There are many different types of poker. Over 100 games can be found commonly played, each different from the next in small or large ways. Poker games can be divided into three main categories: Stud Games, Draw Games and Community Games.
Popular Stud Poker games include 7 Card Stud and Caribbean Stud. In these games, players receive a mix of both face-up and face-down cards. After many betting rounds, a winner is found. 5 Card Draw is by far the most popular Draw Poker game. In Draw Poker games, players are dealt a full hand before betting begins. They develop their hand in later rounds by replacing (drawing) cards. When it comes to Poker, Community Games are typically the favorites. Texas Hold’em and Omaha are two of the most commonly played poker games. With Community Poker, players are dealt cards face-down. They create hands using their cards and the house cards in the middle of the table, which are unveiled as betting progresses.
Below, read up on how to deal, play and win some of the most prominent poker games found today. Study them well and you might become the next Poker Winner.
Game Types
Stud Games:
7 Card Stud
Players: 2-8
Deal: Total of 7 cards with 3 face down and 4 face up
Game: 3 cards are dealt to each player, 2 face up and 1 face down. The person with the lowest card face up starts the betting by putting in half of the low limit (the lowest amount, typically 3 for this game, 6 being the high limit). The game continues clockwise as the other players decide if they wish to fold, call or raise. A 4th card is dealt next, facing upwards. The player with the highest hand starts the betting, deciding to either fold, check or bet. Betting continues clockwise. A 5th card is dealt face up and, again, the highest hand goes first, deciding to fold, check or bet. At this point, all bets must equal the high limit bet size. Next, a 6th card is dealt face up and, again, the person with the highest hand bets first. The game continues clockwise. As the 7th card is dealt face down, players once again bet clockwise, starting with the person with the highest hand. (If 8 players are still in at this time, there are not enough cards to satisfy having a 7th card drawn. If that’s the case, only use one card as a communal card for all players to use.)
Winner: Best hand using 5 of the 7 cards.
Seven Card Stud 8 or Better
Players: 2-8
Deal: Total of 7 cards with 3 face down and 4 face up
Game: Same as Seven Card Stud
Winner: After reviewing all face up and face down cards, two winners are chosen. The player with the best hand using 5 of their 7 cards wins half the pot, and the player with the best low hand using 5 cards wins the other half of the pot.
5 Card Stud
Players: 2-8
Deal: Total of 5 cards with 1 face down and 4 face up
Game: To start, all players are dealt 1 card face down and 1 card face up. The player with the lowest card by suit (highest to lowest: spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs) produces the first bet, which is half the lower limit. The next player clockwise can bet, call or fold. This process repeats for the remaining 3 cards dealt.
Winner: The person with the best 5 card hand wins.
Caribbean Stud
Players: 3-8
Deal: 5 cards
Game: This game is played against the house rather than other players. Players start by placing their ante in the pot. After the players receive their 5 cards, the dealer shows 1 of his. For those who wish to stay in, they bet twice their ante. The dealer than reveals his hand. If the dealer has an Ace/King or higher, they play, if not, they pay out the ante to the remaining players. If a player beats him, he pays off both the ante and bet. The bet is paid off in multiples, depending on what their hand is worth: 1 pair (1 to 1), 2 pair (2 to 1), 3 of a Kind (3 to 1), Straight (4 to 1), Flush (5 to 1), Full House (7 to 1) Four of a Kind (20 to 1), Straight Flush (50 to 1), Royal Flush (100 to 1). In addition, players can put $1 in the ante to be eligible for a progressive payoff. Players with a flush or higher win. The payoff is as follows: Flush ($50), Full House ($100), Four of a Kind ($500), Straight Flush (10% of progressive meter), Royal Flush (100% of Progressive Meter)
Winner: The player with the best 5 card hand against the dealer wins.
Oxford Stud
Players: 2-8
Deal: 4 cards to each player, 3 cards as community cards
Game: Each player receives 2 cards face down and 1 card face up. The person with the lowest hand starts betting first, and then the betting continues clockwise. Two community cards are then put on the board for players to all use. The second round of betting starts with the person who has the highest hand, including their 1 card face up and the two community cards. After all bets are made, each player receives another card face up. Betting continues, starting with the person holding the best hand. One additional community card is then added to the table. The person with the best showing poker hand will start the betting. The last round of betting allows players to include their two face down cards.
Winner: After reviewing all face up and face down cards, two winners are chosen. The player with the best hand using 5 of the 7 cards wins half the pot, and the player with the best low hand using 5 cards wins the other half of the pot.
2-7
Players: 3-7
Deal: Total of 7 cards with 3 face down and 4 face up
Game: Same as 7 Card Stud, only Aces are always played high and all straights and flushes count.
Winner: The player with the lowest 5 card hand wins. (The lowest hand is 2-3-4-5-7, thus the name of the game.)
7’s Take All
Players: 3-7
Deal: Total of 7 cards with 3 face down and 4 face up
Game: Played similarly to 7 Card Stud, only there are no wilds and a pair of 7’s is the highest hand possible.
Winner: Highest hand wins, but a pair of 7’s beats everything. (If two players have a pair of 7’s, the highest card wins.)
Auction
Players: 3-7
Deal: 2 cards face down
Game: After all players bet, a number of cards equal to the number of players in the game will be put face up on the table. Each player gets to choose one of the cards. To determine who chooses first, all players choose a sum of money between the table’s minimum bet and the maximum bet and hide it in their hand. After, all players drop the money they are holding. The player who drops the highest sum gets to pick first. The second highest picks next and then so on. If two players choose the same amount, the person sitting closest to the dealer clockwise chooses first. This process is then repeated three additional times, leaving the players with their two original cards face down and four cards face up. A betting round ensues and then a 7th card is dealt face down to each player, leading to the last round of betting.
Winner: After reviewing all face up and face down cards, the winner has the best hand using 5 of their 7 cards.
Baltimore (Low Chicago)
Players: 4 – 7
Deal: Total of 7 cards with 3 face down and 4 face up
Game: Same as 7 Card Stud
Winner: The pot is split between the player with the best hand using 5 of their 7 cards and the player with the low spade in the hole.
Chicago
Players: 4-7
Deal: Total of 7 cards with 3 face down and 4 face up
Game: Same as 7 Card Stud
Winner: The pot is split between the player with the best hand using 5 of their 7 cards and the player with the high spade in the hole.
Baseball
Players: 3-7
Deal: Total of 7 cards with 3 face down and 4 face up
Game: Same as 7 Card Stud, only 3’s and 9’s are wild. Also, if a player flips a 4, the player is dealt an extra card face down.
Winner: Best hand using 5 of the 7 cards wins.
Other Kinds of Stud Games:
Blind Baseball, Black Mariah, Canadian Stud, Cathy’s Game, Choose Your Own, Cowpie Poker, Dakota, Dirty Schultz, English Stud, Follow the Queen, Fourplay, Grocery Shopping (The Price is Right), Harem, Have a Heart, Henway, Jack the Shifter, Jerry’s Game, Killer King, Midnight Baseball (No Peek), Pass the Trash (Want it? Want it? Got it!)(Selection/Rejection)(Polish), Philadelphia (City of Brotherly Love), Psycho, Razz, Roll Your Neighbor, Roll Your Own, Russian Revolution, Second Hand High
Draw Games:
Five Card Draw
Players: 3-7
Deal: 5 cards face down dealt to each player
Game: After all cards are distributed, each player puts a bet into the pot. Once that’s over, each player can exchange up to 3 cards. Another round of betting ensues after that, which is then followed by the showdown.
Winner: Best hand
Deuce to 7 Triple Draw
Players: 2-6
Deal: 5 cards face down dealt to each player
Game: After each player is dealt 5 cards, a round of betting ensues. In total there are 4 rounds of betting and 3 draws in this game. For each draw, players can exchange up to 5 cards.
Winner: Whoever has the lowest hand. For this game, 2 is the lowest card and Ace is the highest.
Ace to 5 Triple Draw
Players: 2-6
Deal: 5 cards face down dealt to each player
Game: Played similarly to Deuce to 7 Triple Draw, however each hand is ranked differently. Straights and flushes do not count against the player and, most importantly, Aces are played as low cards.
Winner: Lowest hand
Other Kinds of Draw Games:
Neuticles, Pick a Partner, Trees, Threes, Triple Draw 2-7
Community Games:
Texas Hold’em
Players: 3-10
Deal: 2 cards face down to each player, 5 community cards face up on the table
Game: After the deal, everyone places their bets into the pot and then 3 community cards are turned up. Another round of betting follows and then 1 additional community card is turned up. Another round of betting occurs and then the last community card is turned up. After one final round of betting, the winner is determined
Winner: Best hand using a combination of their 2 cards and the table’s 5.
Omaha Hold’em
Players: 3-10
Deal: 4 cards face down to each player, 5 community cards face up on the table
Game: Similar to Texas Hold’em, only the final hand must include 2 of the player’s 4 cards and 3 of the table’s 5.
Winner: Highest hand
Omaha Hi-Lo (8 or Better)
Players: 3-10
Deal: 4 cards face down to each player, 5 community cards face up on the table
Game: Similar to Omaha Hold’em
Winner: Both the highest and lowest hands split the pot. The lowest hand must be a straight of 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 or lower.
Double Flop Hold’em
Players: 3-10
Deal: 2 cards face down to each player, 10 community cards face up on the table in two groups
Game: The game is similar to Omaha Hold’em, only with 2 winners rather than one. Two cards are dealt out to each player and 2 cards are displayed face up as community cards in one pile. After a round of betting, 2 more cards are turned up for the same pile. After another round of betting, 2 cards are turned up in a different community pile. More betting and then 2 more cards turned up for that pile. After another round of betting, 2 last cards are turned up, one for each pile. In the end, there should be 2 rows of 5 cards. One final round of betting ensues, and then showdown.
Winner: The pot is split between the two best hands, one for each row.
Crazy Pineapple
Players: 3-10
Deal: 3 cards face down, 5 community cards face up
Game: After each player is dealt their 3 cards (pocket cards), a round of betting ensues and then 3 community cards, called the flop, are turned face up. After a second round of betting, all players are required to discard one of their pocket cards before the dealer turns over one more community card (called the turn). A third betting round occurs and then the dealer turns over the final community card, the river, before starting the final betting round.
Winner: Best hand using: both of the remaining pocket cards and 3 community cards, one of the pocket cards and 4 of the community cards, or all of the community cards.
Crazy Pineapple 8 or Better
Players: 3-10
Deal: 3 cards face down, 5 community cards face up
Game: Same as Crazy Pineapple
Winner: Both the highest and lowest hand wins, splitting the pot.
Cincinnati
Players: 3-9
Deal: 5 cards face down to each player, 5 community cards face up
Game: One community card is turned up, followed by a round of betting. This continues until all 5 community cards are shown.
Winner: Best hand using their cards and the community cards.
Super Hold’em
Players: 3-10
Deal: 3 cards are dealt face down to each player, 5 community cards are dealt face up
Game: Same as Texas Hold’em.
Winner: Highest hand.
Triple –Flop Hold’em
Players: 3-10
Deal: 2 cards face down to each player, 6 community cards
Game: The game is played similarly to Texas Hold’em, except the 6 community cards are shown 2 at a time. Also, only 3 community cards may be used to make a hand.
Winner: Highest hand.
