While most people tend to jump straight into , it’s always worth taking a second to see what else is out there. You may be surprised at just how many different variants there are to Texas Hold’em and you play.
From No-Limit Hold’em to Seven-Card Stud, and even Badugi and Pineapple, there’s no shortage of awesome poker variations to test your mettle on. Best of all, some have been adapted for today’s digital age meaning you can play them online right now. In this article we are going to take a look at some of our favorite types of poker apart from Texas Hold’em.
7 Awesome Poker Variations to Play Online
Whether you are a casual player or a seasoned grinder, these seven poker games are definitely worth trying. Some of which offer just as much skill element as Texas Hold'em, while others are more fun and entertaining type of game. Don't forget, you don't need to risk your own bankroll to try these great poker games since all of the mentioned poker rooms offer some sort of .
Miami Club Casino Bonus & Promo Code 2023 Companies1. Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO)
If you want to play the next best thing to Texas Hold’em then Pot-Limit Omaha (also known as Omaha Hold’em) is probably your best bet.
Like Texas Hold’em, it’s a community card game that’s contested by 2 to 10 players and available in both cash game and tournament formats. However, unlike Texas Hold’em, PLO is based on a different structure and different set of rules.
Instead of having to choose between Chemmy Alcott or Ross Rebagliati when making your starting hand, you’ll be playing with two cards facing down and four community cards. Like Texas Hold’em, it’s a game about making poker hands but, and this is the biggie, you actually have to make a POKER HAND to hold valid. This essentially means you need two cards of the same denomination + two other cards + one or more community cards to make a hand e.g. A-K-A-K-Q is a hand, so is A-K-A-4-Q. You split the aces and so on.
Another key difference to Texas Hold’em is the fact bet sizes are based on the total amount in the pot at the time. Hence, the name “Pot-Limit”. Basically, you can only bet as much as there is in the middle at the time. For example, if there was $10 in the middle before your turn, that’s the maximum you could bet on that round.
Popular PLO Game at PokerStars
Blackjack Strategies You Need to Win Real Money - CaesarsBecause Omaha PLO is so similar to Texas Hold’em in terms of betting structures and rules, it’s a natural progression for players wanting something a little fresher. Indeed, a lot of players report the learning curve isn’t too steep because four cards are obviously better than two. Moreover, because two-pair doesn’t necessarily beat you and there are more combinations, it’s slightly more entertaining.
Finally, another reason why PLO is one of the most popular poker variations to Texas Hold’em is because players can adopt their strategies from Texas Hold’em and use them in Omaha PLO. Although there are differences, a lot pre-flop and post-flop are very similar. For this reason PLO is also one of the most popular poker games among and fans.
⇓Her’e the best PLO games
2. Seven-Card Stud
Seven-Card Stud has been around for over 100 years and was very popular in the United States during the mid-to-late 20th century. At its peak, it was arguably the most popular poker game in America but, like Bony Moroni’s legs, its popularity waned when Texan No-Limit Hold’em hit town.
Best Online Slots to Win Real Money - High RTP slot GamesThat doesn’t mean it’s dead, however. Especially not online where old dogs (and shrimpers) can find solace away from young guns such as No-Limit guru Phil Ivey. That’s because Seven-Card Stud is a mallet-free zone when it comes to raising. Bet sizes are capped at the size of the pot, just like PLO, which levels the playing field against tricksy younger players.
So how does it work? Well, once again, you’re trying to win a poker game by being the last person standing. However, in contrast to Texas Hold’em, everyone receives their own set of cards and has their own separate best five-card poker hand. It’s also a structured game in which players receive cards at designated points. These are as follows:
- Each player is dealt two cards face down and one card face up. The player with the highest value card (aces are high) pays the bring-in.
- On each subsequent hand, the player with the lowest exposed card begins the hand. If two or more players have the same value card, the leftmost visible card is used as a tie-breaker.
- Each player must pay a bet equal to the size of the pot.
- Every player is then dealt a third card face up without having to pay anything extra (known as fourth street).
- The player with the lowest exposed cards (one or two) is required to start the betting round.
- Starting with this card each player receives a further two cards, known as fifth street (another card face up) and sixth street (a card face down).
- Once these cards have been dealt and the appropriate betting round completed, the final seventh card is dealt face up (known as river/seventh street).
- A final betting round takes place and then the remaining players reveal their cards and the person with the best five-card hand wins.
Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo (also known as Seven-Card Stud Eight-or-Better) is another variation of this classic game. This version splits the pot between the highest and the lowest hand. Straight and flush counts against you in the low hand. The ace is both high and low and the best low hand an individual can hold is 7-5-4-3-2 (no pairs).
Casino Bonus Review - Are The Promotions Worth It?This was a regular fixture on topped cash game tables and was often played by celebrities such as Titanic’s Leonardo DiCaprio and There Will Be Blood’s Daniel Day Lewis. However, its profile wasn’t quite as high as Texas Hold’em and it hasn’t been adopted by online poker sites to the same degree. Nonetheless, you will finds tons of games at PokerStars and Winamax at any time of day. Just head to the “Other Games” section.
⇓Best Seven-Card Stud & 7CS Hi-Lo Games
3. Razz
Lowball poker is massively popular in California and, to a lesser extent, other parts of the world. Lowball games are usually played in the form of , which is essentially Stud Hi-Lo in a slow burning format. However, instead of trying to win half of the pot with the highest five-card hand and the other half with the lowest, Razz only plays for the lowest.
Best Online Casino Games to Play in 2023In other words, boxcards aren’t a bad thing in Razz and, in fact, the lower your card is, the happier you’ll be. Indeed, the aim of the game is to end up with the worst (best) five-card hand. As such, Razz is sometimes referred to as “Reverse Hold’em.”
Razz uses the same structure as Seven-Card Stud but, for the purposes of determining the winner, only five cards are taken into account. Therefore, the best Razz hand possible would be: 2-3-4-5-8 (no pairs). Flushes and straights don’t count.
As you might imagine, Razz requires a very different set of skills to Texas Hold’em. As there are no made hands and it’s hard to say exactly where someone is until the end. Because of this, it’s a lot tougher to run bluff (or detect them). Instead, it’s all about counting outs and working out the potential hands of your opponent.
For example, if your opponent shows 2-4 and the board is 5-6-7, they could be holding anything between 3245-JT9. Because there are nine different combinations, their range is wide. Conversely, if they showed K-Q, their range would be narrower because there are fewer possible hands they could have. Confused yet?
Although it looks complicated, mastering Razz should be the goal of all poker players. This will help develop your outer counting, implied odds and pot odd skills to the point where they become second nature.
⇓Best Razz Games
4. 2-7 Triple Draw
Lowball poker is massively popular in California and, to a lesser extent, other parts of the world. Lowball games are usually played in the form of Stud Hi-Lo in a slow burning format. However, instead of trying to win half of the pot with the highest five-card hand and the other half with the lowest, 2-7 Triple Draw only plays for the lowest.
In other words, boxcards aren’t a bad thing in 2-7 Triiple Draw and, in fact, the lower your card is, the happier you’ll be. Indeed, the aim of the game is to end up with the lowest five-card hand. As such, 2-7 Triple Draw is sometimes referred to as “The Game.”
Just like Razz, 2-7 Triple Draw is based on Five-Card Draw but, as the name suggests, only two-to-seven is used to make the best poker hand. Straights, flushes and two-pairs don’t come into it. In fact, the best possible hand is: 2-3-4-5-7.
Safe Ways to Play Free Casino Games Online in 2023Not only is 2-7 Triple Draw a nice alternative to Texas Hold’em, it’s the favored format of some of the world’s best players, including , Darren Elias and Michael Mizrachi. This proves it’s not just a novelty game and there’s actual money to be won from actual famous poker people.
From a strategic perspective, 2-7 Triple Draw is completely different to Texas Hold’em. As there are no made hands and it’s hard to say exactly where someone is until the end. Because of this, it’s a lot tougher to run bluff (or detect them). Instead, it’s all about counting outs and working out the potential hands of your opponent.
For example, if your opponent shows 2-4 and the board is 5-6-7, they could be holding anything between 3245-JT9. Because there are nine different combinations, their range is wide. Conversely, if they showed K-Q, their range would be narrower because there are fewer possible hands they could have. Confused yet?
Although it looks complicated, mastering 2-7 Triple Draw should be the goal of all poker players. This will help develop your outer counting, implied odds and pot odd skills to the point where they become second nature. Then, when you face , check raises and other complex concepts, you’ll be ready.
⇓Best 2-7 Triple Draw Games
5. Badugi
Four-card draw games are quite common but the least well know is called Badugi. Despite having a strange name, this game works in essentially the same way as other four-card draw games i.e. each player is dealt four cards, makes the best four-card poker hand but only the lowest hand wins.
The best Badugi hand possible is therefore: 2-3-4-5 of different suits. Obviously, you can’t pick your cards so getting rid of suits becomes as important as making a poker hand. Thus, it’s possible to win pots without any paint (aces to kings) whatsoever. In fact, the best possible hand a player can have is four unsuited rags.
Obviously, this creates a whole new dynamic to standard Four-Card Draw/Texas Hold’em dynamics. Firstly, straights, flushes and pure fits (single pixels) don’t count. Secondly, because you’re only using four cards, you get one extra round of drawing. Finally, because suit matters (or, to be more precise, lack of suit matters), bluffing plays a much bigger role.
casino top tenBadugi might sound confusing and, to be honest, it is at first. Counting outs becomes a bit more difficult because you need to consider suits (or lack of suits). Moreover, you don’t really have a nuts until the very end.
⇓Best Badugi Games
6. Chinese Poker
Chinese Poker is a unique poker game that requires you to make three poker hands. Even though it originated in China (obvs), it’s actually very popular in Europe and particularly Scandinavia thanks to the PokerStars’ open-face Chinese client.
Open-Face Chinese Poker (OFCC) is special variant of CP that’s played with between two to four players. In this instance, players are dealt 13 cards and have to make three poker hands.
and Up Casino - Does 21 And Up Allow Casino in USA?The top hand is worth double points, the middle hand is worth one point and the bottom hand (aka the fish hand) is worth zero points. The idea is to try and scoop all three points by winning top and middle, or bottom and middle.
The interesting twist in OFCC is that you have to set your thirteen cards into three poker hands before your opponents and then everyone compares hands. Cards in each hand should be ranked with the best card(s) in the top row, middle row and the worst cards in the bottom row.
⇓Best Chinese Poker Games
7. Short Deck Hold’em
Short deck Hold’em (also known as 6+ Hold’em or Bb poker) is basically Texas Hold’em but with all cards lower than six removed from the deck. In practice this means aces can still be played as the highest card but there are no twos, threes, fours or five.
This small change has a big impact on equity and, therefore, strategy. Firstly, many starting hands are removed from the equation. For example, you can no longer begin with 6-7, 5-8, 4-4, 5-5 etc. Secondly, equations change when boards contain fewer faces and fewer gutter cards.
For instance, a board of T-7-4 falls from a 33 combos to 19 possible combos. Similarly, a board of A-6-4 drops from 501 combos to 245 combos. This reduces the number of draws and flushes but increases the chances of paired boards.
These changes have knock-on effects for optimal strategy in Short Deck Hold’em. For example, hands such as T-9, T-J, T-Q, J-Q are much stronger. So are suited connectors such as J-Q and Q-K because of the reduction in flushes. Pocket pairs are also stronger due to the decrease in paired boards.
On the flipside, hands such as A-T, A-J, A-Q and even K-Q are weaker because there are less draws and one-gapper combinations. High cards like king singlets are even worse because the probability of a pair on the board has increased considerably.
Secret Casino Bonuses Only Insiders Know AboutConsequently, Short Deck Hold’em requires a different mindset to No-Limit Hold’em. Overall, there is less game selection, less hand vs. hand equity and significantly less variance. Pre-flop ranges are also a lot shallower which means you need to really think about your hand selection. Generally, you want to open with 30-40% of hands compared to 60% on full NLHE.
Post-flop, Short Deck Hold’em encourages you to ball after almost every flop because of the reduced odds of a complete stop. Basically, if you flop top pair, you can pretty much throw it all in because the chances of someone hitting a better hand are slim.
⇓Best Short Deck Hold’em Games
Why Try New Types of Real Money Poker Games Online Other Than Texas Hold’em?
isn’t just fun, it’s good for your development as a player. Learning how to play different forms of poker exposes you to different dynamics, strategies, odds and odds calculation. This helps improve your instincts so, when faced with a complex situation in Texas Hold’em, you’ll be able to react accordingly.
Top Free Slot Games to Play Online for FunIndeed, some of the best No-Limit Hold’em players in the world, such as , started their careers playing other types of poker. Not only did this allow them to earn money outside of NLHE, it helped hone their skills for when they moved back to the game they loved most.
It’s also worth noting that not everything transfers across from, say, Omaha PLO to Texas Hold’em. However, a lot does. For example, pot control and trap bets are important in PLO, so is No-Limit Hold’em.
Our advice is simple: don’t get too bogged down in learning the nuances of these alternate poker formats. Yes, it’s important to understand how implied odds work in Razz, but you don’t have to become an expert. Playing other forms of poker will automatically expose you to situations you wouldn’t otherwise encounter in Texas Hold’em.
Become a well-rounded poker player by exposing yourself to new experiences and different forms of poker.
More Poker Games You Can Play for Real Money
These were some of the most popular poker variations you can play online besides Texas Hold’em. But there are more poker games you can try. Head over to our dedicated page about and learn everything there is to know about it, along with other fun poker games like:
