A Crash Course in Poker Variants
Added 2019-06-27 11:25:00If you’re wondering how to get started playing poker, this guide is for you! Discover the different kinds of poker games here.
Anyone who’s looked at the live dealer tables at an online casino site knows just how many variations of poker there are! Poker can be an intimidating game to break into, and when you’ve never heard of half of the games, it can be hard to know where to start.
This guide will give you a quick rundown of some of the most popular poker games, and particularly those found in online casinos. The information here is about the basic gameplay of these different poker games; it does not cover tactics, betting, and it does not give betting advice.
This crash course will hopefully give you an understanding of how each game works, and perhaps even inspire you to give one of these games a go yourself!
Five Card Draw pokerThe aim of Five Card Draw Poker: to discard and re-deal cards to make a better five-card hand than all of the other players Gameplay:
Every player is dealt five cards
Players place their bets- fold, call, or raise
Each player then chooses to discard up to five cards, or keep their hand as is
Players bet again- fold, call, or raise
If there are two or more players still in, the remaining players showdown to determine the winner
Winning hands for Five Card Draw Poker:
Royal Flush | Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, all of the same suit | A♥ K♥ Q♥ J♥ 10 ♥ |
Straight Flush | Five cards in numerical order, all of the same suit | 3♦ 4♦ 5♦ 6♦ 7♦ |
Four of a Kind | Four cards of the same number, plus one other card | 2♥ 2♦ 2♠ 2♣ 5♠ |
Full House | Three cards of the same number, plus two cards of the same number | K♥ K♦ K♣ 6♠ 6♥ |
Flush | Five cards all of the same suit | 3♠ Q♠ J♠ A♠ 5♠ |
Straight | Five cards in numerical order | 3♦ 4♥ 5♠ 6♦ 7♠ |
Three of a Kind | Three cards of the same number, plus two other cards | A♥ A♣ A♦ 4♥ 2♦ |
Two Pair | Two cards of the same number, plus two cards of the same number, plus one other card | 8♦ 8♠ 10♠ 10♥ K♥ |
One Pair | Two cards of the same number, plus three other cards | J♣ J♠ 9♥ 2♦ Q♠ |
High Card | The highest card in a hand that does not match any category above | J♥ Q♣ 2♥ 5♠ 7♦ |
a.k.a. Joker Wild Poker
The aim of Joker Poker: to discard and re-deal cards to make a better five-card hand than all of the other players
Gameplay:
Unlike other poker variations, this game includes a wild joker card. The joker can stand in for any card.
Players place their initial bets
Players are dealt five cards each
Players can choose to discard up to five cards, or keep their hand as is
They are dealt new cards to replace those discarded
Players then show their hands to determine the winner
Winning hands for Joker Poker:
Natural Royal Flush | Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, all of the same suit, including no joker | A♥ K♥ Q♥ J♥ 10 ♥ |
Five of a Kind | Four cards of the same number, plus a Joker | 7♥ 7♣ 7♦ 7♠ Jkr★ |
Wild Royal Flush | Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, all of the same suit, one of which is stood-in by a Joker | A♣ K♣ Jkr★ J♣ 10♣ |
Straight Flush | Five cards in numerical order, all of the same suit | 3♦ 4♦ 5♦ 6♦ 7♦ |
Four of a Kind | Four cards of the same number, plus one other card | 2♥ 2♦ 2♠ 2♣ 5♠ |
Full House | Three cards of the same number, plus two cards of the same number | K♥ K♦ K♣ 6♠ 6♥ |
Flush | Five cards all of the same suit | 3♠ Q♠ J♠ A♠ 5♠ |
Straight | Five cards in numerical order | 3♦ 4♥ 5♠ 6♦ 7♠ |
Three of a Kind | Three cards of the same number, plus two other cards | A♥ A♣ A♦ 4♥ 2♦ |
Two Pair | Two cards of the same number, plus two cards of the same number, plus one other card | 8♦ 8♠ 10♠ 10♥ K♥ |
Kings or better | A pair of Kings, plus three other cards | K♣ K♠ 9♥ 2♦ Q♠ |
The aim of Deuces Wild Poker: to discard and re-deal cards to make a better five-card hand than all of the other players
Gameplay:
‘Deuce’ is another name for the ‘2’ cards (like the 2 of Hearts, for example). In this variant, the ‘2’ cards (deuces) are wild and can stand in for any card.
Players place their initial bets
Players are dealt five cards each
Players can choose to discard up to five cards, or keep their hand as is
They are dealt new cards to replace those discarded
Players then show their hands to determine the winner
Winning hands for Deuces Wild Poker:
Natural Royal Flush | Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, all of the same suit, including no wildcards | A♥ K♥ Q♥ J♥ 10 ♥ |
Four Deuces | Four 2s, plus one other card | 2♥ 2♦ 2♠ 2♣ 5♠ |
Wild Royal Flush | Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, all of the same suit, one of which is stood-in by a wild deuce | A♣ K♣ 2♥ J♣ 10♣ |
Five of a Kind | Four cards of the same number, plus a wild deuce | 7♥ 7♣ 7♦ 7♥ 2♦ |
Straight Flush | Five cards in numerical order, all of the same suit | 3♦ 4♦ 5♦ 6♦ 7♦ |
Four of a Kind | Four cards of the same number (except 2s), plus one other card | 8♥ 8♦ 8♠ 8♣ 4♠ |
Full House | Three cards of the same number, plus two cards of the same number | K♥ K♦ K♣ 6♠ 6♥ |
Flush | Five cards all of the same suit | 3♠ Q♠ J♠ A♠ 5♠ |
Straight | Five cards in numerical order | 3♦ 4♥ 5♠ 6♦ 7♠ |
Three of a Kind | Three cards of the same number, plus two other cards | A♥ A♣ A♦ 4♥ 5♦ |
A.k.a. Casino Five Card Stud Poker
The aim of Caribbean Stud Poker: to stay in if you think you have a better five-card hand than the dealer. Gameplay:
Players make a bet before the cards are dealt
The dealer and players are dealt five cards each
The dealer reveals his/her first card
Players then look at their own cards and decide whether to raise or fold
The dealer reveals all of his/her cards
The dealer’s hand only qualifies if it has an ace and a king, or it has a pair or higher
If it does not qualify, ante bets pay and raises push
If it does qualify, the players compare hands to the dealer’s, and either win or lose individually
Winning hands for Caribbean Stud Poker:
Royal Flush | Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, all of the same suit | A♥ K♥ Q♥ J♥ 10 ♥ |
Straight Flush | Five cards in numerical order, all of the same suit | 3♦ 4♦ 5♦ 6♦ 7♦ |
Four of a Kind | Four cards of the same number, plus one other card | 2♥ 2♦ 2♠ 2♣ 5♠ |
Full House | Three cards of the same number, plus two cards of the same number | K♥ K♦ K♣ 6♠ 6♥ |
Flush | Five cards all of the same suit | 3♠ Q♠ J♠ A♠ 5♠ |
Straight | Five cards in numerical order | 3♦ 4♥ 5♠ 6♦ 7♠ |
Three of a Kind | Three cards of the same number, plus two other cards | A♥ A♣ A♦ 4♥ 2♦ |
Two Pair | Two cards of the same number, plus two cards of the same number, plus one other card | 8♦ 8♠ 10♠ 10♥ K♥ |
One Pair | Two cards of the same number, plus three other cards | J♣ J♠ 9♥ 2♦ Q♠ |
High Card | The highest card in a hand that does not match any category above | J♥ Q♣ 2♥ 5♠ 7♦ |
The aim of Three Card Poker: to stay in if you think you have a better three-card hand than the dealer.
Gameplay:
Players place their ante bets
The players receive three cards
Players can fold, or up their ante to keep playing
The dealer then deals him/herself three cards
The dealer cannot play if his/her hand is lower than Queen-high, and in this case ante bets are paid
Those who have stayed in compare their hands with the dealer to see who wins
Winning hands for Three Card Poker:
Royal Flush | Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, all of the same suit | A♥ K♥ Q♥ J♥ 10 ♥ |
Straight Flush | Five cards in numerical order, all of the same suit | 3♦ 4♦ 5♦ 6♦ 7♦ |
Four of a Kind | Four cards of the same number, plus one other card | 2♥ 2♦ 2♠ 2♣ 5♠ |
Full House | Three cards of the same number, plus two cards of the same number | K♥ K♦ K♣ 6♠ 6♥ |
Flush | Five cards all of the same suit | 3♠ Q♠ J♠ A♠ 5♠ |
Straight | Five cards in numerical order | 3♦ 4♥ 5♠ 6♦ 7♠ |
Three of a Kind | Three cards of the same number, plus two other cards | A♥ A♣ A♦ 4♥ 2♦ |
Two Pair | Two cards of the same number, plus two cards of the same number, plus one other card | 8♦ 8♠ 10♠ 10♥ K♥ |
One Pair | Two cards of the same number, plus three other cards | J♣ J♠ 9♥ 2♦ Q♠ |
High Card | The highest card in a hand that does not match any category above | J♥ Q♣ 2♥ 5♠ 7♦ |
The aim of Texas Hold’em: to make a better five-card hand than all of the other players, out of a combination of two secret cards that only the player sees, and five shared cards which are on the table.
Players make a bet before the cards are dealt
Each player is dealt two ‘hole cards’ which only they see (this may be different if playing at a live table online)
Players bet, check, or fold, depending on their hole cards
Three shared cards are dealt face up onto the table – this is called the flop
Players then re-evaluate their hands and bet again
A fourth shared card is dealt – this is called the turn
Players bet again, now having four shared cards and two hole cards to look at
The fifth and final shared card is dealt – this is called the river
Players bet a final time
If there are still two or more players who haven’t folded, their cards are all revealed in a ‘showdown’ to see who wins
Winning hands for Texas Hold’em Poker:
Royal Flush | Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, all of the same suit | A♥ K♥ Q♥ J♥ 10 ♥ |
Straight Flush | Five cards in numerical order, all of the same suit | 3♦ 4♦ 5♦ 6♦ 7♦ |
Four of a Kind | Four cards of the same number, plus one other card | 2♥ 2♦ 2♠ 2♣ 5♠ |
Full House | Three cards of the same number, plus two cards of the same number | K♥ K♦ K♣ 6♠ 6♥ |
Flush | Five cards all of the same suit | 3♠ Q♠ J♠ A♠ 5♠ |
Straight | Five cards in numerical order | 3♦ 4♥ 5♠ 6♦ 7♠ |
Three of a Kind | Three cards of the same number, plus two other cards | A♥ A♣ A♦ 4♥ 2♦ |
Two Pair | Two cards of the same number, plus two cards of the same number, plus one other card | 8♦ 8♠ 10♠ 10♥ K♥ |
One Pair | Two cards of the same number, plus three other cards | J♣ J♠ 9♥ 2♦ Q♠ |
High Card | The highest card in a hand that does not match any category above | J♥ Q♣ 2♥ 5♠ 7♦ |
The aim of Casino Hold’em: to make a better five-card hand than the dealer, out of a combination of two secret cards that only the player sees, and five shared cards which are on the table.
Each player is dealt two ‘hole cards’ which only they see
Players bet, check, or fold, depending on their hole cards
Three shared cards are dealt face up onto the table – this is called the flop
Players then re-evaluate their hands and bet again
A fourth shared card is dealt – this is called the turn
Players bet again, now having four shared cards and two hole cards to look at
The fifth and final shared card is dealt – this is called the river
Players bet a final time
The dealer then reveals his/her hole cards
To qualify, the dealer must have a pair of 4s or better
If the dealer qualifies, each player’s hand is compared with the dealer’s
Winning hands for Casino Hold’em Poker:
Royal Flush | Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, all of the same suit | A♥ K♥ Q♥ J♥ 10 ♥ |
Straight Flush | Five cards in numerical order, all of the same suit | 3♦ 4♦ 5♦ 6♦ 7♦ |
Four of a Kind | Four cards of the same number, plus one other card | 2♥ 2♦ 2♠ 2♣ 5♠ |
Full House | Three cards of the same number, plus two cards of the same number | K♥ K♦ K♣ 6♠ 6♥ |
Flush | Five cards all of the same suit | 3♠ Q♠ J♠ A♠ 5♠ |
Straight | Five cards in numerical order | 3♦ 4♥ 5♠ 6♦ 7♠ |
Three of a Kind | Three cards of the same number, plus two other cards | A♥ A♣ A♦ 4♥ 2♦ |
Two Pair | Two cards of the same number, plus two cards of the same number, plus one other card | 8♦ 8♠ 10♠ 10♥ K♥ |
One Pair | Two cards of the same number, plus three other cards | J♣ J♠ 9♥ 2♦ Q♠ |
High Card | The highest card in a hand that does not match any category above | J♥ Q♣ 2♥ 5♠ 7♦ |
The aim of Omaha Poker: to make a better five-card hand than all of the other players, out of a combination of four secret cards that only the player sees, and five shared cards which are on the table.
It is important to note that in Omaha, players must make their hand out of three shared cards and two of their hole cards.
Each player is dealt four ‘hole cards’ which only they see (this may be different if playing at a live table online)
Players bet, check, or fold, depending on their hole cards
Three shared cards are dealt face up onto the table – this is called the flop
Players then re-evaluate their hands and bet again
A fourth shared card is dealt – this is called the turn
Players bet again, now having four shared cards and four hole cards to look at
The fifth and final shared card is dealt – this is called the river
Players bet a final time
If there are still two or more players who haven’t folded, their cards are all revealed in a ‘showdown’ to see who wins
Winning hands for Omaha Poker:
Royal Flush | Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, all of the same suit | A♥ K♥ Q♥ J♥ 10 ♥ |
Straight Flush | Five cards in numerical order, all of the same suit | 3♦ 4♦ 5♦ 6♦ 7♦ |
Four of a Kind | Four cards of the same number, plus one other card | 2♥ 2♦ 2♠ 2♣ 5♠ |
Full House | Three cards of the same number, plus two cards of the same number | K♥ K♦ K♣ 6♠ 6♥ |
Flush | Five cards all of the same suit | 3♠ Q♠ J♠ A♠ 5♠ |
Straight | Five cards in numerical order | 3♦ 4♥ 5♠ 6♦ 7♠ |
Three of a Kind | Three cards of the same number, plus two other cards | A♥ A♣ A♦ 4♥ 2♦ |
Two Pair | Two cards of the same number, plus two cards of the same number, plus one other card | 8♦ 8♠ 10♠ 10♥ K♥ |
One Pair | Two cards of the same number, plus three other cards | J♣ J♠ 9♥ 2♦ Q♠ |
High Card | The highest card in a hand that does not match any category above | J♥ Q♣ 2♥ 5♠ 7♦ |
A.k.a. Seven Card Stud Low
The aim of Razz Poker: to have the best five-card low hand out of seven cards.
Gameplay:
Aces are always low. Straights and flushes do not count.
Players bet before the cards are dealt
Each player is dealt two hole cards that only they see, and one face up card
The player with the highest shown card must make another bet, and the other players follow
Each player is dealt another face up card – this is called Fourth Street
The player with the lowest- and therefore best- shown cards must now check or bet
All players bet
Each player is dealt another face up card – this is called Fifth Street
The player with the lowest- and therefore best- shown cards must now check or bet
All players bet
Each player is dealt another face up card – this is called Sixth Street
The player with the lowest- and therefore best- shown cards must now check or bet
All players bet
Each player is dealt a seventh card, this time face-down
The player with the lowest- and therefore best- shown cards must now check or bet
All players bet
If more than one player remains, the remaining players showdown to determine a winner
Winning hands for Razz Poker:
Lowest high card | Hands are judged from the highest card down, so your 5-card hand must have a lower high-card than other players, plus no pairs | A♥ 2♣ 3♥ 4♠ 5♦ |
One Pair | Two cards of the same number, plus three other cards | J♣ J♠ 9♥ 2♦ Q♠ |
Two Pair | Two cards of the same number, plus two cards of the same number, plus one other card | 8♦ 8♠ 10♠ 10♥ K♥ |
Three of a Kind | Three cards of the same number, plus two other cards | A♥ A♣ A♦ 4♥ 2♦ |
Full House | Three cards of the same number, plus two cards of the same number | K♥ K♦ K♣ 6♠ 6♥ |
Four of a Kind | Four cards of the same number, plus one other card | 2♥ 2♦ 2♠ 2♣ 5♠ |
These are by no means all the different poker games, but they are the ones you’re most likely to find on an online casino site.
Some sites will let you watch the live table games without placing a bet, so if you find one of these, try watching the action with this guide handy, and see if you can follow the gameplay!
Poker is generally considered a game that’s easy to learn but hard to master, so don’t despair if it seems tricky at first! Lots of sites have freeplay practice poker tables and beginners’ tables so new players can train up without being swamped by experts.
Interested in other games as well as poker? Check out OhMyBingo’s articles on how online slots work, and the different kinds of bingo.