Did you know that there are many different types of poker games? This is quite natural because poker was introduced at the beginning of the 19th century in the United States which means that there was sufficient time for players to develop different variants of this interesting card game.

In case you are interested in playing a specific type of poker game and you are not familiar with the rules and advantages of playing that game, then you’ve come to the right place. We have created a list that includes the most played types of poker games.

The list includes a brief explanation of the mechanics of each game. Feel free to choose any game found on our list and rest assured that you will have great fun.

• Learn more about the most played types of poker games
•  Read about the poker games with the best odds
•   Play the best poker games currently available on the market

Our experts were focused on the most popular types of poker on a global level. You will find games that are played by professionals and games played by complete beginners.

Now let’s reveal the list of 12 best types of poker games.

1. Texas Holdem

Country of origin: USA
Number of cards in play: 52
Number of players: 2 to 10
Type: Community card poker

According to some sources, Texas Holdem was introduced in Robstown, Texas in the 1820s. People really enjoyed this version of poker and it didn’t take much time before it became popular all over Texas and in other places in North America. Today, this is one of the most popular types of poker games.

It’s really easy to understand the rules of this game. It’s played by two to ten people. Texas Holdem includes four rounds/hands. Every player gets two face-down cards also known as hole cards. In addition, the dealer will place five community face up cards in the middle of the table.

Every player is free to make combinations with these cards. Obviously, the player that has the best hand in the showdown will win the round.

What Makes Texas Holdem Special?

• Shared community cards make the game more exciting
• You can find this type of poker in almost every land-based and online casino
• It’s easy to learn

2. Omaha

Country of origin: USA
Number of cards in play: 52
Number of players: 2 to 10
Type: Community card poker

Many people compare Omaha poker to Texas Holdem poker because they have many things in common, but the fact is that Omaha poker has a few unique rules. It’s interesting that Omaha poker was played in Detroit, Michigan for the first time.

It was at the beginning of the 1970s when the first game of Omaha was played and back then, people called it Twice Three. It was brought to Omaha in 1982 and it soon became a hit across the United States.

Omaha is played in a similar fashion like Texas Holdem. However, in this case, every player gets four face-down cards (hole cards). This is the reason why there are just three face-up cards on the table (community cards) that can be used by all players. In addition, players will get two additional face-up cards one per turn. In order to create a combination, you will have to use two hole cards and three community cards.

What Makes Omaha Poker Special?

• Fewer players play this game which means that players that are experienced have more chances of winning
• Larger range of hands which makes the game interesting
• It can be played as a pot limit game or a fixed limit game

3. Three Card Poker

Country of origin: USA
Number of cards in play: 52
Number of players: Playing against the dealer
Type: Special

Unlike Omaha and especially Texas Holdem, Three Card Poker is a modern type of poker game. It emerged in early 1994 in a land-based casino in Mississippi, USA. The creators were looking for a way to “speed up’ the gameplay and it seems that they have managed to achieve this goal.

One of the most unique things about Three Card Poker is that in this game, players are trying to beat the dealer not the rest of the players. This type of poker will remind players of blackjack when they look at the table layout. On the table, there are three betting options – Pair Plus, Ante, and Play.

Every player places a bet at the Ante spot. After that, every player (and the dealer) gets three cards. To proceed, players have to place a new bet at the Play spot. After that, the dealer shows his cards and compares them to the players. You must have a Queen or higher to qualify. In case the dealer doesn’t qualify, the players will get even money on the Ante wagers and get back their Play money.

What Makes Three Card Poker Special?

• Players are playing against the dealer
• It’s a relatively new game which means less competition
• It’s a straightforward game

4. Seven-card Stud

Country of origin: USA
Number of cards in play: 52
Number of players: 2 to 8
Type: A variant of stud poker

Seven-card Stud poker is actually a subtype of stud poker, a type of poker which was introduced in the American Revolutionary War. What’s interesting is that this type of poker was the most popular game of poker before Texas Holdem took the leading position. It’s fun and easy to play a card game.
Seven-card Stud poker can be played by two to eight players.

If there are eight players at the table, special rules are applied. You can find two versions of Seven-card Stud poker – a hi/lo version where the highest hand shares the pot with the lowest hand and a high only version where the highest hands take all. In this game, there are four parts – setup, the bring, betting rounds and of course – the showdown.

What Makes Seven-card Stud Special?

• You can play against two to eight players
•  A chance to memorize the cards of other players
•   No positional advantage before the game starts

5. Five-card Draw

Country of origin: USA
Number of cards in play: 52
Number of players: 2 to 10
Type: Type of draw poker

Five-card Draw or Cantrell draw as some people call it is a type of poker which is known for its simplicity. It’s good to know that this type of poker was used as a foundation for the creation of video poker. It is highly recommended to new players who have never played poker before. However, you can rarely find this game in casinos – it’s mostly played with friends at home.

Five-card Draw poker is all about getting the best hand with five cards. Every player gets five cards in the first betting round. After placing a wager, the player can exchange one, two or three cards. There’s another round of betting and after that then players have to reveal their cards.

What Makes Five-card Draw Special?

• A room for bluffing
•  A very simple type of poker recommended to beginners
•   A fast gameplay

6. Four Card Poker

Country of origin: USA
Number of cards in play: 52
Number of players: Playing against the dealer
Type: Special

Four Card Poker was designed and developed by Roger Snow, one of the presidents of Bally Technologies, a casino software, and hardware developing company. This variant of poker is based on the Three Card Poker.

Four Card Poker is played with 52 cards (a standard deck of cards). Each player gets five cards while the bank gets six cards. The only difference is that the bank has to reveal one of the cards. So, you are playing against the dealer and the one that has the best four-card combination wins the round.

Keep in mind that the dealer has an additional card and that if you fold, the bank will get your ante even if you have a better hand than the dealer.

What Makes Four Card Poker Special?

• You are playing against the dealer
• A chance to win a bonus payout if you have a three of a kind or better hand
•     A fast gameplay

7. Razz

Country of origin: USA
Number of cards in play: 52
Number of players: 2 to 8
Type: Type of stud poker

There’s no official record about the origin of Razz Poker, but it’s believed that this interesting variant of poker has emerged right after the emergence of Seven-card Stud at the beginning of the 20th century. What’s known for sure is that Razz Poker made its appearance on many popular tournaments in the 1970s.

There are many things that Razz Poker and Seven-card Stud have in common, but the main difference between them is the winning rules. Many people are surprised to hear that in order to win a turn, you have to possess the worst hand (the lowest hand).

A maximum of eight players can play this game where every player gets two hole cards and one face-up card. Players will receive seven cards (some of them will be hole cards while the others are face-up cards).

What Makes Razz Poker Special?

• Your basic objective is to have the lowest possible hand
• You can play with between two and eight players
•    Razz Poker is found on many poker tournaments

8. Caribbean Stud Poker

Country of origin: USA
Number of cards in play: 52
Number of players: 2 to 10
Type: Type of stud poker

Here’s an example of another popular type of poker with an exotic name. The reason why this variant of poker is called Caribbean is simple – it emerged as a popular game on cruise ships. Of course, today people can play Caribbean Stud in land-based casinos as well as in online casinos.

Caribbean Stud Poker is played with at least two players. Every player gets five cards in the beginning and the dealer has one face-up card. If a player wants to stay in the game they have to double the original ante.

The dealer must qualify to proceed. Caribbean Stud Poker comes with progressive payoffs and multiplying payoffs. In other words, this is a game that can lead to very high prizes.

What Makes Caribbean Stud Poker Special?

• Progressive payoffs that usually result in high wins
• Players are trying to beat the house
• Available in almost every casino today

9. Courchevel Poker

Country of origin: France
Number of cards in play: 52
Number of players: 2 to 10
Type: Community card poker

Courchevel is a popular ski resort located in the French Alps which was once a well-known destination for casino players too. Courchevel Poker obviously originates from this place and it was based on Omaha Poker.

When it comes to the gameplay, every player in this poker game gets five face-down cards. In addition, the dealer places five face-up (community) cards on the table. The players should use two hole cards and three community cards in order to create their best hand.

It’s worth mentioning that there are a few different versions of this type of poker – Limit Courchevel, Pot Limit Courchevel, and No Limit Courchevel. The difference between them is in the bet limitations.

What Makes Courchevel Poker Special?

• Different subtypes of games (different bet limitations)
• Easy to learn
•   A type of poker that is becoming more popular worldwide

10. Badugi Poker

Country of origin: Korea
Number of cards in play: 52
Number of players: 2 to 8
Type: Special

Badugi is a unique type of poker game which was created in Kores. Badugi is actually a term which is used to describe a specific kind of dog breed that lives in Korea. The specific gameplay of this variant of poker has inspired players to give this game exactly this name.

Badugi Poker represents a triple draw game where players are trying to get the best hand which consists of four cards with no matching values or suits. On top of that, these cards have to be as low as possible. As previously mentioned, there are three drawing rounds and before the beginning of each round players are free to trade up to four (or no cards) cards. Today, Badugi Poker is played in poker rooms around the globe and an online too.

What Makes Badugi Poker Special?

• Completely different gameplay where players are focused on getting the worst possible hand
• Available worldwide both offline and online
•   Position plays an important role in this form of poker

11. Chinese Open Face Poker

Country of origin: China
Number of cards in play: 52
Number of players: 4
Type: Special

Even though there are a few stories related to the origins of Chinese Open Face Poker, most people agree that it was invented in Canton, China. It took some time for this version of poker to become popular, but starting from the 1990s, a few popular poker tournaments have included this game in their offer.

Chinese Open Face Poker uses a standard deck of 52 cards. This is a rare, atypical poker game where players won’t find a pot. This means that there are no chips involved and the game is based on points that players get once they compare their hand with the hands of the rest of the players.

It is possible to receive bonus points too. In Chinese Open Face Poker, players are receiving 13 cards which are dealt gradually – three cards in the front hand, five in the middle and five in the back hand. The objective is to get more points by winning more hands.

What Makes Chinese Open Face Poker Special?

• There is no pot
• It’s played with 2, 3 or 4 players
•  You don’t need special skills to play this game because it’s based (mostly) on luck

12. 2-7 Lowball Poker

Country of origin: USA
Number of cards in play: 52
Number of players: 2 to 10
Type: Type of draw poker

2-7 Lowball, which some people also call California Lowball or Kansas City Lowball, is a type of poker game which was inspired by Draw poker. There’s no information about the origin of this game, but it’s believed that people have started playing 2-7 Lowball poker at the beginning of the 20th century.

It’s worth mentioning that 2-7 Lowball is not a game that you can find in most casinos. This game uses the lowest combos as the most valuable combinations. For example, the best hand a player can get consists of a combination of 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 with different suits, hence the name.

Ace is always a high card in this game. 2-7 Lowball poker is played with two to six players. They get 5 hole cards and once the first round is over players can trade between one and five cards.

What Makes 2-7 Lowball Poker Special?

• The weakest hand is a winning hand
• This is a rare game
•   Players can use a wide range of strategies