Types of Poker Games: Explore Texas Hold’em, Omaha & Other Poker Variations

While many people may think of poker as just one game, the reality is that there are many variations, each with its own rules, strategies, and nuances. From first-timers seeking to learn a new game to seasoned pros eager to try their hand at the different types of poker, options on the gaming floor are practically endless. Variations of poker, such as the well-known Texas Hold’em, to more obscure games like Badugi, all have a place in expanding your skill set. Now, it’s time for us to explore the various forms of poker available.

All You Need to Know

The main types of poker games are community card games, Draw, and Stud, with variations within each type.
Mixed games combine several poker variations to provide players with a diverse experience.
The most popular games, both online and live, are No Limit Texas Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha.
Lowball and split-pot variants, such as Razz and Omaha Hi-Lo, add further diversity by rewarding the lowest or dual winning hands.

What Are the Main Types of Poker Games?

Before we explore individual types of poker games, it’s helpful to know that each variation will fall into one of three broad categories, detailed below. The only exception to this is Mixed Games, which may combine several poker game types, switching up the format after a certain number of hands or in a tournament after each blind level.

Let’s examine the three primary types of poker game formats.

Community Card Games

In community card games of poker, such as Texas Hold’em and Omaha, players share board cards as well as their private hole cards. Betting rounds occur both before the flop and after community cards are revealed.

Stud Poker Games

In Stud poker variations, such as Seven-Card Stud and Five-Card Stud, there are no community cards. Instead, players are dealt a number of hole cards, some face up and some face down, with betting rounds in between. Face-up cards can be used to bluff or gain information about an opponent’s hands.

Draw Poker Games

In Draw poker game types, such as Five-Card Draw and Lowball, players are dealt a set number of private hole cards, followed by a betting round. They’ll then have the option to discard and redraw any number of cards to try to make the best poker hand.

Types of Poker Games

While Texas Hold’em is often the first game that comes to mind for most players, there are plenty of other variations of poker that introduce exciting dynamics, allowing you to flex different cognitive muscles beyond classic No Limit Hold’em.

Some games are all about bluffing and psychological play, while others require a deep understanding of mathematics. Players will need to explore the strategies of each different poker card game to find the best poker avenue for them.

Exploring the different poker variants can be a fun way to learn new games and help sharpen general decision-making skills, though some variants involve distinct hand rankings or goals that don’t directly translate to other poker types.

For example, Omaha is essentially a more complex version of Texas Hold’em with two extra hole cards, where each player must use exactly two hole cards and three community cards to make a hand.

Seven-Card Stud and Razz, on the other hand, run with completely different gameplay, betting structures, and hand rankings.

There are also more obscure games on the poker list, such as Pineapple and Badugi, that add interesting twists to the traditional poker experience. Players should consider broadening their horizons to other types of poker games, as they will likely help them become better overall players.

Below, we’ll detail the rules and characteristics of various poker games, from the very well-known to the ones you may only see at a home game. Every one of these variations of poker has something different to offer.

Texas Hold’em

Of all the different types of poker games, Texas Hold’em is by far the most popular on this poker game list. It’s the variant that most people are familiar with and is usually thought of when someone mentions poker. This is primarily due to its presence in major tournaments and televised cash games.

Each player in Texas Hold’em receives two cards, known as “hole cards,” and five community cards are dealt face-up in the middle of the table. Players make their best possible five-card hand using the community cards and the two hole cards. There is a round of betting pre-flop, post-flop, post-turn, and finally post-river.

For a more detailed look at Hold’em, check out our complete guide on how to play Texas Hold’em.

Game Ratings

Popularity – 10/10: Texas Hold’em is the undisputed poker king, thanks to its presence in high-profile tournaments and its simplicity to learn and play.
Ease of learning the rules – 8/10: The phrase that is often said about Texas Hold’em is that it is easy to learn, but very hard to master.
Strategy learning curve – 9/10: Although the rules are simple to learn, the strategy behind Texas Hold’em is intricate, meaning that there is a wide skill gap between the best and worst players.
Opportunity to play – 10/10: Texas Hold’em is available everywhere. If a cardroom offers poker, it will also offer Texas Hold’em.

Limits & Betting Variations

Texas Hold’em is played with multiple betting structures, including No Limit (the most common), Limit, and Pot Limit. In No Limit Hold’em, players can bet any amount of chips, up to their entire stack, at any time. In Limit Hold’em, betting is restricted to a fixed amount on each street. Pot Limit Hold’em allows players to bet up to the current size of the pot.

Omaha Poker

After Hold’em, Omaha is likely the second most popular type of poker game, having gained popularity over the past few years. The game plays similarly to Texas Hold’em, but with two extra hole cards that add complexity and more potential hand combinations.

This makes Omaha the game of choice for most players seeking action and fun. It is widely available online, as explained in our guide on how to play Omaha poker online.

The primary difference from Hold’em is that each player is dealt four cards, rather than two. The same five community cards are still in the middle of the table, with the same number of betting rounds. Players must use exactly two cards from their hand and three community cards from the board to make the best possible five-card combination.

Game Ratings

Popularity – 9/10: Omaha is extremely popular, but it’s not as widely played as Texas Hold’em.
Ease of learning the rules – 7/10: The added hole cards can initially be confusing, but the overall gameplay is straightforward and very similar to Hold’em.
Strategy learning curve – 8/10: Omaha offers more possibilities to make big hands than Texas Hold’em, requiring players to adapt their strategy. More draws and big hands mean players must learn new strategies to win.
Opportunity to play – 8/10: Omaha is available in many poker rooms, but it’s not as commonly played as Texas Hold’em. However, it can be found in almost all online cardrooms.

Limits & Betting Variations

Omaha can be played in Limit, Pot Limit, and No Limit formats, just like Texas Hold’em. However, Pot Limit Omaha, or PLO as it is more commonly referred to, is easily the most popular form of poker and the one you will see in most cardrooms.

Game Variations

While Omaha is traditionally played in a four-card format, players have added more cards to increase the action. Be on the lookout for five-card Omaha, sometimes available in online and live cardrooms, but more likely to be found as a type of poker home game.

The rules are mostly similar: players still form a five-card hand, but some five-card Omaha variants may allow different card-use rules or structures compared to standard four-card Omaha. Any experienced player will tell you that this extra card greatly increases the action. Get ready for tons of big pots and big swings.

Omaha Hi-Lo

Omaha Hi-Lo is a split-pot poker variation where half the pot is awarded to the best qualifying high hand, and half the pot is awarded to the best qualifying low hand (if one exists). Players can use the same hole cards for both hands.

Basics of the Game

Each player is dealt four hole cards and the five community cards. To win the high portion of the pot, a player must have the best hand according to standard hand rankings. To win the low half of the pot, a hand must consist of five cards ranked eight or lower, with no pairs.

The “eight or better” format means the low portion of your hand must have the highest card of 8 or lower to qualify. Flushes and Straights do not count against you, and the best low hand you can make is Ax,2x,3x,4x,5x, or a “Wheel.”

Game Ratings

Popularity – 7/10: Omaha Hi-Lo is popular in certain poker circles, especially for players who enjoy the challenge of split-pot games.
Ease of learning the rules – 6/10: The concept of split-pot poker can be tricky for beginners.
Strategy learning curve – 9/10: The dual nature of the game (high and low hands) requires players to think carefully about both types of hands.
Opportunity to play – 5/10: Omaha Hi-Lo is offered in some poker rooms, but it’s less common than traditional Omaha or Texas Hold’em. The most common place you will see split pot games played is in tournament poker.

7-Card Stud Poker

Before Texas Hold’em’s popularity surged, 7-Card Stud was the most popular type of poker. In this game, there are no community cards; instead, each player receives seven cards. The first two cards are dealt face down, followed by four cards face up, then a final card face down to finish with seven.

Stud is played in a limit betting format, and the goal is to make the best possible five-card hand using your seven cards. The game is played with five betting rounds, and players must rely on the cards they are dealt, along with the information they can gather from the other players’ face-up cards.

It’s a great idea to learn how to play 7-Card Stud and add another great poker game to your roster.

Game Ratings

Popularity – 6/10: Seven-Card Stud has fallen in popularity but is still a classic among poker enthusiasts. Grizzled grinders from poker past still find Stud to be one of the best games.
Ease of learning the rules – 7/10: The rules are straightforward, but the lack of community cards can make learning this type of poker game more challenging.
Strategy learning curve – 8/10: Stud is a game of memory and observation, and the strategy revolves around knowing when to fold, call, or raise based on your hand and the visible cards in your opponent’s hand.
Opportunity to play – 5/10: It’s harder to find 7-Card Stud games online and in live cardrooms compared to Hold’em or Omaha. Once again, Stud is most commonly found as a tournament format rather than a cash game.

Razz Poker

Razz is won by making the lowest hand, not the highest. It is played in a limit betting structure with the same format as Stud, in which you are dealt seven cards. However, unlike most poker variants, where the best or highest hand wins, Razz awards the pot to the player with the worst hand.

In Razz, aces are low, and straights and flushes do not count against you. Players try to make the lowest five-card hand possible using their seven dealt cards. Like the low portion in an Omaha Hi-Lo pot, the best hand you can make in Razz is Ax, 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, or a “Wheel.”

Game Ratings

Popularity – 5/10. Razz is considered a niche poker variant on the list of poker games, mainly played in tournaments or home games. However, high-stakes cash mixed games will often include Razz as one of the staples.
Ease of learning the rules – 7/10: The rules are simple, but the strategy can be tricky to master compared to other poker game types.
Strategy learning curve – 6/10: Since Razz is played in the Stud format, a specific strategy is often used, and players can learn the game fairly quickly.
Opportunity to play – 4/10: Razz is rarely offered in online poker rooms or casinos, though it can be found as one of the staple mixed games in many tournaments.

Stud Hi-Lo

Stud Hi-Lo combines the best aspects of Stud and the split-pot structure of Omaha Hi-Lo. Players compete for the best high portion of the pot and the best low portion of the pot.

This poker game type is played with the exact same structure and betting format as standard Stud, with each player being dealt seven cards. However, half of the pot is awarded to the best low hand, provided the low hand meets the qualification requirements.

Game Ratings

Popularity – 5/10. Stud Hi-Lo is another niche poker variant, often found only in high-stakes cash mixed games and tournament poker.
Ease of learning the rules – 6/10: The rules are similar to 7-Card Stud, but players must also consider the low hand. This can create tricky situations that may not come naturally to the average player.
Strategy learning curve – 8/10: Players must balance strategy between aiming for a high hand and a low hand. Players will be forced to make tough decisions on each betting street about whether they should continue or not.
Opportunity to play – 4/10: Like Razz, Stud Hi-Lo is less common than other variants.

5-Card Draw Poker

5-Card Draw is one of the simplest and most traditional types of poker games, and is likely the original version of poker. It is also a very popular type of home poker game.

Players are dealt five cards face down before a round of betting occurs. They then have the option to discard none or up to all of their cards, and replace them with new ones in an attempt to make the best hand.

As with all the different poker games described in this article, there’s a lot more to learn about how to play Five Card Poker.

Game Ratings

Popularity – 4/10: Though it may be one of the oldest games, it is no longer among the most popular types of poker.
Ease of learning the rules – 9/10: The rules are easy to understand, making it a great type of poker game for beginners.
Strategy learning curve – 6/10: The strategy is simple, but Five-Card Draw becomes more interesting with betting patterns and bluffing. This is one of the main forms of poker that relies on you learning how to “read” your opponent.
Opportunity to play – 2/10: This game is almost never seen in public cardrooms but can still be played in some mixed-game tournaments.

2-7 Lowball

2-7 Lowball is a variation of lowball poker that differs from other types of poker games. The goal is to make the lowest possible hand using five cards. However, in this lowball format, pairs, straights, and flushes count against you.

Basics of the Game

Players are dealt five cards and are looking to make the worst hand possible. Depending on what form of poker Lowball you are playing, there will be one or several rounds where you can throw away cards and draw new ones.

The easiest way to think about the best hand in 2-7 Lowball is to flip the typical hand rankings on their head. For example, in 2-7, a royal flush would be the worst hand you could make, while the best hand that you can make is 2x,3x,4x,5x,7x with no flush, as you only have seven-high.

Game Variations

Triple Draw: Typically played in a limit betting format, and players can draw three times to improve their hand.
Single Draw: Typically played in a No Limit betting format, and players only have the option to draw once to make their hand.

H.O.R.S.E. Poker

While it’s not an entirely different format, H.O.R.S.E. is a mixed game that rotates through five different poker variants, each represented by a letter in the acronym:

H – Hold’em (Limit Texas Hold’em).

O – Omaha Hi-Lo (also called Omaha 8 or Better).

R – Razz (a lowball version of Seven Card Stud).

S – Seven Card Stud (high only).

E – Eight or Better (Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo Split).

Players switch games at set intervals (e.g., every orbit). H.O.R.S.E. and other mixed games have become very popular in high-stakes and championship events. They are also an excellent type of poker for home games.

Badugi Poker

Badugi is one of the more niche poker variations. It uses a four-card hand, and the ultimate goal is to make a “Badugi,” which is a hand with four different suits. Pairs count against you, and as with other lowball games, the objective is to make the lowest possible hand.

Basics of the Game

Badugi is a draw-type poker game in which the objective is to create the lowest possible hand, without a pair, using four cards of all different suits. Each player is dealt four cards, and, after a round of betting, they can discard any number of cards and receive replacements to improve their hand. The best hand in Badugi is ace through four, with each card being a different suit.

Learn how to play Badugi Poker today to add an exciting game to your poker mix.

Short Deck Poker

Short Deck, also commonly referred to as 6+ Hold’em, is a type of poker game that uses a 36-card deck rather than a standard 52-card deck. It is played like Texas Hold’em, but all of the 2’s through 5’s are removed from the deck. This makes it much easier to make very strong hands, and also changes the math of the game, causing the classic hand rankings of Texas Hold’em to change slightly.

Hand Rankings Difference

The main difference in Short Deck is that flushes beat full houses. This will often confuse new players, but it is vital to understand if you want to play this variant. There are also some changes to the bottom end of a straight.

In Hold’em, the lowest straight you could make is a five-high straight or ace through five. In Short Deck, the lowest straight you can make is a nine-high straight or Ax,6x,7x,8x,9x, due to the cards that are removed.

You can always study how to play Short Deck poker to give yourself an edge before trying this game for real money.

Pineapple Poker

Pineapple falls somewhere between Hold’em and Omaha, but with a twist, and can be one of the wildest poker games to play. Players are dealt three cards, but they must discard one. In standard Pineapple, this discard happens before the flop, but in Crazy Pineapple, it happens after you see the flop.

Other Types of Poker Games

The different types of poker listed above are the most common; however, there are still plenty of other, more obscure games, such as Chinese Poker, Badeucy, and Drawmaha, each offering a unique twist on traditional poker game types. Some, like Chinese Poker, use distinct scoring systems rather than standard five-card hand showdowns.

Types of Poker Recommendations

If you are unsure of where to start on your poker journey in the sea of different poker games, here are four recommendations:

Texas Hold’em: The most popular and widely played type of poker game.
Omaha: A great option for players who enjoy Texas Hold’em but want more action.
Stud Hi-Lo/Omaha Hi-Lo: These will teach you the basics of Stud and Omaha while also teaching you how to play split-pot games.
5-Card Draw: A simple and accessible poker game for beginners and experienced players alike.