There are numerous poker variations. Texas Hold'em is the most popular game, whereas 5 card stud is the classic game played in films such as the Cincinatti Kid and all those old Westerns. The four most popular variations of online poker are listed here, with links to detailed explanations. If you are a beginner, you probably should get to grips with Texas Hold'em as a starting point, and then go from there.

The games described below are all played on "limit tables". Limit tables have publicised low and high limits for betting (for example a $2/$4 table has a low limit of $2 and a high limit of $4.). "No limit/& pot limit" variations are available at most poker rooms, but involve substantially bigger bets and are not recommended for beginners.

Texas Hold'em

Texas Hold'em is the most popular form of poker played today. This is also the game that you will see played in televised poker tournaments cropping up on tv schedules everywhere. Players are dealt two hole cards which are private. They may then combine these with any of 5 communal cards that are dealt face up. Players may use any of the 7 available cards to make up their best hand. The highest hand wins.

More on Texas Hold'em

Play Texas Hold'em Now !

Omaha Hi

In four card Omaha (or Omaha Hi), each player receives four cards on the initial deal as opposed to two cards in Hold'em. To make a five card poker hand you must use two of your four hole (pocket) cards with 3 of the five communal cards. The method of play is very similar to Hold'em.

Play Omahi Hi Now !

7 card stud poker

7 Card Stud Poker is probably the most popular of the stud games. There are no community cards, and each player has four of his seven cards exposed to the other players. There are five rounds of betting in Seven Card Stud, as opposed to the four rounds in Hold'em and Omaha. Players have to make their best five card poker hand from the seven available cards.

More on 7 card stud

Play 7 Card Stud Now!

5 Card Stud Poker

This is the classic variation of poker that Steve McQueen played against Edward G Robinson in "The Cincinatti Kid". There are no communal cards. The player receives five cards, one of which remains private until the climax.

More on 5 card stud

Play 5 Card Stud Now!

Other game variations

The above games are the most popular. However, you will also come across other variations such as Omaha Hi-Lo, 7 card stud Hi/Lo, and even "Crazy Pineapple. These are more complicated versions, and require an understanding of the basic versions above. For an explanation of some of these variations, click the link below.