Poker Types and Variations You Should Know

Here we detail 38 different types of poker, ranging from games with simpler formats to those that require more complex strategy. The various types of poker can be broken up into categories like popular poker variants, community card poker games, draw poker, stud, mixed games and speciality variations, high/low split poker, lowball variants, and specialty and unique variants.

When you know how to play poker in all variations, you can have fun exploring new types every time you feel like upping the ante. You’ll be able to enjoy a more diverse, thrilling experience while at the same time improving your general skills in the game.

1. Texas Hold’em

Texas Hold’em is one of the best-loved poker variants thanks to its simple rules. You’ll be using a standard 52-card deck when you play, and between two and 10 players can be accommodated. 

Every player is dealt two hole cards, and there are five community cards dealt facing up. Your goal is to create the best five-card hand using any kind of combination of hole and community cards. There are four betting rounds in Texas Hold’em: pre-flop, flop, turn, and the river. When you’re enjoying it, you’ll be taking turns with other players using common poker terms like call, raise, and fold.

2. Omaha Poker

Omaha Hi  

Each player in Omaha Hi is dealt four hole cards instead of two like they are in Texas Hold’em. You’ll need to use two of your hole cards and three of the community cards to make the best five-card hand you can. There are also four betting rounds in Omaha Hi: the pre-flop, flop, turn, and river, and whoever ends up with the highest-ranked hand will take the pot.

Omaha Hi/Lo  

Omaha Hi/Lo, also known as Omaha 8 or Better, is a different type of poker than Omaha Hi. While it follows the same basic structure, it ends up splitting the pot between the best high-ranked hand and the best qualifying low hand. In order to qualify for the low hand, you’ll need to have five cards ranked eight or lower. You’ll be using two hole cards and three community cards to build both your high and your low hands.

3. Five-Card Draw

Five-Card Draw is one of the simplest types of poker games, ideal for beginners. Each player is dealt five cards, and a betting round follows. Players can then discard up to three cards (or four if holding an ace) and draw replacements from the deck. The goal is to form the best five-card hand.

4. Seven-Card Stud, Seven-Card Stud Hi/Lo (Stud 8 or Better)

Seven-Card Stud is one of the most popular types of poker, known for how it focuses on individual play. Each player is dealt seven cards: three face down and four face up. The goal is to create the best five-card hand. Betting occurs over five rounds, with no community cards involved. Players need to understand terms like third street (the first betting round) and river (the final card dealt).

Seven-Card Stud Hi/Lo, also called Stud 8 or Better, is a split-pot game where the pot is divided between the highest and lowest qualifying hands. To win the low half, a hand must consist of five unique cards ranked eight or lower.

5. Razz Poker

Razz Poker is a lowball game where the goal is to make the lowest five-card hand. Players are dealt seven cards: three face down and four face up. The best possible hand is A-2-3-4-5.

Betting occurs over five rounds, starting with the player showing the highest face-up card. Terms like bring-in (forced bet by the highest card) are key to understanding the game. Unlike other types of poker games, there are no straights or flushes in Razz, making it a unique challenge.

6. Pineapple Poker

Pineapple Poker is a fun twist on Texas Hold’em. Players are dealt three hole cards and must discard one before the flop. The goal is to make the best five-card hand using community cards. Variants like Crazy Pineapple let players keep all three cards until after the flop.

For those wondering how many different types of poker are there, pineapple is one of many that add variety and thrills. Online poker isn’t rigged—regulated platforms use RNGs to ensure fair play, providing everyone with an equal chance to win.

7. Short Deck Poker

In Short-Deck Poker, a variation of Texas Hold’em, you’ll be playing with a 36-card deck, where all the twos, threes, fours, and fives have been removed. You’ll be dealt two hole cards and there will be five community cards available as well. The goal is to create the best five-card hand, but in short-deck poker, flushes rank higher than full houses.

8. Big O

This is a high-action Omaha variation where you’ll be playing with five hole cards instead of four. You’ll be using two hole cards and three community cards to create the best five-card hand possible.

9. 2-7 Triple Draw

2-7 triple draw is a lowball poker game where your goal is to make the lowest-value hand possible, aiming for ace, two, three, four, and five. You’ll be dealt five cards, all facing down, and will be able to draw as many as three times to replace cards you don’t want. Remember to use a poker cheat sheet if you’re getting confused about the rules!

2-7 triple draw is one of the most unique types of poker where straights and flushes count against you. You’ll be betting after each draw, trying to create the lowest possible hand by the final round of gameplay.

10. 2-7 Single Draw

2-7 Single Draw is another lowball poker game where your goal is once again to create the lowest hand possible. You’ll be dealt five cards facing down and will have just one chance to draw new cards and discard those you don’t want. 

This is a fast-paced type of poker game, and you’ll be betting after the draw. In order to win, you’ll need to gather together the lowest five cards and have no pairs, straights, or flushes.

11. Five-Card Omaha

This Omaha variation sees you dealt five hole cards instead of four. You’ll need to use two of these hole cards along with three of the five community cards to make the best five-card hand.

12. Ace-to-Five Lowball

In the Ace-to-Five Lowball poker variant, your goal is to make the lowest possible hand, ideally an ace, two, three, four, and five. You’ll be dealt five cards facing down and will be able to draw as many as five times to replace any cards you don’t want.

13. Badugi Poker

This unique type of poker game necessitates you creating the lowest-value hand with four cards, and each one needs to be of a different suit and rank. You’ll get four cards face-down and can draw three times to replace cards you want to do away with. 

The best hand in Badugi is made up of four cards that don’t have a pair or matching suits and that are ranked from low up to high. There will be a round of betting after every draw, and whoever has the lowest-value hand will take the pot.

14. Chinese Poker

Chinese poker is one of the most popular types of poker, played with a standard 52-card deck. Each player is dealt 13 cards, which they must arrange into three hands: two five-card hands (called the middle and back hands) and one three-card hand (the front hand).

The goal is to create the strongest hands in each of the three categories. Players compare their hands with their opponents after all have set their cards. Points are awarded based on how many hands a player wins, and the player with the most points at the end of the game wins the pot.

15. High Low Chicago

High Low Chicago is a fun variation of all types of poker games, where the pot is split between the player with the highest hand and the player with the lowest. Players are dealt five cards, and the objective is to create the best five-card hand.

In this game, the Chicago aspect refers to a special rule: the player with the highest spade in the deck (the Chicago card) wins an additional portion of the pot. After betting rounds, the pot is divided between the highest and lowest hands, making it a strategic game for those who enjoy split pots.

16. HORSE Poker

HORSE Poker is a mixed game that includes five popular types of poker: Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hi, Razz, Seven-Card Stud, and Seven-Card Stud Hi/Lo. Players rotate through these variants in a set order, with each round using a different poker game.

The game starts with Texas Hold’em and moves through the five games. The goal is to be the best overall player, adapting to the different strategies necessary for each poker variant. For those wondering how many different types of poker are there, in HORSE you can play five of the 38 listed here.

17. Mississippi Stud

Mississippi Stud is a community card game in the types of casino poker games where players’ goal is to make the best five-card hand using two hole cards and three community cards. Players start with a two-card hand and can wager after each of the community cards is revealed.

18. Caribbean Stud Poker 

Caribbean Stud Poker is a popular kind of online poker where you’ll be competing against the dealer rather than other players. Each player and the dealer receive five cards, with the dealer’s hand partially exposed. Players must make a bet and decide whether to call or fold after seeing their cards. The goal is to have a higher-ranking hand than the dealer. If the dealer doesn’t qualify with at least an Ace-King, players win automatically. This fast-paced game offers big payouts for certain hands, like a royal flush.

19. 8-Game Mix Poker

8-Game Mix Poker is a multi-variant game that includes eight types of poker, rotating between games like Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hi, Razz, and others. Players play each variant in turn, with each round offering a different challenge. The goal is to win as many hands as possible across the different games, making it a great test of flexibility and skill.

20. Mixed Omaha Hi/Lo

Mixed Omaha Hi/Lo is a variation of Omaha where players compete for both the high and low hands. Each player is dealt four hole cards, and they must use two of them along with three community cards to form their best high and low hands. The pot is split between the highest and lowest qualifying hands, making strategy and hand selection crucial in this exciting game.

21. HORSE Poker

HORSE Poker is a mixed game that rotates through five poker variants: Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hi, Razz, Seven-Card Stud, and Seven-Card Stud Hi/Lo. Players switch between these variants in a set order, necessitating different strategies for each one. The goal is to accumulate the most chips by mastering all five games, testing players’ skills across more than one poker format.

22. 10-Game Mix

The 10-game mix, which consists of Limit Hold’em, Limit Stud Hi/Lo, Pot-Limit Omaha Hi, Limit 207 Triple Draw, Limit Razz, No Limit Hold’em, Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, Limit Stud Hi, No Limit 2-7 Single Draw, and Limit Badugi, is currently the largest mix in the world of online mixed game poker. These ten varieties will be rotated through, with each round putting your talents to the test as you attempt a new variety.

23. Omaha Hi/Lo (Omaha 8 or Better)

Omaha Hi/Lo, also known as Omaha 8 or Better, is one of the types of poker games that sees the pot being split between the best high hand and the best low-value hand. You’ll be dealt four hole cards and you’ll have to use two, along with the three community cards, to make both your high hand and your low one. The low hand can only qualify if it has five unpaired hands worth eight or lower.

24. Stud Hi/Lo (Stud 8 or Better)

Stud Hi/Lo, also known as Stud 8 or Better, is one of the most popular types of poker where, once again, the pot gets split between the best high-ranked hand and the best low-ranked one. You’ll be dealt seven cards, with three facing down and four facing up, and need to make your high and low hands from these. The low hand has to have five unpaired cards ranked eight or lower.

25. Crazy Pineapple Hi/Lo

Crazy pineapple hi/lo is a variation of pineapple where players are dealt three hole cards but must discard one after the flop. Although it’s not the case in all types of poker games, in this one players aim to make both a high and a low hand, with the low hand requiring five unpaired cards of 8 or lower. The pot is split between the best high hand and the best qualifying low hand, adding an additional layer of strategy to the game.

26. Ace-to-Five Lowball 

Ace-to-five lowball is a lowball variant where players aim to make the lowest possible hand, with A-2-3-4-5 being the best low hand. Players are dealt five cards and can draw up to five times to replace unwanted cards. How many different types of poker are there? This game is one of the 38 listed here, where straights and flushes don’t count against the player. After the draw, players bet, and the lowest hand wins the pot.

27. Deuce-to-Seven Lowball

Deuce-to-Seven Lowball is a type of casino poker game where the goal is to make the lowest possible hand, with 2-3-4-5-7 being the best. Players are dealt five cards and can draw up to three times to replace unwanted cards. Straights and flushes count against you in this lowball variant, so the ideal hand is a non-straight, non-flush 2-3-4-5-7. After the draw, players bet, and the lowest hand wins the pot.

28. Strip Poker

Strip poker is a fun, informal variation of types of online poker where you bet clothing instead of chips. The rules are similar to traditional poker, with players using standard poker hand rankings to determine the winner. Each time a player loses a hand, they must remove a piece of clothing. The last player remaining with clothes on wins the game. While the gameplay is similar to regular poker, the stakes are personal, making it a fun twist on the classic.

29. Pineapple Poker Variants (Crazy Pineapple, Lazy Pineapple)

Pineapple poker has several variants, including crazy pineapple and lazy pineapple, which are popular types of poker. In crazy pineapple, players are dealt three hole cards and must discard one after the flop. In lazy pineapple, players keep all three hole cards until the end of the hand. Both versions follow the same basic poker rules, but with a twist on card management, adding an extra level of strategy. The goal is to make the best five-card hand using the hole cards and community cards.

30. Courchevel

Courchevel is a type of poker game similar to Omaha, but with a twist. Players are dealt five hole cards instead of four, and the first community card is revealed before the betting round begins. After the first round of betting, the rest of the community cards are revealed, and players must use two hole cards along with three community cards to form the best five-card hand.

31. Irish Poker

Irish Poker is a fun poker variant where players are dealt four hole cards, but they must discard two after the flop. This requires strategy, as players will need to make decisions about which cards to keep. The goal is to form the best possible five-card hand using two of the hole cards and three community cards. It’s a mix of traditional Texas Hold’em and Omaha.

32. Double Board Omaha

Double Board Omaha is a variation of Omaha where two separate boards are used for the community cards, creating two seperate pots. Players are dealt four hole cards, and they must use two of them along with five community cards from each board to form two separate hands. The pot is split between the best hand on each board. This twist adds an additional layer of strategy, making it one of the more different types of poker to play.

33. Triple Board Hold’em

Triple Board Hold’em is a fun type of poker game where three separate boards of community cards are used, creating three different pots. Players are dealt two hole cards and must form the best five-card hand from any of the three boards. The game is played like Texas Hold’em but with the added complexity of multiple boards, making it more strategic and exciting. The player with the best hand on each board will win a portion of the pot.

34. Six-Card Omaha

Six-Card Omaha is one of the most popular types of poker where players are dealt six hole cards instead of four. They must use exactly two of their hole cards and three community cards to make the best five-card hand. The added hole cards provide more possibilities for stronger hands, making the game more strategic and exciting. Players bet in rounds as in traditional Omaha, with the goal of winning the pot by having the best hand at the showdown.

35. Tag Team Poker

Tag Team Poker is a fun variation of all types of poker games where players team up in pairs or groups. Each team member takes turns playing hands, alternating after each round or hand. The game follows standard poker rules, and teams aim to win the pot by making the best hand. Communication between teammates is key, as they strategize together to outplay their opponents while maintaining the flow of the game.

36. Let It Ride Poker

Let It Ride Poker is a casino poker game where players make three equal bets and receive three hole cards. After seeing the first community card, players can choose to let it ride or remove one of their bets. After the second community card is revealed, they make the same decision. The goal is to make the best five-card hand using their hole cards and the three community cards.

37. Three-Card Poker

In this well-known casino poker game, you are handed three hole cards, and your objective is to use them to form the finest hand possible. There are a number of side bets available for this variety, and you can play against other players or the dealer.

38. Four-Card Poker

When you play four-card poker, you’ll get four hole cards and will need to use them to create the best possible ranked hand. You’ll be playing against the dealer, who must have at least a queen-high to qualify. You’ll be able to fold or continue after you’ve been dealt your cards.

You can win at poker if you can use strategy and observation and if you’re adaptable. It’s very important to play tight, especially if you’re early in the game, and only get involved with strong hands or hands that could become strong.