The most popular poker variants

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Highlights

• Pot Limit Omaha – a dynamic variation of Texas Hold'em, where players get four cards with more chances to make strong hands.
  
• Omaha Hi/Lo – a more complex variant of Omaha where the pot is split between the strongest and weakest hands.
  
• Pineapple – very similar to Texas Hold'em, but players are dealt three cards, one of which must be discarded during play.
  
• Short Deck – a version of Texas Hold'em played with 36 cards (the lowest cards from 2 to 5 are removed).
  
• Five Card Draw – Poker without community cards, which means that opponents have less information and players have more opportunities to bluff.
  
• Seven Card Stud – a more sophisticated variant of poker, far removed from Texas Hold'em, which retains only standard hand evaluation.
  
• Chinese Poker – a distinctive but simple variant of poker, particularly suitable for table game enthusiasts.

“Pot Limit Omaha (PLO)

The second most popular poker game after Texas Hold'em is Pot Limit Omaha. The gameplay is very similar to Texas Hold'em, but despite the similarities, it is often said that Texas Hold'em is for the more cautious player, while Pot Limit Omaha is seen as the opposite, with lots of action and the stacks in the middle of the table growing fast. It's a game that's easy and worth learning.

How do I play Pot Limit Omaha?

1. Players are dealt four cards instead of two.
2. Players have to make the best hand using only their two private cards and three community cards. For example, if you have one heart card in your hand and there are four hearts on the table, your hand cannot be a suit because you have only used one heart card.
3. This is a ‘pot limit' format, which means that the maximum bet amount on any ‘street' cannot exceed the size of the pot.
4. The restof the game is the same as in traditional Texas Hold'em.

“Omaha Hi/Lo

“Omaha Hi/Lo, also known as Omaha8, is a poker variant derived from the Pot Limit Omaha game discussed above.

“Omaha Hi/Lo is played in both limit and pot limit formats. Omaha Hi/Lo is most often part of mixed games, although poker sites can also offer this type of cash game and tournaments.

“Omaha Hi/Lo has the same rules as PLO, but there is one major difference – the pot is split between the best high hand and the best low hand if at least one player can make a low hand.

The low-hand element adds even more strategic nuance to the game, making it one of the most challenging poker formats.

How do I play Omaha Hi/Lo?

1. You get four cards instead of two.
2. You have to make the best hand using only your two hole cards and three community cards.
3. Players can win both high and low pots.
4. The best high hand is the best hand according to the standard poker hand strength rating.
5. The best low hand is the smallest possible sequence of cards in which all the cards are less than an eight of a kind. The best low hand is A2345(wheel).
6. There must be a high hand winner in every Omaha Hi/Lo game, but there may not be a low hand winner if nobody makes a good low hand.

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“Pineapple

If you're looking for a fun poker option to play with friends, Pineapple is the perfect game. On the other hand, knowledge of the game can also come in handy at major poker festivals, as Pineapple is often included in the tournament line-ups of both live and online series.

It's a variation of Texas Hold'em that will allow you to play many more hands, so you're less likely to get bored waiting.

How do I play Pineapple?

1. Players are dealt three cards, but must discard one of them at a time. In the classic Pineapple game, the third card is discarded immediately, but there are other versions such as Crazy Pineapple and Lazy Pineapple, where the third card is discarded after the flop or river.
2. The restof the game is the same as in traditional Texas Hold'em.

“Short Deck”

Another variant of Texas Hold'em is Short Deck poker (6+ Hold'em). This game is popular with high stakes gamblers, poker players in Asia and beyond. “Short Deck is a very dynamic game played with only 36 cards.

How to play Short Deck?

1. “Short Deck is played without deuces, threes, fours and fives, making it much easier to get hands like AA or KK.
2. Flush beats full house as it is more difficult to get it in this variant.
3. Aces can be used instead of 5s to make a row.
4. Everything else is the same as in traditional Texas Hold'em.

“Five Card Draw

“Five Card Draw is the least frequently played professionally of all the games on our list. But let's not be quick to underestimate it. If you've never played Five Card Draw, you'll be surprised how easy it is to learn and how much fun it can be. “Five Card Draw is sure to appeal to those who like to bluff. You can do it very often in this poker variant.

How do I play Five Card Draw?

1. Players aim to make the best five-card hand.
2. Players are dealt five cards that only they can see and there are no community cards on the table.
3. Each player can discard as many cards as they want once and receive new cards from the deck instead.
4. “There are only two betting rounds in Five Card Draw.
5. Hands are evaluated in the same way as in Texas Hold'em poker.

“Seven Card Stud

“Seven Card Stud is a poker game that has lost much of its popularity in recent years, but used to be the most played game.

Unlike many of the games on our poker games list, Seven Card Stud and its variants have nothing in common with Texas Hold'em, except for the evaluation of hand strength.

If you only know how to play variants that are closer to regular poker, then learning Seven Card Stud will open the door to many new games such as Five Card Stud, Razz and Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo.

How do I play Seven Card Stud?

1. Each player starts with two hole cards and one face-up card.
2. The initial hand is followed by a round of betting.
3. The dealer gives each player an additional card face up (fourth “street”)
4. This card is followed by another round of betting.
5. Each player is dealt a fifth card face up (the fifth ‘street').
6. Players bet again when they see this card.
7. The dealer now shows the sixth card (the sixth ‘street').
8. This card is followed by another round of betting.
9. Finally, a seventh card is revealed to each player.
10. The last round of betting takes place before the players reveal their hands.
11. Players use the best five-card hand from their seven cards.
12. The hands are evaluated in the same way as in Texas Hold'em poker.

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Chinese poker

Chinese poker is a unique variant of poker that is not very similar in gameplay to other more common forms of poker. This type of poker is more like a table game. The only thing that is familiar to players of the more common types of poker is the evaluation of hands.

How do I play Chinese poker?

1. The game is played by 2 to 4 players.
2. Before the game starts, the players agree on a point value.
3. The game starts with each player being dealt 13 cards.
4. The cards are then used to make three hands – two 5-card hands and one 3-card hand (so that the opponents cannot see the cards).
5. The three-card hand is placed on the top row and must be the weakest hand of all the hands you deal. (In Chinese poker, a three-card hand can only be a high card, a pair or three of a kind (trips). A three-card hand cannot be a suit or a straight).
6. The middle hand goes in the middle row and must be better than the top hand.
7. The best hand is placed on the bottom row and must be better than the hand on the middle row.
8. Once the combinations have been stacked, place them on the table face down.
9. Together, open, compare the hands and calculate the points gained or lost.

Poker variations: conclusions

If you're looking for a new poker game that you can play often online or live, Pot Limit Omaha is worth learning – it's one of the most popular poker variants, so you're sure to find somewhere to put your knowledge to work.

For beginners, Pineapple or Short Deck are the most suitable, as these variants are the most similar to traditional Texas Hold'em. Another easy-to-learn poker variant is Five Card Draw, which will appeal to those who like to bluff a lot.

If you're ready to delve deeper into the subtleties of poker, we recommend the more complex Omaha Hi/Lo or Seven Card Stud, and if you're familiar with these games, you'll also be able to pick up the rules of Five Card Stud or Razz. And for a fun, easy-to-learn but completely different variant of poker, try Chinese poker.

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FAQs on popular poker variants

What are the most popular poker variants?

The most popular poker variants are Texas Hold'em, Omaha, Seven Card Stud and Five Card Draw

Can beginners easily learn to play the most popular poker variants?

Yes, beginners can quickly learn the popular poker variants by studying the basic rules and practising with friends or on online platforms. If you're only familiar with Texas Hold'em, start with the closer variants – Pineapple, Short Deck

Which poker variant is best suited to those who like to bluff?

Five Card Draw is often thought to be the best for bluffing because there are no community cards and players can more easily disguise their hands. Since opponents cannot see community cards, bluffing becomes a more important part of the strategy.

What is the difference between Limit, Pot Limit and No Limit poker?

These terms refer to betting structures. “Limit poker limits the amount you can bet or raise. “Pot Limit allows you to bet up to the size of your current pot. “No Limit means that players can bet any amount at any time.

Are poker alternatives played professionally in tournaments?

Yes, many variants, such as Pot Limit Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo and Seven Card Stud, play in major tournaments such as the WSOP (World Series of Poker), especially in mixed game formats such as H.O.R.S.E or “8-Game”.