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Poker Variations

Texas Hold'em is just one of many poker variations that share common rules, but each has a distinct personality to test all areas of your poker skills.

Poker games commonly played online include Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, 5 Card Draw, 7 Card Stud, 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo and Razz as well as Lowball and mixed game formats like H.O.R.S.E.

The lesser known poker variations are often more seen in home games and card rooms; Anaconda, Baseball, Cincinnati, Don Juan, Double Revenge, English Stud, Mexican Stud, The Good The Bad and The Ugly, Trees and 7 Card Roll Your Own most use standard poker hand rankings to assess the winning hand, while some have Hi/Lo variations.

Quick rules for common poker games

Game Type Texas Hold'em Omaha (& Hi/Lo) 5 Card Draw
Blinds/Antes Blinds are paid Blinds are paid Antes are paid by each player
Initially Dealt 2 cards face down to each player 4 cards face down to each player 5 cards face down to each player
Betting Betting round begins left of big blind Betting round begins left of big blind Betting round begins left of the dealer
Action Flop (3 community cards face up) Flop (3 community cards face up) Drawing round
(0-5 cards may be drawn)
Betting Betting round begins left of the dealer Betting round begins left of the dealer Betting round begins left of the dealer
Action Turn (1 community card face up) Turn (1 community card face up) Showdown
Betting Betting round begins left of the dealer Betting round begins left of the dealer  
Action River (1 community card face up) River (1 community card face up)  
Betting Betting round begins left of the dealer Betting round begins left of the dealer  
Action Showdown Showdown  

 

Game Type 7 Card Stud (& Hi/Lo)   Razz
Antes Antes are paid by each player   Antes are paid by each player
Initially Dealt 2 cards face down 1 card face up to each player   2 cards face down 1 card face up to each player
Betting Betting round begins: Lowest card showing brings in or completes; left of the lowest card showing continues   Betting round begins: Highest card showing brings in or completes; left of the highest card showing continues
Action 1 card face up to each player   1 card face up to each player
Betting Betting round begins from best high hand showing   Betting round begins from best low hand showing
Action Repeat twice with face up cards
Still betting from best hand showing
  Repeat twice with face up cards
Still betting from best low hand showing
Betting
Action 7th card dealt face down   7th card dealt face down
Betting Betting from best hand showing   Betting from best low hand showing
Action Showdown   Showdown

Razz

Razz is a game of low hands and is often played in the fixed limit* betting format using antes.

  • * For example; with stakes of 100/200, the ante is 20, the bring in is 35, the complete bet is 100 and any raise will be 100 for the first four cards dealt. On 5th, 6th and 7th street, the bet and raise will be 200. These figures may vary subject to local rules.

A common winning Razz hand will feature five unique card ranks, the best being 5-4-3-2-A; straights and flushes do not count for or against the hand. A hand with a pair or worse can win, but rarely does.

After antes are paid; two cards face down and one card face up are dealt to each player. The player with the highest card showing* makes the compulsory first bet. They may chose to bring in or complete the bet. The bring in is usually 1/3rd the amount of the complete bet. The complete bet is equal to the lower stake.

  • * If two players have the same ranked high card the bring-in is chosen by suit; the descending order being spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs; or by first high card left of the dealer.

Play continues left from the bring in on the first round with players choosing to fold, call or raise in turn. 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.

When all dealing and betting rounds are complete; at the showdown, five cards are used to form the best low hand counting down from the highest card of those five.


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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 and must use two of their pocket cards combined with three community cards to make their best five card poker hand.


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Omaha Hi/Lo

The Hi/Lo variation of Omaha is a split pot game; players must use any two of their pocket cards combined with three from the table to make their best five card high and/or low poker hand.

There is always a high hand which will win the entire pot if there is no qualifying low hand; If there is a low hand, half the total pot is won by the best low hand. In Omaha Hi/Lo the highest card for a qualifying low hand will be an 8 or lower.

Straights and flushes do not have any bearing on the low hand, it is just 5 unique ranks of 8 or lower.

  • It is often poor poker to enter a pot intending to win only the low hand; the best starting hands give players options to scoop both pots. There is not always a low hand, (there has to be three cards below 8 on the board) and as 3/5ths of the low hand is shared, it is common for two or more players 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 pot is shared by those with the best low hand. Less often a high hand is quartered.

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


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5 Card Draw

5 Card Draw is commonly played with antes, although it can also be played with blinds.

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.

It can also be played as 5 Card Triple Draw.



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7 Card Stud

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 player with the lowest card brings in after the initial deal and the player with the best poker hand begins the betting action on subsequent rounds.

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 card ranks of 8 or lower.


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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 each player is dealt five cards, face down. The first of the four betting rounds begins left of the big blind. Players have the usual options; to fold, check, bet or raise.

When all players have acted, players remaining in the hand may discard and re-draw up to five cards in an effort to improve their hand. Subsequent betting rounds begin left of the dealer.

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. Straights and flushes do not count for or against the hand.



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2-7 Lowball (2-7 Lowball Triple Draw)

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 each player is dealt five cards, face down. The first of the four betting rounds begins left of the big blind. Players have the usual options; to fold, check, bet or raise.

When all players have acted, players remaining in the hand may discard and re-draw up to five cards in an effort to improve their hand. Subsequent betting rounds begin left of the dealer.

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

The best possible hand in 2-7 Lowball poker is 7-5-4-3-2. Straights and flushes count against the hand as they make a conventional high hand.


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

Many online poker sites host tournaments and cash tables with mixed game formats. H.O.R.S.E. games are 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.

Common mixed game formats are; H.E.R.O.S. - H.O.S.E. - S.H.O.E. - H.O. - H.A.

PokerStars host an 8 game tournament mixing; Limit 2-7 Triple Draw, 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, 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 and #3; 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/suit 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 wants to trade. Players must give the same number of cards that they are receiving but must not tell the rank or suit of the card they are trading or wanting.

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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