Texas Hold'em

Texas Hold'em is one of the most interesting, exciting and captivating poker games, testimony the large number of players, tournaments and publicity it receives. In this article we will explain you all the rules of the game, what makes the game different than any other poker games, and all the details that you need to know. We assure you that once you will finish reading this article, you will be most certain ready to play Texas Hold'em.

The game is usually played with nine or ten players, the game being considered short handed when fewer players are at the table. Before the actual game can begin, the dealer must be decided. Each player will receive one card, the dealer being represented by the player with the highest valued card. The button, a white plastic chip, indicates the dealer's position. Each player will be the dealer after a round has ended starting from the left of the initial dealer. The button will move in front of that specific dealer as well. Read more about Texas Hold'em Rules& Texas Hold'em Odds

Draw Poker

This game can be played with up to 10 players. There are situations like the high betting games where only 6 players are recommended to play because if there would be more than 6 players in the game in order to complete a draw it would be necessary to use the discarded cards.

Before any cards are dealt to the players, they must make a small obligatory bet known as ante. Depending on how the rules are settled the ante can be made either only by the dealer (dealer's edge) or each player puts into the pool an equal agreed amount. Read more about Draw Poker Rules

7-card Stud

This poker variation can be played by 3 to 5 players. As its name indicates, this poker game is played with seven cards. The game starts with the dealing of three cards, two faces down and one up for each of the players. Betting intervals and rounds of dealing face up-up cards then alternate as usual, until active players have seven cards (including the two hole cards). After a final betting interval, each active player chooses five cards from his seven to form his showdown hand.

The ranking of the hands are the same as regular poker except to take the five best cards out of the ones you are dealt. A variation on the game is to allow wild cards and a five of a kind. This is personally my favorite kind of poker.Read more about Stud Poker Rules

5-card Stud

Five Card Stud Poker was invented around the 1850, though it is still loved and played by many to this day. It is a relatively simple variation of regular poker, and can be played with between two to ten players.

At the start of the game each player puts an ante, a prescribed sum of money (or chips). Then the dealer starts the dealing of two cards per player, one dealt face-up (also known as the "up" card or the "door" card) and the other face down (also known as a "hole" card). There is only one "hole" in five card stud poker, and it will be revealed only at the very end of the game.

It is played exactly like 7-card stud with betting rounds held when each new card is put down. Variations can be the use of wild cards and the rank of hands are the standard one in poker.Read more about Stud Poker Rules

Omaha

The rules of Omaha are identical to those of Hold 'Em except that each player receives four hole cards instead of two and each player must use exactly three board cards and two hole cards to make the hand. This second difference can be confusing for beginners and players who are used to Hold 'Em.

Omaha is a nine-card poker game that uses a dealer button and blinds as in Texas Hold 'Em. The play begins with four cards dealt face down to each player. Action starts with the first player to the left of the blinds beginning the betting. Players may bet, check, raise, or fold in turn. Read more about Omaha Rules

Caribbean Poker

Over the last few years, Caribbean Poker has become a very popular casino game. If you like poker, you will love Caribbean Poker! Each player competes only against the dealer, independently of other players. Your goal is to beat the dealer's hand. In the Caribbean Poker game you compete against the dealer for the best 5-card poker hand. Read more about Caribbean Poker Rules

Chinese Poker

Also referred to as Russian Poker, this game is played with a deck of 53 cards and each of the 4 players are dealt 13 cards. All the 13 cards must be split in three best poker hands called "Front", "Middle", and "Back". The "Front" is a 3-card hand. Both "Middle" and "Back" are 5-card hands and must outrank the "Front" (3-card hand).

If you're playing with a surrender option, after the cards have been dealt (and the players have arranged their cards into these 3 hands), then each player elects to either play or surrender. If they surrender, they forfeit 2 chips (or points) to each of the other players.

If they play, each player's 3 hands are compared to the other players' hands. Each hand you win picks up 1 chip and the overall winner picks up an extra chip. You can rotate the order of accepting surrenders for each game. Read more

Let It Ride Poker

This poker game is also one of the most popular poker variations. Among poker players and online, let it ride poker is sometimes called let 'em ride or let them ride poker.

In let it ride poker, your hands are scored the same as in traditional poker games (i.e. a royal flush is the highest possible hand.) In let it ride poker, you are dealt three cards, which you use with two dealer cards to make your hand. As the dealer turns over his cards, you can fold your hand or "let it ride" for the next card. Find out more about Let It Ride Poker Rules

Three Card Poker

Three card poker is said to be America's fastest growing specialty table game. It is derived from a centuries old game called Brag (which later wound up in India as Flush).

In reality though, three card poker is not poker in its true form. Even though the payoffs are loosely based on poker hands, you don't have to understand exotic hands like full houses. You just need to know that three consecutive cards (like 2-3-4, A-2-3 or Q-K-A, but not 2-A-K) are a straight, three cards in the same suit (like the 2, 5 and 9 of hearts) are a flush and two cards in the same rank (like 4-4) are a pair. Find out more about Three Card Poker rules

2 Card Manila

There is a maximum of eleven players in Two Card Manila. The game is played with a deck consisting of 32 cards: 11 players x 2 cards = 22 cards + 5 community cards + 4 burnt cards = 31 cards. The Ace can be used only as a high card and not as a low card. Two Card Manila is played with a blind, i.e. a set bet which the players must post at the beginning of the game.

The dealer starts by dealing two cards to each player, faced down. Each player may call, check, raise or fold. Manila games set a limit of up to three raises per round, unless there are only two players in the game. Then the first community card is placed on the board, face up, and another round of betting begins, Before the dealer puts on the table the next community card and the others that follow, he "burns" a card. (All in all four burnt cards.) Each flop is followed by a round of bets.

3 Card Manila

In Three Card Manila there are three "hole" cards, though a hand is made up of two hole cards and three community cards, just like in Two Card Manila.

There is a maximum of nine players in Three Card Manila. The game is played with a deck consisting of 36 cards: 9 players x 3 cards = 27 cards + 5 community cards + 4 burnt cards = 36 cards.

Chicago

The game is played with 4 to 7 players. The initial deal and the play is the same as in the 7 card stud game. The winner is the one with the high hand and the high spade in the hole splits the pot. The ranking of the hands are standard poker with the best five cards being used. Wild cards and five of a kind is the variations.

Indian Poker

Players: 3 to 10 players can play this game. In the initial deal each player gets one card down. Do not look at your card! Each player carefully places the card face out on their forehead, taking care not to see the suit and/or rank of their card. Each player can freely view the cards of their opposing players. A betting round ensues as does a showdown.

Once the betting is down with, each player looks at his card and the winner takes his pot. The deal then rotates to the left. The game continues for one deck. This is basically a who has the highest card game, but not knowing what your card is can drive you crazy, especially if there is no limit to the pot. High Card rules in this game Ace high, two Low. This game is fun to play and is the ultimate in bluffing. Try keeping a straight face when your friend continues to raise while he is holding a 2 of clubs.

Lowball

Lowball is played like Five Card Draw, except in this game, the lowest hand wins. The best hand is 5-4-3-2-1, also known as a "wheel" or "bicycle". This game can be played with 3 to 7 players. Initial deal is five cards to each player.

The rank of the hands are the same as standard version of poker except that the lowest hand wins. This is a good game to break up the monotony of regular poker.