Poker is simply defined as a card game where two or more people bet based on the value of their hands. On what type of game that poker is, that answer varies from person to person. Some think that poker is Texas Holdem, while others think that poker is a form of draw poker. Today, let’s take a look at some of the various poker game types that are commonly played in casinos and home games.
The most basis style of poker that many players learn is draw poker, and specifically five card draw. Five card draw is a game where the object is for the player to make the best poker hand that they can out of their five cards. Each players is allowed to draw, typically once, to improve their hand. After the draw and a round of betting, the person with the best five card hand is a winner. Draw is commonly played with wild cards, which are cards that can be used as anything the player desires. Deuces and one-eyed jacks are common wild cards. This game is the simplest form of poker and a good way for a new poker player to learn hand values and how to make hands. Five card draw is seldom played in a casino setting and is almost exclusively a home game version of poker.
Stud poker is another common poker game players grow up playing. The most common forms of stud are five card stud and seven card stud. The object of both games is to make the best five card hand, but you are not allowed to draw. The difference in the two is implied in the name of the games. In seven card stud, players get seven cards and must make their best five card hand out of those seven cards. In seven card stud, hands are the first two down, the next four up, and the last down. In five card stud, players only get five cards. Five card stud can be played two ways. The first is where each player is dealt five cards down and they bet on the hand. The 2nd version is where the first card is dealt face down and the other four cards face up. Five card stud is almost exclusively a home game where seven card stud is a common casino game and very popular in both cash games and tournaments.
A game that has taken over as the primary form of poker played around the world is Texas Holdem. Chances are that many people don’t even know that there are other poker games than Holdem. In Holdem, a player must make the best five card hand out of the two cards that they are dealt, referred to as “hole cards”, and the five community cards in the center. The most common version of this game is No-Limit Holdem where a player may bet all of his money on a single hand of poker. You will find this version of poker spread pretty much in any game you want to play.
The second most popular form of poker on the planet is Omaha poker. Omaha is very similar to Holdem, but instead of two hole cards, a player is dealt four hole cards. Also, a player must use two cards in his hand and three on the board in the middle. This is different than Holdem because in Holdem, a player is not required to use both cards in his hand. In fact, if the board is the best hand, a Holdem player may play the board. With four cards, the number of potential hands increases. Omaha poker is the most popular form of poker in Europe and in many cases, pots can get larger than in Holdem.
Badugi poker is a poker variant that has been gaining in popularity in recent years. It is a lowball draw game where players are dealt four cards and the object is to make a hand consisting of one card from each suit. This is called a badugi. If more than one person has a badugi hand, then the lowest hand wins. If nobody has a badugi, then the best three card hand wins. If nobody has a three card, hand, then a two card hand wins. Aces are always played as low, so and A-2-3-4 badugi is the best hand. This is a triple draw game, meaning that each player may draw three times to make their hand. This game is played some in casinos and online, and just beginning to be played in tournaments. In upcoming years, this will be a game that will grow in popularity.
The above are just a few common poker game types that you will typically find in home games and casinos. There are many more poker variations, and even different variations of each game. One word of advice is that if you are playing in a lot of home games, try and steer clear of wild card games. Wild card games are almost entirely luck based and not worth your time unless your only purpose is to have a good time with your friends. Odds are that the games above will be what you will primarily run across in your travels. Good luck at the tables.
Tags: Badugi, Draw Poker, Five Card Draw, Omaha Poker, Poker Game Types, Seven Card Stud, Stud Poker, Texas Holdem
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