Poker Variations

Here are a few fun poker variations that you do not see played online; they are linked within this page to a brief outline of their rules, so that you can try these out with your poker playing friends.

Quick rules guide for common poker games

Razz

Many online poker sites feature Razz which is a game of low hands. Pairs, Trips, Straights, Flushes and Quads do not have extra value. A hand with a pair can win, but very rarely does. A common winning Razz hand will feature five unique cards, the best being 5-4-3-2-A.

Very simply; seven cards may be dealt to each player (provided that they stay in the hand to the end) in the sequence; two face down and one face up as the initial deal, then three face up and one face down as separated deals. Betting rounds take place after the initial three cards have been dealt, and after each subsequent deal of cards. So in Razz there can be as many as five betting rounds.

Razz commonly uses antes and is played as a limit game; the blind bet differs in that the player with the highest card showing has to make the first bet. It is called the 'bring in', and can be thought of as the small blind.

The 'bring in' is usually 1/3rd the amount of the 'complete' bet. Other players can chose to fold or call the 'bring in,' or 'complete' the bet, the player bringing in may also chose to complete rather than bring in. After the complete bet is made a player acting later may chose to raise or re-raise.

If two players have the same ranked high card; often live, the bring-in card is chosen by suit; the descending order being spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs. Online, a tied 'bring in' is often decided by first high card left of the dealer.

Play continues left from the 'bring in' on the first round; betting on the subsequent rounds begins from the best low hand showing.

If two players have the same ranked hands showing after the initial round; the player to lead the betting is decided as the first of those left of the dealer.

Five cards are used to form the lowest hand counting down from the highest card of those five. The lowest set of five unique numbers wins. Aces count as low.

So, 7-6-5-4-3 would beat 8-4-3-2-A

and J-7-4-3-2 would beat J-7-5-2-A

Rarely a hand with a pair will win, in that case the lower pair wins. A pair will not beat five unique cards.

So, K-J-9-5-3 would beat 5-5-3-2-A

If pairs (or worse) collide 5-5-4-2-A would beat 7-7-3-2-A.


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Omaha

Omaha (Omaha Hold'em) is played the same way as Texas Hold'em, except that each player is dealt four pocket cards. In Omaha, the players must use two of their pocket cards combined with three from the table to make their best five card poker hand.

If a player is holding Ad-Kh-5h-4h

and the community cards are Kd-3d-4d-5d-9h

Then they do not have a diamond flush, they would still need to be holding 2 diamonds to make the flush. Instead they have 2 pairs K's and 5's.


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Omaha Hi/Lo

The Hi/Lo Omaha game sticks to the same formula as above, plus; to have a low hand, there must be three unique cards of 8 or lower on the board. They combine with any two from your pocket cards that are also unique and 8 or lower. Again players must use two of their pocket cards combined with three from the table to make their best five card poker hand (high and/or low).

Using the same example;

If a player is holding Ad-Kh-5h-4h

and the community cards are Kd-3d-4d-5d-9h

The player does not have a low hand. The 4's and 5's pairing with the board means the player has only four low cards A-3-4-5.

That player was cursing the community cards not having a 2-6-7 or 8 come down on the end.

If there is no low hand the entire pot is won by the best high hand (there is always a high hand).

Any two pocket cards can be used for the low hand or the high hand in any combination. It is important to remember you must use two of your pocket cards in either hand.

Here is a hand that has both the high and low.

The player is holding Ad-Kh-5h-4h

and the community cards are Kd-3d-4d-5d-7h

The player has two pairs K's and 5's for the high hand, plus A-3-4-5-7 for the low hand.

If there is a low hand, half the pot is won by the low hand.

It is often poor poker to enter a hand intending to win only the low hand; and not so clever to be looking only at the high hand on a nine seat table. There is not always a low hand, (there has to be three below 8 on the board) and as 3/5ths of the low hand is shared, it is common for two or more player to share the low hand.

When the low hand is shared, it is known as quartering. Half the pot goes to the high hand and the low is split between those with the lower five card combination. Less often a high hand is quartered.

Omaha Hi/Lo is often termed as O8 (Omaha eights or better).


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5 Card Draw

It is common in 5 Card Draw to have antes which are paid by all, although it can also be played without.

Five cards are dealt face down to each player; a betting round begins from left of the dealer. The players still in can chose to discard none, any or all of their cards and draw the same number of new cards from the top of the pack once. The players bet on this hand one further time before the showdown. Standard poker hands win.


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7 Card Stud

Using the same card sequence as Razz where, seven cards may be dealt to each player (provided that they stay in the hand to the end) in the sequence; two face down and one face up, then three face up and one face down. Betting rounds take place after the initial three cards have been dealt, and after each subsequent card. The best poker hand wins.

If playing a Hi/Lo version; similar to Omaha Hi/Lo, for a low hand to take half the pot, the player must have five unique cards of 8 or lower. The Hi/Lo stud game is commonly called 7 Card Stud 8's or better.


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Ace to Five Lowball (A-5 Lowball Triple Draw)

In Ace to Five Lowball the two players left of the dealer post the small and big blind respectively. The small blind is half the lower stake and the big blind is equal to the lower stake limit. The big blind is also the size of the minimum bet.

After the blinds are paid the cards are dealt. The first of the four betting rounds begins left of the big blind. In each betting round players have the usual options; to fold, check, bet or raise.

After all players have acted, players remaining in the hand may draw up to five cards in an effort to improve their hand. Following this, another betting round takes place beginning left of the dealer, and another draw. This sequence takes place one more time before the final round of betting.

After the final betting round the remaining players go to the showdown. The player with the best hand wins the pot.

The best possible hand in A-5 Lowball poker is 5-4-3-2-A. Pairs, Trips, Straights, Flushes and Quads do not have extra value.


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2-7 Lowball

In 2-7 Lowball the two players left of the dealer post the small and big blind respectively. The small blind is half the lower stake and the big blind is equal to the lower stake limit. The big blind is also the size of the minimum bet.

After the blinds are paid the cards are dealt. The first of the four betting rounds begins left of the big blind. In each betting round players have the usual options; to fold, check, bet or raise.

After all players have acted, players remaining in the hand may draw up to five cards in an effort to improve their hand. Following this, another betting round takes place beginning left of the dealer, and another draw. This sequence takes place one more time before the final round of betting.

After the final betting round the remaining players go to the showdown. The player with the best hand wins the pot.

The best possible hand in 2-7 Lowball poker is 7-5-4-3-2. Pairs, Trips, Straights, Flushes and Quads do not have extra value, but they do count. In the main, it is a low straight that will catch players out. A straight will be beaten by any hand of five unique cards that does not make a straight.

A player showing A-5-4-3-2 has a low hand beginning from the Ace because Aces are high in 2-7 Lowball; and players showing 6-5-4-3-2 or 7-6-5-4-3 have straights which are beaten by any low hand that does not make a straight.

Other examples

7-6-5-4-3 will be beaten by Q-Q-Q-4-2

Q-Q-Q-4-2 will be beaten by J-J-9-8-4

Think of it as the usual winning poker hands reversed.


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H.O.R.S.E. and S.H.O.E.

Some online poker sites host tournaments and cash tables with mixed game formats. H.O.R.S.E. games are most often played in rounds of Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hi/Lo, Razz, 7 Card Stud and 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo.

The 'E' in H.O.R.S.E. comes from the Stud Hi/Lo round needing the low hand to begin from an eight or better.

S.H.O.E. (sometimes listed as H.O.S.E.) games are rounds of 7 Card Stud, Texas Hold'em, Omaha and 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo.

Other game formats I have seen are H.O. (Hold'em and Omaha Hi/Lo); and note that PokerStars host 8 game format tournaments mixing, Limit Triple Draw 2-7, Limit Hold'em, Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, Limit Razz, Limit Stud, Limit Stud Hi/Lo, No Limit Hold'em and Pot Limit Omaha.


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Other Fun Poker Games

For a bit of fun on a Friday night gathering with your poker friends, why not try some of these poker variations. Most of these games are best played in the Limit format. My personal favourite is The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

Anaconda

For 4-7 players. Seven cards are dealt face down to each player and an ante is paid. The player to the left of the dealer begins the first betting round. After the first betting round each player passes three cards to the player on their left.

The last player to have raised (or left of the dealer if not) begins the second betting round. After the second betting round, each player passes two cards to the player on their left.

The last player to have raised starts the third betting round. After the third betting round, the player with the best five card poker hand wins.

Anaconda variation #1 After the betting round but before each player passes three or two cards to the left, each player turns one of their cards face up. These up cards cannot now be passed.

Anaconda variation #2 Standard Anaconda rules apply, in betting and passing cards, but it is played as either a Lowball game or Hi/Lo.


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Baseball

For 3-6 players. 3's and 9's are wild cards (meaning a player holding them can assign any rank to them that they choose).

If at any time a player is dealt a 4 face up, they are immediately dealt another card face down.

Antes are paid. Each player is dealt two cards face down and one card face up. The highest card showing starts the betting round (1st dealt if there is a tie).

The dealing follows that of 7 Card Stud where, seven cards may be dealt to each player (provided that they stay in the hand to the end) in the sequence; two face down and one face up as the initial deal, then three face up and one face down as separated deals. Betting rounds take place after the initial three cards have been dealt, and after each subsequent deal of cards.

Betting in rounds after the first, begins from the best hand showing.

After the final betting round, the player with the best five card poker hand wins. In addition to the standard poker hands, five of a kind (using wild cards) ranks higher than a straight flush.

Baseball variation #1 Players have to pay a pre-arranged bet if the receive a wild card face up.

Baseball variation #2 A player who receives a wild card must double the pot or fold.


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Cincinnati

For 3-9 players. Antes are paid. Five cards are dealt face down to each player and five are dealt face down in the middle of the table. One card from the middle is turned face up.

Betting begins with the player to the left of the dealer.

After the betting round, each of the other community cards are turned over one at a time, with a round of betting in between each turn, betting begins from the left of the dealer.

After the final betting round, the player with the best five card poker hand wins. Players may use their five cards and the community cards in any combination (including, playing the board).

Cincinnati variation #1 Standard Cincinnati rules apply, in betting and turning cards, but it is played as either a Lowball game or Hi/Lo.


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Don Juan

For 3-8 players. Three cards are dealt face down to each player and an ante is paid.

Betting begins with the player to the left of the dealer.

Each player may now discard any or all of their cards and be dealt replacements. The last player to have raised (or left of the dealer if not) begins the betting round.

After the betting round, the lowest three cards (counting from the highest to the lowest) wins; i.e. 7-4-2 beats 7-6-1. Straights, Flushes, Trips and Pairs have no value.


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Double Revenge

For 2-7 players and is best played for small bets with deep stacks; antes are paid.

Three cards are dealt face down to each player.

Betting begins with the player to the left of the dealer. That player announces whether they are in or out. If any player is out, they must pay half the value of the pot into the middle and fold their cards. Continuing to the left, each player is given the same choice of in or out, paying half the increased value of the pot if they are out.

Any player who stays in is dealt two more cards.

Betting begins with the player to the left of the dealer. That player announces whether they are in or out. If any player is out, they must pay half the value of the pot into the middle and fold their cards. Continuing to the left, each player is given the same choice of in or out, paying half the increased value of the pot if they are out.

The best five card hand wins the pot; and with a real twist of the knife, any player in the showdown that has lost, must pay the winner the full value of the pot.


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English Stud

For 3-6 players.

Antes are paid. Each player is dealt two cards face down and one card face up. Betting begins with the player to the left of the dealer.

After the betting round each player is dealt another card face up, followed by another betting round beginning with the best hand showing.

After the betting round each player is dealt a third card face up, followed by another betting round beginning with the best hand showing.

From left of the dealer, each player may now discard one card and draw a new one from the top of the deck. If they exchange an up card they are dealt an up card in return, if they exchange a down card they receive a down card. Player may choose not to draw a card.

Each player now turns one of their face down cards, upwards.

A sixth and final card is dealt face down. Betting begins from the best hand showing, followed by the showdown; the best five card poker hand wins.

English Stud variation #1 Standard English Stud rules apply, in betting and turning cards, but it is played as either a Lowball game or Hi/Lo.


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Mexican Stud

For 4-10 players. Antes are paid. Each player is dealt two cards face down. Players then turn one card of their choice face up.

The highest card showing starts the betting round (left of the dealer if there is a tie).

Players are dealt another card face down and choose to turn another card face up.

The best hand showing starts the betting round.

Players are dealt a fourth card face down and choose to turn another card face up.

The best hand showing starts the betting round.

Players are dealt a fifth and final card face down and choose to turn another card face up.

The best hand showing starts the betting round, followed by the showdown; the best five card poker hand wins.

Mexican Stud variation #1 Standard Mexican Stud rules apply, in betting and turning cards, but it is played as either a Lowball game or Hi/Lo.


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The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

For 3-7 players. Each player is dealt two cards face down, one card face up and antes are paid. Three cards are dealt face down in the middle. These cards are not used at the showdown in forming the winning poker hand. The highest card showing starts the betting round (left of the dealer if there is a tie).

After the betting round each player is dealt a fourth card face up, and the first of the three cards in the middle is turned face up. This is the Good card. Cards of the same rank are now wild (meaning a player holding them can assign any rank to them that they choose for their hand).

A betting round begins from left of the dealer.

After the betting round each player is dealt a fifth card face up, and the second of the three cards in the middle is turned face up. This is the Bad card. Cards of the same rank cannot be used in the final hand.

A betting round begins from left of the dealer.

After the betting round each player is dealt the sixth and final card face up, and the third of the three cards in the middle is turned face up. This is the Ugly card. Any player with the Ugly card up (same rank) must fold.

A betting round begins from left of the dealer, followed by the showdown; the best five card poker hand wins.


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Trees

For 3-10 players. Five cards are dealt to each player and antes are paid. The player to the left of the dealer begins the betting round.

After the betting round, players may freely trade any number of cards with any other player until no one else wants to trade. Players must give the same number of cards that they are receiving.

After the trading is completed, a final round of betting follows from left of the dealer and the best five card poker hand wins.


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7 Card Roll Your Own

For 2-7 players. Seven cards are dealt to each player face down and antes are paid. The player to the left of the dealer begins the betting round.

After the betting round, from left of the dealer each player turns up one card of their choice.

High card begins the second betting round.

Players continue to turn up one card at a time followed by a betting round beginning from the best hand showing.

After the final betting round and the remaining players show their final card, the best five card poker hand wins.


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