Picking Your Favorite Online Poker Game

In 2003, a young man named Chris Moneymaker took down the top prize at the 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event. His win is said to have revolutionized the poker industry and created a new generation of online poker players. How? He officially became the first "online poker player" to make a major impact on the industry.

The game was Texas Hold'em. ESPN carried the event on live TV, which introduced the world to what has become the poker-playing community's most popular poker variation. What you might have forgotten is there are literally dozens of other poker variations that are readily available online and in live poker rooms all over the world.

The following information is intended to serve as a means to introduce you to other poker variations. This list includes eight (8) games that have a great following among both pro and recreational poker players.

1. Texas Hold'em

On the popularity scale, Texas Hold'em scores 10 out of 10. If you can't find the right online Texas Hold'em game, you aren't looking. The game is played as follows.

Antes are paid by the small blind and big blind players. Each player is dealt two initial cards and the betting starts. After the first round of betting has finished, the dealer will turn over the first three "community cards." This is called "the flop." The next round of betting takes place. When this round of betting is finished, the dealer turns over another community card. This is called "the turn." The next round of betting takes place. When this round of betting is finished, the dealer turns over another community card. This is called "the river." The final round of betting takes place.

The winner is the last player who doesn't fold or the player with the best hand based on the standard poker rules for poker hand rankings.

2. 5-Card Draw

On the popularity scale, 5-Card Draw scores 6 out of 10. Note: This is the variation that ranks high with recreational players who are trying to learn poker basics. The game is played as follows.

Antes are paid by the small blind and big blind players. Each player is dealt five cards (all face down) and the first round of betting takes place. When the betting has concluded, each player gets an opportunity to discard cards and receive new ones from the dealer. If a player wants to "stand pat," That's fine. Otherwise, players can request as many replacement cards as they want. After new cards have been dealt, the final round of betting takes place.

The winner will be the only player not to fold or the player with the best hand, based on the standard poker rules for poker hand rankings.

3. 7-Card Stud

On the popularity scale, 7-Card Stud scores 4 out of 10. Note: This variation was the world's favorite variation in years gone by. The game is played as follows.

All players start with an ante to indicate their desire to play. The dealer proceeds to deal two cards (face down) to each player and the first round of betting takes place. After the betting has concluded, the dealer gives each remaining player one card face up. The next round of betting takes place, followed by the dealer dealing another card face-up to each remaining player. This process is repeated two more times with the last card dealt face down.

The winner will be the only player not to fold or the player with the best hand, based on the standard poker rules for poker hand rankings.

4. Omaha Hi

On the popularity scale, Omaha Hi scores 8 out of 10, making it a very popular option for experienced and pro poker players. The game is played as follows.

Antes are paid by the small blind and big blind players. The game is played almost exactly in the same way Texas Hold'em is played with two important differences. First, each player gets four (4) hole cards instead of two (2). Second, bets are capped at the size of the pot. In making their best 5-card hands, players must use two (2) of their hole cards and three (3) community cards.

5. Omaha Hi-Lo

On the popularity scale, Omaha Hi-Lo scores 4 out of 10. Note: This is the variation that was the world's favorite variation in years gone by. The game is played as follows.

Antes are paid by the small blind and big blind players. The game is played almost exactly in the same way Texas Hold'em and Omaha Hi are played. Again, each remaining player must use two (2) hole cards and three (3) community cards to make their best hands.

When all betting has concluded, the pot gets divided between the player with the best hand and the player with the lowest hand, based on the standard poker rules for poker hand rankings. There is a certain threshold that the low hand must meet to qualify as low hand. If that threshold is not met, the entire pot goes to the player with the best hand.

6. 5-Card Omaha

On the popularity scale, 5-Card Omaha scores 6 out of 10. The popularity of this game derives from the game's fast-paced action. The game is played as follows.

Antes are paid by the small blind and big blind players. The game is played almost exactly in the same way Omaha Hi is played except each player is dealt five (5) hole cards instead of four (4) hold cards. Again, each remaining player must use two (2) hole cards and three (3) community cards to make their best hands.

When all betting has concluded, the remaining players all turnover their cards in a showdown. The winner will be the player with the best hand, based on the standard poker rules for poker hand rankings.

7. 2-7 Triple Draw

On the popularity scale, 2-7 Triple Draw scores 4 out of 10. Note: This is low ball or low-hand variation that's popular among recreational online poker players. The game is played as follows.

The game is played in much the same manner as 5-Card Draw with a couple of key differences. First, each player will get three (3), not (1), opportunities to discard and draw new cards. Second, straights and flushes are not counted as big hands. Only the numerical value of the cards is considered.

The winner will be the only player not to fold or the player with the lowest hand, based on the standard poker rules for poker hand rankings. the lowest possible hand would be the Ace-5.

8. Short Deck

On the popularity scale, Short Deck scores 7 out of 10. Note: This variation has become very popular in China. It's certain to become a favorite in live-action and online poker rooms soon. The game is played as follows.

While this is actually a Hold'em variation, the ante process is treated like 7-Card Stud. All players start with an ante to indicate their desire to play. Other than that, standard Texas Hold'em rules apply with a couple of differences. First, the deck only has 36 cards, and the 2s through 5s have all been removed. Second, the first player to bet each time betting is initiated will be the first remaining player sitting to the left of the button.

The winner is the last player who doesn't fold or the player with the best hand based on the standard poker rules for poker hand rankings.

Summary: In a world where "there is more than one way to skin a cat," online poker players are fortunate to have plenty of fun and interesting poker game choices. The eight (8) variations listed above amount to nothing more than a sampling of what's available. Your challenge is to find the variation that best suits your need for fun and excitement.