement cards. Players must form the highest-ranking five-card hand in order to win the pot.

7. Short Deck Poker

Short Deck, a Texas Hold ’em poker variant, has gained popularity in high-stakes cash games and tournaments like the World Series of Poker. This unique format uses a reduced deck of 36 cards, excluding the twos and fives. This creates a faster-paced game with increased opportunities for strong hands.

However, it’s important to remember that your opponents will also have better hands more frequently. The reduced deck size means fewer cards are in play, increasing the chances of encountering valuable cards and making it one of the most challenging poker variations out there.

8. Open Face Chinese Poker

Chinese Poker is a unique poker variation where each player receives 13 cards and must split them into three hands: a front hand (three cards), a middle hand (five cards), and a back hand (five cards). The goal is to have the front hand be the lowest-ranking, the middle hand be in the middle, and the back hand be the highest-ranking.

Once players have arranged their hands, they reveal them face-down in order: front, middle, and back. Before revealing, players announce whether they’re playing their hands and, if so, what royalties they’re betting. 

Instead of the standard poker chip values, royalties are predetermined units that players can wager on the strength of their hands. Points are awarded based on hand rankings, and the winner collects royalty units from other players.

9. Stud Poker Variations

Stud poker is a timeless poker variant that has been a staple of casinos for centuries. Unlike games like Texas Hold’em, where players share community cards, Stud poker relies entirely on the individual cards dealt to each player.

In Stud poker, players are dealt a mix of hidden and revealed cards, with betting opportunities after each round. This unique format creates a dynamic where players must carefully analyze both their own cards and the cards of their opponents to make informed decisions.

Two of the most well-known poker variations of Stud poker are:

• Five-Card Stud: Of all the stud pokers, this is the simplest form. Each player receives five cards, with the first card face-down and the remaining four cards face-up. Betting rounds occur between each deal.
• Seven-Card Stud: A more complex variation, Seven-Card Stud involves seven cards per player. Three cards are dealt face-down, followed by four face-up cards. Betting rounds take place between each deal, and the player with the best five-card hand at the end wins.

10. Pineapple Poker

Pineapple Poker is one of Texas Hold’em’s most exciting poker variations that offers a unique twist. If you’re looking for a fun and exciting way to spice up your poker nights, Pineapple is definitely worth a try.

How Pineapple Works:

• Three-Card Start: Unlike Texas Hold’em, where players receive two hole cards, in Pineapple, each player is dealt three cards.
• Forced Discard: Before the flop, players must discard one of their three cards. This adds an element of strategy and decision-making.
• Multiple Versions: Pineapple comes in various forms, including Classic Pineapple (discard before the flop), Crazy Pineapple (discard after the flop), and Lazy Pineapple (discard after the river).

It’s fast-paced and has the added complexity of the third card, making it a popular choice for casual players and poker professionals. Whether you’re a seasoned poker player or just starting out, Pineapple’s one way of basically just playing poker and having fun without much strategy!