Poker is one of the most popular card games worldwide. It is a skill-based, strategic, and engaging game. But what many people don’t know is that there isn’t just one way to play it.
Gold Rate
17 June 2025
There are many variants of poker, each with its own rules, distinctive features, and excitement. Some are straightforward and fast-paced, while others offer greater depth and involve more challenging decision-making.
Let’s look at some of the most popular poker variants that players enjoy regularly. Whether you are just starting your poker journey or looking to explore more versions of poker, there’s a variant and style of poker for everybody.
What Makes Each Variant Unique?
While all poker games have some common basics, each variant brings something different to the table. The rules, number of cards dealt, wagering rounds, and even how you build your hand can vary widely.
Some versions are quick, while others give you more time to think and plan your moves. This variety keeps the game interesting and allows players to find the best version that fits their comfort level and playing style.
It is this flexibility that makes poker such a dynamic and long-lasting favorite of card gamers.
Texas Hold’em
If you have heard of just poker, chances are it was Texas hold’em. It is the most widely played version of poker, often the first one new players learn.
In Texas hold’em poker, each player is dealt two private cards. Then five community cards are dealt faceup in the center of the table. Players use any combination of these seven cards to make the best possible 5-card hand.
The game unfolds in the following stages:
- The deal (two private cards)
- The flop (three community cards)
- The turn (a fourth card)
- The river (a fifth and final card)
There’s a round of betting after each stage, giving players multiple opportunities to read the table and adjust their strategies accordingly.
Texas Hold’em provides a perfect balance between strategy and simplicity. Players keep coming back because of its clear structure, combined with the need to make smart decisions based on the limited information available.
Omaha Hold’em
Omaha is another popular poker variant, which has many similarities with Texas Hold’em. But it has a twist that makes it more complex and dynamic.
Instead of two private cards, it has four. However, each player must use exactly two of those private cards along with three of the five community cards to form their best 5-card hand. This rule leads to more possible combinations.
Omaha is fast-paced and strategic, making it a favorite for players who enjoy more intense gameplay.
It has two sub-versions:
- Omaha Hi: The highest hand wins
- Omaha Hi-Lo: The pot is split between the highest and lowest qualifying hands.
7-Card Stud
7-card stud offers a more traditional feel and doesn’t use community cards at all. Each player is dealt seven cards in total. Three face down and four face up, one card at a time across multiple rounds. At the end, each player picks their best five cards out of the seven. The other two cards are set aside.
Because some cards are visible to everyone, observation and memory play a key role in this variant. Players who enjoy reading patterns and tracking opponents often prefer this format for its classic strategy-driven gameplay.
5-Card Draw
5-card draw is one of the easiest poker variants to learn, making it a great choice for beginners. Each player is dealt five private cards with no community cards being used.
After looking at their hands, players can choose to discard one or more cards and draw new ones to improve their hands. Then there is a final round of betting before everyone reveals their cards.
It’s one of the quick versions of poker that is all about making the best hand from your own cards.
Other Poker Variants
Beyond the classics, there are many other versions of poker that have their own twists. For example:
- Razz where the lowest hands wins
- Triple draw, which involves multiple drawing rounds.
- Badugi is a draw game in which players aim for four low cards of different suits.
- Horse is a rotation of five poker formats in one game for variety and challenge.
Conclusion
Poker is not just one game, it is a collection of different exciting game variants. Each offers its own experience. From simple and fast-paced to strategic and complex, there is a variant for every kind of player.
Exploring different versions keeps the game exciting and helps you grow as a player. No matter which variant you choose, the real enjoyment comes from learning, improving, and enjoying the game responsibly.
