Poker Variants
Poker variants are different versions of poker. They use different card rules, betting rounds, and hand-building systems.
Some variants use community cards. Others give every player only private cards. Some games reward the best high hand, while others can split the pot between high and low hands.
Most players start with Texas Hold’em. After that, Omaha, Five Card Draw, and Seven Card Stud are the most useful variants to understand.
What are poker variants?
Poker variants are different poker games with their own rules. The basic goal is usually the same. Players try to win the pot.
However, the way you build a hand can change. Texas Hold’em uses hole cards and community cards. Five Card Draw uses only private cards.
Betting structures can also change. Some games are played No-Limit. Others are usually Pot-Limit or Fixed-Limit.
Main types of poker variants
Most poker variants fit into a few main groups. These groups help explain how the games work.
The most important groups are community card poker, draw poker, and stud poker.
Some games also use split-pot rules. In those games, the pot can be divided between different winning hands.
Community card poker
Community card poker uses shared cards on the table. Every player combines private cards with those shared cards.
Texas Hold’em and Omaha are the two most popular community card games. Both use a flop, turn, and river.
Community card games are popular because everyone can see part of the possible hands. This makes the game easier to follow for beginners and spectators.
Texas Hold’em
Texas Hold’em is the most popular poker variant in the United States. It is also the main game on many online poker sites.
Each player receives two hole cards. The table receives five community cards.
Players can use both hole cards, one hole card, or no hole cards. The best five-card poker hand wins at showdown.
Texas Hold’em is often played as No-Limit. That means players can bet any amount up to their full stack.
Texas Hold’em variations
Aviation
Aviation is a Hold’em-style variant where each player receives four hole cards.
Players discard one hole card before the flop and another after the flop. After that, the hand continues with two hole cards, like regular Texas Hold’em.
Church
Church is also known as Iron Cross. In this variant, players receive five private cards.
The community cards are placed in a cross shape. Players usually make a hand by using cards from one line of the cross.
Because rules can vary in home games, players should agree on the exact hand-building rules before playing.
Crazy Pineapple
Crazy Pineapple is similar to Pineapple. Each player receives three hole cards instead of two.
Players keep all three cards through the flop. After the flop, they discard one card and continue with two hole cards.
Double Flop Hold’em
Double Flop Hold’em uses two separate community boards. Players can make a hand on each board.
The pot may be split between the winners of both boards. If one player wins both boards, that player can scoop the full pot.
Pineapple
Pineapple gives each player three hole cards instead of two.
After the first betting round, each player discards one card. The hand then continues like regular Texas Hold’em.
River of Blood
River of Blood is a home game variant of Texas Hold’em. If the river card is red, another river card is dealt.
This continues until a black river card appears. Players can usually use the extra river cards when making their hand.
Because this variant can create unusual boards, the exact rules should be agreed before play starts.
Tahoe
Tahoe gives each player three hole cards. Players may use up to two of those cards when making a hand.
This makes Tahoe similar to Hold’em, but with more starting-card combinations.
The River Wild
The River Wild makes the river card wild. All cards with the same rank as the river are also wild.
Wild cards can create very strong hands. This variant is mainly used in casual home games.
Two-Time Hold’em
Two-Time Hold’em gives each player four cards. Players split those cards into two separate Hold’em hands.
The hands stay separate throughout the game. Each hand competes using the same community cards.
Speed Hold’em
Speed Hold’em is a faster version of Texas Hold’em. Players receive four hole cards and discard two right away.
The five community cards are then dealt at once. Only one betting round follows.
Super Eight Hold’em
Super Eight Hold’em gives each player three hole cards instead of two.
Players can use any combination of hole cards and community cards to make their best five-card hand.
Omaha
Omaha looks similar to Texas Hold’em, but it plays very differently.
Each player receives four hole cards. The table still receives five community cards.
The key rule is strict. You must use exactly two hole cards and exactly three community cards.
Omaha creates more strong hands and more big draws than Texas Hold’em. The most common format is Pot-Limit Omaha, also called PLO.
Omaha variations
Omaha Hi-Low
Omaha Hi-Lo is a split-pot version of Omaha. The pot can be divided between the best high hand and the best qualifying low hand.
Players must still use exactly two hole cards and exactly three community cards. One player can win both halves of the pot. More about Omaha Hi-Lo later.
Omaha Eight or Better
Omaha Eight or Better is another name for Omaha Hi-Lo. To qualify for the low half, a hand must usually contain five different cards ranked eight or lower.
Some Omaha Hi-Lo hands have no qualifying low hand. In that case, the best high hand wins the full pot.
Omaha X
Omaha X refers to Omaha Hi-Lo games with a different low-hand qualifier.
For example, Omaha 7 and Omaha 9 work like Omaha Eight or Better, but use a different highest card for the low hand.
Courchevel
Courchevel is an Omaha variant where one community card is revealed before the first betting round.
Players still receive hole cards and must follow Omaha-style hand-building rules. The early exposed card creates more information before the flop.
Six Card Omaha
Six Card Omaha gives each player six hole cards instead of four.
Players still use exactly two hole cards and exactly three community cards. Because there are more possible combinations, strong hands appear more often.
Draw poker
Draw poker gives players private cards. Players can then replace cards to improve their hand.
Five Card Draw is the best-known draw poker game. Each player receives five cards face down.
After the first betting round, players may discard cards and draw new ones. Then a final betting round takes place.
Draw poker is simple to learn because there are no community cards. However, players must read betting patterns and drawing choices.
Five Card Draw
Five Card Draw is one of the easiest poker variants to understand.
Each player receives five private cards. There is usually one drawing round and two betting rounds.
Players try to make the best five-card hand. They can improve by replacing some cards during the draw.
Five Card Draw is common in casual games. It is less common online than Texas Hold’em or Omaha.
Five Card Draw variations
Some Five Card Draw home games do not allow the bottom card of the deck to be used as a replacement card.
This rule prevents players from gaining an advantage if the bottom card was accidentally seen. The exact procedure can vary, so players should agree on it before the hand starts.
Lowball
Lowball is a draw poker variation where the lowest hand wins.
In Deuce to Seven Lowball, the best possible hand is 7-5-4-3-2 with no flush. In Ace to Five Lowball, ace is low, and the best possible hand is 5-4-3-2-A.
Some Lowball games use multiple drawing and betting rounds. Always check the table rules, because low-hand rankings can differ by variant.
Double Draw and Triple Draw
Double Draw and Triple Draw give players more than one drawing round.
After each draw, another betting round usually takes place. These games create more decisions than regular Five Card Draw.
Wild card draw games
Some casual Five Card Draw games use wild cards. A wild card can represent another card to complete a stronger hand.
Wild card rules can change the game a lot. Players should always agree on wild cards before the deal.
Spanish Five Card Draw
Spanish Five Card Draw uses a shortened deck instead of a standard 52-card deck.
The deck usually removes the lowest cards, which changes hand values. Because the deck is different, the hand rankings may also change.
Stud poker
Stud poker does not use community cards. Each player receives their own cards during the hand.
Some cards are dealt face down. Other cards are dealt face up for everyone to see.
Seven Card Stud is the most famous stud variant. It was one of the most popular poker games before Texas Hold’em became dominant.
Stud games reward memory and observation. Exposed cards give players important information during the hand.
Seven Card Stud
Seven Card Stud gives each player up to seven cards. The final hand uses the best five-card combination.
The game usually starts with antes and a bring-in. It does not use blinds in the same way as Texas Hold’em or Omaha.
Players receive a mix of face-down and face-up cards. Because some cards are visible, players can track dead cards and possible draws.
Seven Card Stud is often played as Fixed-Limit. That keeps bet sizes more controlled.
Seven Card Stud variations
Seven Card Stud has many home game variations. Rules can differ by table, so players should agree on the exact format before the hand starts.
Chicago
Chicago is a Seven Card Stud split-pot variant. Part of the pot goes to the best poker hand.
The other part goes to the player with the highest spade in the hole. One player can win both parts of the pot.
Deuces, Jacks, Man with the Axe, Pair of Natural Sevens Takes All
Deuces, Jacks, Man with the Axe, Pair of Natural Sevens Takes All is a wild card Stud variant.
Twos, jacks, and the king of diamonds are wild cards. Because several cards can be wild, hand values can become much stronger than in regular Seven Card Stud.
This game is mostly played in home games. Players should agree on the wild card rules before the hand starts.
Kings and Little Ones
Kings and Little Ones is a wild card Stud variant. Kings are wild, and the lowest card in a player’s hand may also be wild.
Some versions require a king before the low card can become wild. Because rules vary, this game needs clear house rules.
Mississippi Stud
Mississippi Stud is a Stud variant with fewer betting rounds than regular Seven Card Stud.
The final card is usually dealt face up. This gives players more visible information before the last betting decisions.
Razz
Razz is the lowball version of Seven Card Stud. The lowest hand wins the pot.
Aces are low, and straights or flushes usually do not hurt the hand. The best possible Razz hand is A-2-3-4-5. More about Razz later.
Sweat
Sweat is a casual Stud-style variant where cards are revealed slowly.
Players reveal cards one at a time and compare hands as the action develops. Because this game is mostly played in home games, rules can vary widely.
Split-pot poker variants
Split-pot poker variants can divide the pot between two different winning hands.
In many split-pot games, one player can win the high hand while another wins the low hand. Sometimes one player wins both parts of the pot.
Omaha Hi-Lo and Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo are common split-pot games.
These variants add extra rules. Beginners should first understand regular high-hand poker before learning split-pot games.
Omaha Hi-Lo
Omaha Hi-Lo is a split-pot version of Omaha. It is also called Omaha Eight or Better.
The pot can be split between the best high hand and the best qualifying low hand.
A low hand usually needs five different cards ranked eight or lower. Straights and flushes do not hurt the low hand.
Omaha Hi-Lo still uses the Omaha hand rule. Players must use exactly two hole cards and exactly three community cards.
Razz
Razz is a lowball version of Seven Card Stud. In Razz, the lowest hand wins the pot.
Aces are low, and straights and flushes usually do not count against the hand.
The best possible Razz hand is ace, two, three, four, and five. This hand is often called the wheel.
Razz can feel strange at first because strong high hands are bad. However, the Stud structure remains familiar.
Lowball draw games
Lowball draw games are draw poker variants where the lowest hand wins.
Deuce to Seven Lowball is one of the best-known versions. In that game, the best hand is seven, five, four, three, and two without a flush.
Ace to Five Lowball works differently. In that version, ace is low, and the best hand is five, four, three, two, and ace.
Always check the exact lowball rules before playing. Low-hand rankings can differ by variant.
Mixed poker games
Mixed games rotate between multiple poker variants. They are common in some live tournaments and high-stakes cash games.
HORSE is one of the best-known mixed formats. It includes Hold’em, Omaha Hi-Lo, Razz, Seven Card Stud, and Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo.
Mixed games reward players who understand many variants. They are usually not the best starting point for beginners.
Poker variants and betting structures
Poker variants often connect with specific betting structures.
Texas Hold’em is commonly played as No-Limit. Omaha is commonly played as Pot-Limit. Seven Card Stud is often played as Fixed-Limit.
These are not strict rules. You can find different combinations, but some formats are much more common than others.
Before joining a table, always check both the poker variant and the betting structure.
Best poker variant for beginners
Texas Hold’em is usually the best poker variant for beginners. The rules are simple, and the game is widely available.
Five Card Draw is also easy to understand. However, it is less common on online poker sites.
Omaha is fun, but the two-hole-card rule creates many beginner mistakes. Seven Card Stud also adds extra complexity because of exposed cards.
Most beginners should start with Texas Hold’em, then learn Omaha, Draw, and Stud later.
Common beginner mistakes
Many beginners confuse poker variants that look similar.
One common mistake is playing Omaha like Texas Hold’em. In Omaha, you must use exactly two hole cards.
Another mistake is forgetting that Stud has no community cards. Every player receives their own cards.
Some players also enter split-pot games without understanding low-hand rules. That can lead to costly mistakes.
Finally, beginners may ignore the betting structure. A game can feel completely different as No-Limit, Pot-Limit, or Fixed-Limit.
Frequently asked questions about poker variants
It is widely available in online poker, live poker, cash games, and tournaments.
Five Card Draw is also simple, but it is less common online.
In Omaha, players must use exactly two hole cards and exactly three community cards.
Stud poker deals each player their own cards, with some face up and some face down.
For example, one player may win the high hand while another wins the low hand.
Players receive more hole cards, make more combinations, and must follow the two-card hand rule.
After that, Omaha, Five Card Draw, and Seven Card Stud are good next steps.