Poker Game Variations You Are Most Likely to Encounter

One of the hallmarks of the most popular casino games is the different variants which are available for each of them. It is no different for poker which has been a firm favorite among gambling fans and is one of the most widely televised games of chance.

And as is always the case, there are some variants which are more widely and more frequently played than others. And you can find out all about poker's most popular variations including their distinguishing features which set them apart from all the rest, right here.

Texas Hold Em

Texas Hold Em has the distinction of being the most widely played poker variant of all. Each player receives two cards at the start of each game. Referred to as 'hole cards', they are only visible to their recipients. Following the distribution of the hole cards, the pre-flop stage takes place during which players get to place their bets.

The next stage is referred to as 'the flop' during which three community cards also referred to as 'the board' (they are visible), are placed on the table.

This is followed by another round of betting. Following this stage, two more community cards are dealt individually, each followed by a round of betting. The stage during which the fourth card is dealt is referred to as 'the turn' while the stage for the fifth, is referred to as 'the river'. The betting round which follows the river is the final round and precedes the stage known as 'showdown'.

It is at this point that players must come up with their best five-card hand using both their hole cards and the community cards dealt on the table. The player with the highest five-card hand emerges the winner and gets to keep the pot.

Omaha Hi-Lo

Also known as Omaha 8-or-better or Omaha High Low, Omaha Hi-Lo makes use of four-hole cards as opposed to the two provided in Texas Hold Em.

Another distinguishing feature of this version is the fact that both the highest and lowest hand combinations count towards winning the pot. Winnings are shared between players who come up with combinations of either value, which is where the variant draws its name from.

Each player's lowest or highest five-card hand combination must consist of two of their hole-cards and three community cards. Just like Texas Hold Em, Omaha Hi-Lo also consists of five community cards from which players get to select the remaining three cards required to compose their highest hands.

But what if there's no low hand when everyone's cards are revealed at showdown? The player with the highest hand gets to keep the whole pot.

7 Card Stud

Once the most popular poker game variation before being eclipsed in this regard by Texas Hold Em, 7 Card Stud still remains a firm favorite among fans of the game. It is also one of the poker variants which experts recommend learning.

This is due to the fact that 7 Card Stud is considered to be one of the most challenging versions of poker and requires a considerable amount of skill.

During a game, every player receives 2 hole cards which are invisible and one door or window card which is visible.

Participants will also be dealt four more cards during the game. Of these, the first three will be visible, while the fourth and final card will be invisible. Each card which is dealt initiates a round of betting.

Players get to reveal their hands at the end of each session and the player with the highest of them all, emerges the winner.