Top 5 Fun Poker Game Types You Should Try
Poker is one of the most popular card games in the world. Many believe that poker evolved from several card games played in Europe and Asia. Some trace its roots to the Persian game “As Nas,” which was played with a 25-card deck and had betting elements similar to modern poker. Others suggest that poker originated from European games like the French “Poque” and the German “Pochspiel.”
Texas Hold’em is the most popular poker variant today, has a relatively recent history. It originated in the early 1900s in Texas and was first played in small towns before reaching Las Vegas in the 1960s. The game introduced a unique structure where players use two private cards and five community cards to make the best hand.
Poker comes in many variations, each with its own level of difficulty, but one of the most challenging forms is Omaha Hi-Lo (Omaha 8 or Better). This game is a split-pot variation of Omaha that requires players to compete for both the high and low halves of the pot, adding an extra layer of complexity. The combination of strategic hand selection, split-pot dynamics, and frequent tough decisions makes Omaha Hi-Lo one of the hardest poker games to master.
1. Texas Hold'em
Texas Hold’em is one of the most popular poker games today, but its origins trace back to the early 1900s. It was first played in the state of Texas, where it quickly gained popularity among local card players. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Texas Hold’em continued to grow in popularity, especially with the rise of televised poker. Events like the WSOP and the World Poker Tour (WPT) introduced millions of new players to the game.
How to Play:
Texas Hold’em is played with two to ten players at a table, with each player receiving two private cards (hole cards) and five community cards dealt face-up in the center. The game begins with two forced bets called the small blind and big blind, which ensure there is money in the pot.
There are four betting rounds: Preflop, Flop, Turn, and River. The Preflop round starts after players receive their hole cards, where they can call (match the big blind), raise (increase the bet), or fold (discard their hand). The Flop reveals three community cards, followed by another round of betting. The Turn brings a fourth community card, leading to another betting round. The River, the final community card, is dealt, and the last betting round takes place. If two or more players remain, a showdown occurs, where players reveal their hands.
The winner is determined by the best five card combination using any mix of hole and community cards. The dealer button rotates clockwise after each hand, ensuring fairness. With its mix of strategy, psychology, and skill, Texas Hold’em remains the most popular poker game worldwide.
2. Pot Limit Omaha(PLO)
Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) is one of the most exciting and action-packed variants of poker. Unlike Texas Hold’em, where players receive two hole cards, PLO gives each player four private cards. One of the key differences in PLO is the importance of drawing hands over single strong holdings. Since players have four hole cards, the likelihood of making powerful hands like straights, flushes, and full houses is much higher than in Hold’em. As a result, hands that might seem strong in Texas Hold’em such as a single pair or even two pairs often don’t hold up in PLO.
Successful players focus on hands with coordinated suits and connected ranks that give them multiple ways to improve on the flop, turn, or river. Understanding hand selection and avoiding dominated hands is crucial to long term success in this game.Because of the increased action and complexity, Pot Limit Omaha requires a different strategic mindset than Texas Hold’em. Bankroll management is even more critical, as variance in PLO is higher due to frequent big pots and strong draws.
How to Play:
Each player is dealt four hole cards instead of two, but they must use exactly two of these along with three community cards to form their best five card hand. The game follows the same betting rounds as Texas Hold’em: Preflop, Flop, Turn, and River, with players betting based on the strength of their hands.
Unlike No-Limit Texas Hold’em, PLO uses a pot-limit betting structure, meaning players can only bet or raise up to the current size of the pot. This limits extreme all-in plays but still allows for large pots to build. Because players have four hole cards, hand equities run much closer, leading to more draws and bigger hands being made. In PLO, it’s crucial to aim for “the nuts” the strongest possible hand since weaker hands are more likely to be beaten by opponents holding better combinations.
3. Short Deck Poker
Short Deck Poker, also known as Six Plus Hold’em, is a variation of Texas Hold’em that has gained popularity in high-stakes games and tournaments. The key difference is that the game is played with a 36-card deck, with all twos, threes, fours, and fives removed.
The origins of Short Deck Poker can be traced back to high-stakes cash games in Asia, particularly in the gambling hubs of Macau. The format gained traction in the early 2010s when elite poker professionals and wealthy recreational players began favoring it for its fast-paced action and high variance. Its popularity spread globally after being introduced in major poker tournaments, such as the Triton Poker Series, where high-roller players showcased its strategic depth.
How to Play:
Short Deck Poker, or 6+ Hold’em, is a fast-paced Texas Hold’em variant played with a 36-card deck (2s, 3s, 4s, and 5s removed). Players receive two hole cards and use five community cards to form the best hand. With fewer cards, strong hands appear more often, and hand rankings change—a flush beats a full house, and aces can form a low straight (A-6-7-8-9). The game follows the same betting rounds as Texas Hold’em but requires a more aggressive strategy due to increased variance.
4. Seven Card Stud
Seven Card Stud is one of the oldest and most traditional forms of poker, predating the rise of Texas Hold’em as the dominant variant. Historically, Seven Card Stud was the most popular poker game in the United States, especially in the mid-20th century, before Texas Hold’em took over. It was a staple in casinos and home games, particularly in the northeastern U.S., and was commonly played in high-stakes environments. Though its popularity has declined in recent years, it remains an essential part of mixed poker formats, such as H.O.R.S.E.
How to Play:
Seven Card Stud is a classic poker game played without community cards, where each player receives seven individual cards throughout the hand. Unlike Texas Hold’em, there are no blinds instead, players post an ante before the hand begins, and the player with the lowest face-up card must make a forced bring-in bet.
Each player starts with three cards (two face-down, one face-up), followed by four more betting rounds as additional cards are dealt three face-up and one face-down. The objective is to form the best five card hand from the seven cards received. Since players don’t share community cards, success in Seven Card Stud relies heavily on memory, reading opponents’ exposed cards, and strategic betting.
5. Five Card Draw
Five Card Draw is one of the simplest and most classic forms of poker, making it an ideal game for beginners. Each player is dealt five private cards, and after an initial round of betting, they can choose to discard and replace any number of their cards in an attempt to improve their hand. A final betting round follows before a showdown determines the winner. Unlike Texas Hold’em or Omaha, there are no community cards, which means players must rely on their own hand strength and reading opponents tendencies.
Five Card Draw was one of the earliest forms of poker, dating back to the 19th century when it was widely played on riverboats and in saloons during the American frontier era. It remained the dominant poker variant for many years before being overtaken by Seven Card Stud and later Texas Hold’em.
How to Play:
Each player is dealt five private cards, and the goal is to make the best five card hand. The game starts with a betting round, followed by a draw phase, where players can exchange up to three cards (or four if they keep an ace). A final betting round follows, leading to a showdown if multiple players remain. With no community cards or shared information, bluffing and reading opponents play a key role. Since hands are hidden until the showdown, strategic betting and hand selection are crucial to success in 5 Card Draw.