Types of Poker Games

While there are dozens of different poker games that you can play, there are some that are far more popular than the rest. If you’re looking to get into poker for the first time, these are the games worth learning, as they’re the ones you’re most likely to find online, in a casino, or being played at a home game. We’re going to take a look at the unique poker rules that each of these games has, but if you want to learn more about each game, you should check out our poker rules page.

Texas Hold’em

Hands with Poker chips playing Texas Hold'em Pokerr.This is the game that most people think of when they think of poker, as it’s far and away the most popular variant. It’s played in casinos around the world and is the variant with the most traffic at every online poker site. Let’s take a look at the rule highlights that you should be aware of.

  • Players start with two cards face down.
  • There are four betting rounds where players can fold, call, check, and raise.
  • A total of five community cards are dealt: the flop, turn, and river.
  • At showdown, players can use any combination of cards from their hand and the board to make the best five-card hand.
  • Texas Hold’em uses the traditional hand ranking chart.

Click here If you want to learn more about the rules of Texas Hold’em.

Omaha Poker

Omaha Poker being played.

Behind Texas Hold’em, Omaha Poker is one of the most popular forms of the game. Omaha is a game that can come in two different forms – Omaha High and Omaha Hi/Lo. The difference between the two is that Omaha High uses the traditional hand ranking chart to determine the winner, whereas, in Omaha Hi/Lo, the pot is split evenly between the highest hand and the lowest hand. Many online poker sites run Omaha tables and even more casinos around the world host Omaha tables. However, you’ll find that not every casino runs Omaha, so do check before showing up to play. If you do manage to find a game, here are the key rules to be aware of.

  • Players start with four cards face down.
  • There are four betting rounds where players can fold, call, check, and raise.
  • A total of five community cards are dealt: the flop, turn, and river.
  • At showdown, players must use two cards from their hand and three from the board to make the best five-card hand.
  • Omaha Poker uses the traditional hand ranking chart.

Click here If you want to learn more about the rules of Omaha Poker.

Short Deck

Short Deck Poker being played.

One of the newest games on the poker scene is Short Deck, a game that was made very popular by the high-stakes Macau cash games. In this game, the four lowest cards are removed, making the deck “shorter” than usual. This leads to a lot of big hands and a lot of action, so it’s not for the faint of heart! If you’re feeling brave enough, these are the key rules to learn before you start playing.

  • Players start with two cards face down.
  • The 2s, 3s, 4s, and 5s must be removed from the deck before play begins.
  • There are four betting rounds where players can fold, call, check, and raise.
  • A total of five community cards are dealt: the flop, turn, and river.
  • At showdown, players can use any combination of cards from their hand and the board to make the best five-card hand.
  • In Short Deck, the low end of the straight is 9876A.
  • In Short Deck, flushes beat full houses.

Click here If you want to learn more about the rules of Short Deck.

3-Card Poker

3 Card Poker being played.

While it’s got poker in the name, 3-Card Poker is very different from most other forms of poker. This is because 3-Card Poker is a gambling game where players play against the casino, not against other players at the table, which makes it more similar to a game like blackjack or baccarat than Texas Hold’em. It also means that players cannot profit in the long term, as the house has a built-in edge. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not fun to play, so if you want to take a punt on 3-Card Poker, here are the rules you need to learn.

  • The aim of the game is to end up with a better three-card poker hand than the dealer.
  • As there are only three cards dealt to each player, 3-Card Poker uses a three-card poker hand rankings chart.
  • Players make a bet before the hands are dealt, then decide whether to fold or call based on the strength of their hand.
  • There are four possible outcomes of a 3-Card Poker hand: the dealer doesn’t qualify, the dealer wins, the dealer loses, and a tie.

Click here If you want to learn more about the rules of 3-Card Poker.

5-Card Draw Poker

5 Card Stack Poke being played.

If you’re anything like me, 5 Card Draw is likely the game that introduced you to poker when you were young. It’s a very simple game that’s easy to teach and only takes a couple of minutes to pick up. Unfortunately, 5 Card Draw isn’t as popular as it used to be, so it’s hard to find a consistent game, even online. However, if you do manage to find a game or want to play it at home, here are the key rules to learn.

  • Players start with five cards face down.
  • Players discard cards from their hands at the end of each betting round and take new ones from the top of the deck. This is called the draw.
  • There can be either one or three drawing rounds in 5 Card Draw, depending on the variant.
  • There can be either two or four betting rounds in 5 Card Draw, depending on the variant.
  • At showdown, players must only use the cards in their hand to make the best five-card poker hand.
  • 5 Card Draw uses the traditional hand ranking chart.

Click here If you want to learn more about the rules of 5 Card Draw.

Stud Poker

Stud Poker being played.

Stud Poker used to be the most popular form of poker back in the 70s and 80s, only to be eclipsed by Hold’em in the 90s. It’s featured heavily in the iconic poker film the Cincinnati Kid and is still used as a part of mixed games to this day. There are several versions of stud poker you can play: Stud High, Stud Hi/Lo, and Razz (Stud Low). You can also play Stud Poker as a 5-card or 7-card variant, but most players tend to play the 7-card version as it’s a more interesting game than five-card. If you want to start your own 7-card Stud game, here are the rules you need to know.

  • Players start with three cards, two face down and one face up.
  • Each player antes a small amount into the pot.
  • Betting starts with the player who has the lowest “up card.”
  • After the betting round is complete, the remaining players are dealt another card face up, and action begins with the player who has the highest showing hand. This continues for another two rounds.
  • Players are dealt a seventh card face down, and a final round of betting occurs.
  • At showdown, players must only use the cards in their hand to make the best five-card poker hand.
  • 7 Card Stud uses the traditional hand ranking chart.

Click here If you want to learn more about the rules of Stud Poker.

How To Classify Types of Poker Games

Almost all poker games can be classified into three main types based on their mechanics: flop games, stud games, and draw games. While each game has its own unique rules, they follow the same basic principles within each class. Let’s take a closer look at them.

Which Game or Type of Poker Is Best for You?

The best kind of poker game for you is the game that you enjoy playing the most! At the end of the day, playing poker is first and foremost about having fun, so the best game to play is the one you have the most fun playing. Some people may try to tell you that one variant or one format is more profitable than another and should be the one you focus on, but if you’re not having fun, what’s the point?

We recommend trying a number of different poker variants to see which one you like the most. Many of the best online poker sites offer multiple types of poker, so you can dive in head first and find your new favorite game! If you want to read up on the rules before you start playing, check out our list of poker rules, so you’re up to speed before you start playing.

Playing Poker Online as a Beginner

One of the best ways to start playing poker if you’re a complete beginner is to play online. In online games, you can play for pennies against hundreds of other players, so it gives you the chance to learn the ropes without risking a large amount of money. You can also try out a wide variety of games, as most online poker sites have a number of different variants that you can play.

If you want to get started on your online poker journey, you’ll have to create your very own online poker account. Luckily, doing so is a piece of cake, and our handy guide will help you through the process.

  1. Find the online poker site you wish to play on.
  2. Download their poker client software.
  3. Click the “Register” or “Join Now” button.
  4. Enter your personal details, such as your name, email address, home address, and phone number.
  5. Create a username and a password for your account.
  6. Confirm that you are of legal gambling age in your country, and you agree to the terms and conditions.
  7. Click “Register.”

It’s as easy as that; you’ve just created your first online poker account.

However, that’s only part of the process. Once you’ve created your online poker account, you need to fund it by making a deposit.

  1. Go to the “Bank” or “Cashier” section of your online poker site.
  2. Select the “Deposit” option.
  3. Choose your preferred deposit method.
  4. Enter the amount you’d like to deposit.
  5. Enter your payment details.
  6. Confirm your payment details and the deposit amount are correct.
  7. Click “Deposit.”

After clicking “Deposit,” your funds should instantly be available in your account, which means you’re ready to play!

The only thing left to do now is to find the game you want to play and hop in. We recommend trying as many different variants as you can, as that’s the best way of finding the game you enjoy the most.

Live Poker Rules and Procedures

One of the benefits of playing online poker is that everything runs so smoothly. There’s no potential to act out of turn, make the wrong action, or accidentally expose your hand. Many people feel quite nervous about their first forays into the world of live poker, but don’t worry; it’s not as daunting as it looks!

If you follow these key rules, you’ll find that your first game of live poker will run smoothly.

  • Only ever act when it’s your turn to act – the dealer will tell you if it’s your turn.
  • Do not expose your hand when folding, as it will give information to other players at the table.
  • Do not talk about the hand while it’s still in progress.
  • Do not try to call and then raise in a single action. This is called a string raise, and it is not allowed in poker; your first action is always binding.
  • Keep your highest-valued chips where other players at the table can see them.
  • Do not pretend to call or raise before folding – some casinos take forward motion as a declaration of an action, and you could be forced into calling or making a bet.

As long as you stay mindful of these live poker procedures, you’ll be absolutely fine.

Just to make sure things go as smoothly as possible, we also recommend doing the following.

  • Follow the action of the game to ensure you know what’s going on; how much the bet is, when it’s your turn to act, etc.
  • Declare your actions to the dealer to avoid confusion. Saying the word “Call” or “Raise $100” allows the game to move quicker and gives you time to count out the correct chips without your action being misinterpreted.
  • Try to move as quickly as possible to keep the gaming moving at a steady pace. By all means think about your decisions; just don’t needlessly tank over simple decisions.
  • If you have the winning hand at showdown, turn it over as quickly as possible. Delaying turning your hand over when you know you have the winner is called slowrolling and is considered very poor poker etiquette.

Websites to Play Free Poker Games

If you don’t think you’re quite ready to start playing for real money, that’s completely fine! There are many sites that offer free poker games for you to play that let you understand the mechanics of the game before you start betting your hard-earned cash. These games work in exactly the same way as real money poker, just without all the risk that comes with it.

Many online poker sites offer a free or “play money” version of poker for their players. This allows people to not only get to grips with the game of poker but also get to grips with their site. You can get a handle on exactly how the betting buttons work, how to raise, fold, and call, as well as simple things like navigating the site to find the games you want.

Playing play money poker at a real money poker site is the best option when looking for a free poker game, as the quality of the software is guaranteed to be good, and you have easy access to real money games when you feel ready to start. Here are some of the best online poker sites that offer free poker games:

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Jordan conroy

Author

Jordan Conroy, a respected name in the online poker arena, has cultivated his authority through years of dedicated play and content creation. Since 2020, he has earned a stellar reputation for his in-depth analysis of poker theory and his ability to keep a finger on the pulse of the latest developments in the poker world.

Jordan’s dedication to staying at the forefront of poker knowledge allows him to consistently deliver top-quality content that resonates with both novice players and seasoned professionals.

Beyond his poker expertise, he brings a diverse perspective, closely following other competitive domains like soccer, snooker, and Formula 1, enriching his insights and providing a comprehensive understanding of the gaming landscape.

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