Have you ever wondered what’s the difference between poker and Texas Hold’em online? Many people are likely to be familiar with Texas Hold’em, the most popular version of poker, but did you know it’s just one of the many different types of online poker you can play? Join us as we take a look at various types of poker besides Texas Hold’em and how these variants are played.
The Most Common Basic Poker Rules
Before we get into the difference between Texas Hold’em and other poker variants, it’s important to look at the rules most of these games have in common.
In order to play any poker variant, you need a standard deck of 52 cards, which excludes the jokers, as well as at least two players. You also need poker chips, or some other substitute, to keep track of the bets you make when you play. In all versions of poker, the aim is to build a stronger hand than your opponents by the end of each round.
The strength of each winning hand, from weakest to strongest, is as follows:
10 – High Card
When there are no paired cards, flushes, or straights, the highest card wins. The highest of all cards in the deck is the ace, followed by king, queen, jack, ten, and then numerically down to two.
9 – One Pair
A pair is two cards of the same value, not necessarily in sequential order.
8 – Two Pair
Two pair will win over a single pair or high card. If two or more players have two pair each, the highest pair wins.(A-A with J-J beats K-K and Q-Q.)
7 – Three-of-a-kind (trips, set)
Three cards of the same value beats two pair.
6 – Straight
A player with five cards in order of value, but not of the same suit, has a straight, which beats two pair and three-of-a-kind. If two players have straights, the one with the highest card on the top end of the straight wins.(K-Q-J-10-9 beats Q-J-10-9-8.)
5 – Flush
A flush, which is five cards of the same suit but not in order of value, beats a straight and the other previously-listed hands. If two players have flushes, the one with the highest card on the end of the flush wins.(A-7-4-3-2 beats K-Q-9-5-4.)
4 – Full House (boat or full boat)
A player with three of a kind and a pair creates a full house. For example, K-K-K-2-2 is a full house, also called a boat or kings full of deuces.
3 – Four of a Kind (quads)
When a player has four cards of matching value, one of each suit, it is four of a kind or quads.
2 – Straight Flush
This is a combination of a straight and a flush, such as 9-8-7-6-5 of the same suit.
1 – Royal Flush
When a player has the highest straight flush possible (A-K-Q-J-10 of the same suit), it is a royal flush.
Important Note Regarding Suits, Card Values and Ties
It’s important for players to note that the card suit never affects the value of a card. For example, an ace of diamonds carries the same value as an ace of hearts, clubs or spades. If this ends in a scenario in which players have the exact same hand, it’s a tie (or push,) and the pot is split.
The Different Kinds of Poker Games
Most historians agree that poker originated in the early 1800s in New Orleans, when it was invented and enjoyed by French settlers. It’s believed to be loosely inspired by another game called Poque, a European game of cards that was commonly played among groups of three to six people.
Today, it’s impossible to say how many poker variants there are, as there are many variants from around the globe – some of which are significantly more popular than others. Avid players also create their own variants quite often.
That said, there are three main categories of poker games:
- Community card poker – When players have received their hole cards, a certain number of shared cards or “community cards” are dealt onto the table, facing upward. Players are allowed to use these cards to help them build their best winning hand. Two examples of community card poker games are Texas Hold’em and Omaha Hold’em.
- Draw poker – In draw games, players receive their initial hidden cards, after which they can exchange a chosen number of cards in the hope of improving their hand. The most common examples are five-card draw and seven-card draw.
- Stud poker – In stud games, some of each player’s cards are hidden, while some are visible for all to see. This allows other players to make decisions based on incomplete but important information. The most common variants in this category are five-card stud and seven-card stud..
There’s also such a thing as mixed poker games. This is an approach to poker that certainly keeps players on their toes, as it involves participating in multiple poker variants at the table on rotation. The games typically change at the conclusion of a full betting round when the dealer button completes a full rotation.
HORSE is the most popular type of mixed poker game and includes Texas hold ’em, Omaha high-low, razz, seven-card stud and seven-card stud 8-or-better.
The 8-game mix is another go-to for serious poker players, this one including a whopping eight poker variants. It features the same variants as HORSE, along with no limit hold’em, pot limit Omaha, and 2-7 triple draw.
If you’re still learning the rules of the many different poker games, it’s a good idea to start slow and learn one at a time. Here’s what you need to know about a few of the most common variants.
Texas Hold’em
Undoubtedly the most popular version of poker today, Texas hold’em exploded onto the scene in the early 2000s due to the Moneymaker Effect. Chris Moneymaker’s victory in the WSOP Main Event, wherein the Tennessee accountant turned a discounted online poker satellite into $2,500,000. The game soared in popularity across various media, including TV, movies, books and, of course, the internet. It is also one of the easiest versions of poker to play, which has undoubtedly helped its growth. In fact, it’s estimated that up to 70% of all poker games played in casinos around the globe are Texas hold’em games.
Texas hold’em poker rules are fairly simple. At the start of the game, each player is dealt two cards, otherwise known as hole cards, by the dealer. Several rounds of betting occur, with community cards being revealed as the game progresses – three cards as the flop, one for the turn, and the final one for the river. Players combine these community cards with their hole cards to create the highest-value five-card hand.
As the game progresses, players decide whether to check, fold, bet, or raise during each betting round. If there’s more than one player left after the final round of betting, they must reveal their cards and compare their hands’ relative strengths in order to determine the winner.
Five-Card Draw
In five-card draw, players begin by paying an ante – a compulsory action to ensure there’s money in the pot. Players are then dealt five cards each. They have one opportunity to decide which cards they want to keep and which to exchange for new cards, which can be anything from none to all five. Once they’ve received their new cards, a betting round ensues for players who want to continue in the hand. As with Texas Hold’em, players must reveal their cards after the final bets in order to determine the winner.
Omaha Hold’em
Are you looking for a poker game similar to Texas Hold’em but with a twist? Also known among many players simply as Omaha, this is a poker variant that has much in common with Texas Hold’em. Where Omaha hold’em differs is that players receive four hole cards instead of two. And while Texas Hold’em allows players to use any number of hole cards and community cards combined for a five-card hand, Omaha requires players to use exactly two of their hole cards and three community cards.
Seven-Card Stud
Before the massive increase in Texas hold’em’s popularity, seven-card stud was the most popular version of the game in the US. This is another variant in which some of the players’ cards are revealed, while others are kept hidden. Specifically, each player receives two cards face down, four face up, and a final seventh card face down. This makes it more like community card poker in the sense that players have access to more information than they do with draw poker, where no cards are revealed until showdown.
Betting is also rather different than in other poker games, with the value of upcards dictating who has to make the first bet, called the bring-in (a type of ante), and who bets first in the following rounds of betting.
How To Choose the Best Poker Variant for You
Most experts agree that there are two poker variants best suited to beginners and intermediate players: Texas hold’em and five-card draw. If you’re new to the game, the first step is to familiarize yourself with the basic rules and play as much as you can – preferably with friends or relatives who can help you build confidence without having to worry about losing any money.
Once you’ve perfected your poker face and you know your royal flush from your straight, it’s time to put your skills to the test at a traditional or online casino. Have fun, and remember that you don’t have to choose a single variant as your specialty. You can enjoy any variant whenever you feel like it, particularly when playing online.
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