For centuries, poker has enthralled players through its dynamic blend of skill, strategy, and exhilarating gameplay. While Texas Hold’em remains renowned and widely played, various captivating poker variations have gained popularity in recent years. This article explores other most popular and intriguing poker variants, spotlighting their distinct rules/objectives and overall gaming experiences.

Omaha

Omaha is a prominent poker variant, which shares similarities with the classic Texas Hold’em but offers a twist in terms of gameplay. In Omaha, players are dealt four-hole cards instead of two. To form a hand, they must use exactly two of their hole cards and three of the five community cards. This additional complexity adds depth to the game, requiring players to carefully assess their hand possibilities and potential combinations.

Seven-Card Stud

Before the rise of Texas Hold’em, Seven-Card Stud reigned supreme as the most popular poker variant. In this game, players receive a combination of face-up and face-down cards over multiple rounds of betting. Each player aims to create the best five-card hand out of the seven cards they are dealt. With no community cards, Seven-Card Stud emphasizes individual hand reading and strategic decision-making.

2-7 Triple Draw

For those seeking a different kind of challenge, 2-7 Triple Draw is a lowball variant that flips the traditional hand rankings. The objective is to obtain the lowest possible hand, without any straights or flushes. In this game, players are dealt five cards and have the opportunity to discard and draw new cards three times. The unique nature of 2-7 Triple Draw forces players to think in reverse, making it an intriguing and strategic alternative to traditional poker variants.

Short Deck Hold’em

Short Deck Hold’em, also known as Six Plus Hold’em, has gained considerable attention in recent years. In this variant, the traditional deck of 52 cards is reduced to 36 by removing all the twos, threes, fours, and fives. The game follows similar rules to Texas Hold’em, but with some notable differences due to the altered deck composition. The absence of certain cards greatly affects hand rankings, creating a more action-packed and aggressive gameplay experience.

Razz

Razz is a lowball variant of Seven-Card Stud, where the goal is to create the lowest possible hand using five out of the seven cards dealt. Unlike traditional poker, straights and flushes have no value, and the best possible hand is A-2-3-4-5. Razz offers a refreshing change for players seeking a break from the standard high-hand games, requiring a different set of skills and strategies to succeed.

Badugi

Badugi is a lowball variant of poker that originated in Asia and has gained international popularity. In this variant, players are dealt four private cards, and the goal is to create the lowest four-card hand with each card being of a different suit. The best possible hand in this variant is A-2-3-4 of four different suits, which is known as a “Badugi.” The unique aspect of this game is that pairs, sets, and flushes count against your hand, so the ideal strategy is to aim for distinct suits and low-ranking cards. Badugi requires a different approach to hand selection and bluffing, making it a refreshing and intriguing variant for those seeking a new poker challenge.