There are many different types of poker available and with the increasing popularity of online poker even more poker games have become available. You have a range of games to choose from when you visit any online poker room and it is wise to understand the rules of the game before you choose a variation to play.
Texas Hold’em
Texas hold’em is the most popular variation of poker and the majority of online poker players can be found at the hold’em tables. In addition, the majority of online poker tournaments are run in Texas hold’em. There are five exposed community cards and two hidden hole cards in Texas hold’em and these are used to make the player’s hand. Texas hold’em offers three types of games with three different betting structures – fixed limit, pot limit and no limit. Fixed limit games set minimum and maximum betting limits and players are required to bet within these limits. Pot limit games limit the bet size based on the size of the pot at that point in the game. No limit games do not place any limits on betting.
Omaha
Omaha is another popular variation of poker and almost all online poker rooms will offer these games as ring games and tournament games. Players are dealt four hole cards, two of which can be used in the player’s final hand, plus three community cards are dealt that must all be used in the player’s final hand. Two variations of Omaha are available – Omaha hi and Omaha hi/lo. In Omaha hi, the winner of the pot is the player who holds the highest hand. In Omaha hi/lo, the pot is divided between the highest hand and the lowest qualifying hand.
7 Card Stud
In seven card stud, seven cards are dealt to each player who must make a final five card hand out of those cards. Originally, two cards are dealt face down and one card face up. Once a betting round has been completed, another three cards are dealt face up. One more betting round takes place and another card is dealt face down. Two variations of seven card stud are available- seven card stud hi and seven card stud hi/lo. In seven card stud hi, the highest hand wins the entire pot. In seven card stud hi/lo, the pot is divided between the highest hand and the lowest hand of five cards under eight.
Other Types of Poker
There are many other types of poker that exist and that can be found at online poker rooms. Common variations are five card stud, five card draw and razz, as well as mixed games such as H.O.R.S.E. and H.O.S.E. There are also less common games such as pineapple poker, guts poker and lowball poker that can be found.