Steeped in history, one of the earliest forms of poker adapted from As Nas, a Persian game that featured five suits of five cards in a deck.
Since then, the game has evolved and grown in popularity throughout the decades, which has led to many fantastic variations hitting online and land-based casinos. Let’s take a closer look at the most popular poker games in the world so that you can choose the right option for you.
Texas Hold ‘em Poker
Texas Hold ‘em poker is, without a doubt, the most popular game on the planet, and it is an excellent place to start when playing online or at a land-based casino.
It is common for the dealer to shuffle a 52-card deck at a casino. But if you’re playing poker in the comfort of your home, it is wise to share the dealer’s duties between different players.
Every player will get two hole cards, and their goal must be to create the best five-card hand at the felt. Texas Hold ‘em poker will move in a clockwise direction to the left of the dealer, so the first two players on his or her left must post either a small or large blind to initiate betting, which will direct the actions of other players.
Omaha
If you have mastered the rules of Texas Hold ‘em, then consider leveling up your skills and style to Omaha, which is ideal if you are ready for a tougher poker game that can offer big rewards.
Every player will receive four hole cards instead of two, but you can only use two cards from a hand. It is like Texas Hold ‘em, as the game features five community cards with a turn, flop and river. Plus, the betting rounds also play out in the same style.
There are also options to play in either a limit or pot-limit format, which commonly range from either Omaha Hi or Omaha 8 or Better, commonly known as a Hi-Lo.
Those who enjoy a game of Texas Hold ‘em will more than likely enjoy Omaha Hi, as the player with the highest hand will win the pot. However, Omaha 8 or Better will split the pot between the lowest hand and the highest hand. To qualify for a low hand, you will need to have five cards ranked eight or lower.
Watch this video to learn How to Play Omaha Hi-Lo:
Seven-Card Stud
Before Texas Hold ‘em and Omaha rose in popularity, seven-card stud was the poker game everyone wanted to play. You can play the game with between two to eight players, and it doesn’t feature flop or community cards.
It will start with two cards face down and a third faced up, which we call the hole cards and the door card. With the seven cards dealt, three faced down and four faced up, you can select the best five-card combination, which will feature similar hand rankings to Omaha and Texas Hold ‘em.
Seven-card stud is commonly a limit game. That means you also must pay close attention to your poker opponent to win the pot, and you must never underestimate the odds.
2-7 Triple Draw
Despite being one of the most challenging poker games to master, the 2–7 triple draw isn’t the most popular variation on this list. Due to the complexity of the game, many poker players are more likely to play easier options, such as Texas Hold ‘em. If, however, you are confident in your poker skills and looking for an advanced game, then it could be the perfect option for you.
To win 2-7 triple draw, you will need to secure the lowest possible five-card hand in a four-round game, which will feature three draws per game. It also follows the same structure as Texas Hold ‘em, and no more than six players can participate in a game.
A player can also choose to discard between zero to five cards each round, at which point, the dealer will then hand them replacement cards. After the third draw, there is a final betting round before a dealer will determine both the order of the betting and discarding.
It is also crucial to remember that aces play high and deuces play low, and you should bear in mind that straights and flushes will work against you. The best hand you can achieve with no flush is 23457.
Chinese Poker
Chinese poker is one of the newest forms of poker you can play. While many people are unfamiliar with the game, it has grown in popularity with each passing year.
The open-faced game first came on the scene in 2011, which seemingly evolved from the closed-faced variety of the same name. Players tackling open-faced poker will need to draw their cards from a single deck to develop the best possible hand.
Unlike with traditional poker games of rounds, with Chinese poker, players will play for points, which is similar in style to other card games, such as gin rummy.
It’s of course not intended only for Chinese players, and has players from all over the world playing it. Poker players in Vietnam for example, can visit a Casino called W88 for more options and good deals – and in Vietnamese.
Following the completion of the card replacement rounds, players will arrange their 13 cards into three different hands, known as the top, middle and bottom. The top hand will feature only three cards and score as a regular poker hand while the middle and bottom are both five-card hands.
So, if you’re ready to try your hand at different poker games online, at home or in a luxurious casino, these popular variations can be an excellent place to start. Besides, unless you tackle each one for yourself, you won’t know which game is the best option for you.
