What Are the Different Types of Poker Games? A Comprehensive Guide
Contents:
- The Different Types of Poker
- Texas Hold’em Poker
- Omaha Poker
- Five-O Poker
- Chinese Poker
- Follow the Queen
- Chicago
- 5-Card Draw
- 2-7 Triple Draw
- What Are the Different Poker Card Types?
- Suits
- Court Cards
- Do I Use the Same Cards for All Types of Poker?
- What Are the Most Popular Types of Poker? (+ Where to Play Them)
When looking for casino games to play, you will inevitably at least hear about poker at some point. Depending on your interests, you might then even go as far as to research further and consider playing it. But as you’ll quickly discover, there are so many different types. As a result, knowing which one to start with can be difficult.
While all forms of poker have some common rules, there are enough big differences to mean that your skills won’t necessarily transfer from one type of the game to another. You may not yet know which ones you’d enjoy the most, and the best way to find out is by trying multiple options.
To help you make a better decision and play the types of poker you would prefer, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide. Keep reading to discover all kinds of poker games worth playing, along with the cards you can expect to see in different versions of poker.
The Different Types of Poker
There are dozens of different poker games, each catering to different interests. You will find some played more commonly than others in different parts of the world, too.
To help you make a better choice, we’ll speak about some of the most popular kinds of poker below.
Texas Hold’em Poker
Texas Hold’em is one of the most popular poker variants, and even if you’re totally new to poker, you will probably have heard of this game before. It’s very often played online, but you will also find the game being played in various casinos throughout the US and beyond.
The game originates back to the 20th century, and as you may have expected from its name, it was born in Texas. After spreading to Las Vegas in the 1960s (it was introduced by Corky McCorquodale), the game is now a global household name. It’s played more than any other type of poker.
Your aim with Texas Hold’em is to win the money placed into a pot. The game is quite slow-paced, and it requires a lot of skill. You receive two “hole” cards, which are private ones that nobody else can see. On top of that, everyone can look at five community cards. You can use these to create combinations.
Omaha Poker
Omaha Poker is another of the different poker games that’s commonly played throughout the US. The game is very similar to Texas Hold’em, so if you learn how to play one, your learning curve will be significantly smaller than a complete beginner. The main difference is that you can play more hands in Omaha Poker due to having different combinations.
With Omaha Poker, you get four private cards rather than the two received in Texas Hold’em. Moreover, you have five community cards – which is the same as Texas Hold’em. You have to use two of your four hole cards when placing a bet.
Despite its name being the same as Omaha in Nebraska, the game became popular after being introduced in Vegas. One important thing to note is that Omaha Poker can be different things in various casinos, so it’s important that you read the specific rules each time.
You can play Omaha Poker with up to 11 players.
Five-O Poker
Whereas you can play Texas Hold’em and Omaha Poker in casinos, Five-O Poker is different in the sense that it’s completely online. You also only play this game between two people, making it less suitable for bigger social gatherings.
The main appeal of Five-O Poker is that you have to simultaneously play five hands. As a result, this is a lot more fast-paced and chaotic than other versions of poker. You bet in a single round, after which the winner is revealed.
Compared to other forms of poker, Five-O Poker can be challenging as it’s more about chance than skill. On the flip side, though, you may want to try this if you’re looking for a quick game that doesn’t require learning the ins and outs.
See also: Omaha Poker, How to Play
Chinese Poker
If you’re totally new to poker, you may want to consider Chinese poker. This version is relatively fast-paced and usually played in small groups of four people. Compared to other forms of poker, you receive a lot more cards; 13, to be precise. You will play with a 52-card deck, which is the same as most popular poker variants.
You need to create three hands from your 13 cards, and there are different scoring systems. When playing this version of poker, you can also mix up the stakes depending on your interests.
When playing Chinese poker, you should keep in mind that different variations exist. These include open-face Chinese poker and Low in the Middle. The version that you play will depend on your casino, but also your own preferences if you’re playing somewhere else.
Follow the Queen
Follow the Queen isn’t as popular as some of the other kinds of poker, but it’s still worth checking out. It’s also a lot of fun once you understand the rules, though these are admittedly sometimes challenging if you are a total beginner.
You have to ante before each game, and the biggest up card commences the wagering. The game continues until you have seven cards. At this point, you will win if you have the best five cards overall. The reason why it’s called “Follow the Queen” is because they dictate the wild card.
Many of the other rules in Follow the Queen are similar to other forms of seven-card stud poker. So, if you know how to play these, you only need to make a couple of adjustments before you fully understand what’s going on. Things, however, will be trickier if you’re a total beginner.
Chicago
Chicago poker is also played with a 52-card deck, but each player only gets five cards. One of the most important aspects of this game is that your hand has a certain number of points. Your objective is to either get to 52 points; unlike blackjack, though, you can exceed the designated number. It’s very much possible to win if you go beyond 52 points.
Royal Flush is the best deck you can get; this equates to 20 points. The other points totals are listed below.
| Pairing | Points Total |
| One Pair | 1 Point |
| 2 Pairs | 2 Points |
| Three of a Kind | 3 Points |
| Straight | 4 Points |
| Flush | 5 Points |
| Full House | 6 Points |
| Four of a Kind | 7 Points |
| Straight Flush | 8 Points |
When playing Chicago poker, you can exchange your cards. Some of the rules are quite fluid, such as the one-up rule not being included in some cases. The points system can also vary depending on where you play, so it’s worth double checking this before determining whether you’d like to continue.
See also: How to Play 3 Card Poker
5-Card Draw
5-card draw is one of the most common forms of poker, and you will inevitably play this if you choose to participate in the game online. As the title suggests, you get five cards; you can get rid of as many as three in a round, or four on some occasions if you have an Ace (we’ll speak more about what this is later).
When playing 5-card draw, you may sometimes hear it referred to as Cantredraw. One interesting paradox is that you won’t often see this version of poker played when you visit a casino. Instead, it’s more popular online. The game is a good starting point if you’re new to poker, but you will inevitably need to get familiar with one of the others if you wish to play in person.
You often cannot give up more than three cards with this version of the game. The main exception is if you keep an Ace or wild card and pick up four cards.
2-7 Triple Draw
Whereas some kinds of poker require you to win the most points, 2-7 Triple Draw is an interesting deviation from the normal. Instead, your objective is to have the lowest five-card hand. This requires some skill, and it’s a welcome change if you’ve already played some other kinds of poker.
This version of the game is sometimes referred to as Deuce 7 Triple Draw instead. When playing, there will be three draws in total. After that, you will all bet. During each round, you can get rid of as many as five cards. In some cases, 2-7 Triple Draw has been played in competitions.
What Are the Different Poker Card Types?
Now that you know some of the most common types of poker, it’s a good idea to learn about the different cards available. These are quite consistent across different forms of the game, so once you know how they work, you can easily transfer this knowledge across all versions of poker.
Suits
These are some of the most important cards you should know. Suits There are four kinds: Spades, Diamonds, Clubs, and Hearts.
Most of the time, your suits will be the same value as one another (except for Spades; this is usually the highest-value). But this is not always the case, so it is worth double-checking before every game you play. Most of the time, this will be when your suits are of a higher value than a card that someone else has in your game.
Spades are sometimes referred to as Aces, and you’ll notice a letter A on them. They’re also sometimes referred to as Ace of Spades.
Court Cards
Court Cards are also known as Face Cards. There are three types of these: King, Queen, and Jack.
After Aces, Court Cards are the most valuable types of cards in poker. The King is the most valuable, followed by Queen and then Joker. Again, though, the actualities of these will vary depending on the version of poker that you play.
Do I Use the Same Cards for All Types of Poker?
Most of the time, you will use the same cards in poker. Pretty much every game uses a 52-card deck, and they’ll typically include the likes of Kings, Queens, and Aces.
The big difference, however, is that you will not always receive the same number of cards. In some instances, you’ll have five cards – and in others, there will be seven.
What Are the Most Popular Types of Poker? (+ Where to Play Them)
Texas Hold’em is typically the most popular form of poker. You will find this in multiple land-based casinos, especially if you visit Las Vegas. However, the game is also very often played online. When playing online, you can often play via a live dealer.
5-Card Draw is also a popular version of poker, but unlike the previously-mentioned one, you will typically play this online. It’s very hard to find a casino where this is played.
Another common version of poker is Omaha Poker. It’s very close to Texas Hold’em, but with a handful of differences. Like Texas Hold’em, you can play in many casinos – especially in Las Vegas. The game is also popular online if you would rather play on your smartphone or computer instead.
Poker is one of the most popular table games in the world, and there are plenty of good reasons why. The game is social, for the most part, making it a great excuse to gather with friends and enjoy good times. You’ll also find it offered in almost every casino around the world, unless it’s illegal in the jurisdiction you wish to play it within.
Before playing poker, it’s a good idea to know what to look out for. The cards themselves are quite similar across the board, so you should start with these. In addition to that, it’s also worth trying different forms of poker to see which versions interest you the most.
Having read this guide, you should have a solid starting point for enjoying poker and playing the different versions available. You can always start with some of the online versions before then moving on to playing in a casino.
