The 5 Most Fun Poker Games

The 5 Most Fun Poker Games

. If you are invited to play poker, you know you’re playing cards, but do you know how many forms poker takes? There are over a dozen poker variations available, and they’re not all that similar either. This article will shed light on some of the most popular poker games you can play and hopefully teach you a little something too.

Seven Card Stud

Before the poker boom in the early part of the 21st century, stud poker was arguably the most popular poker game around. It requires a different skillset to Texas Hold’em as some of your opponent’s cards will be exposed. This means you will be quickly analyzing and ascertaining the likely strength of opponents’ cards whilst comparing to your own. The idea of stud poker is to make the best 5 card hand from the 7 cards you are dealt. This game is played with fixed limits. Whilst there is not a lot of cash game action for this game, there is value to knowing the rules and becoming expert. Many big online tournament series have mixed game formats which include stud poker.

Strip Poker

Believe it or not, strip poker is one of the most popular games played. It’s the perfect Friday night poker game. Naturally, it’s not a serious game and to win is to keep your clothes on. The joy of this game comes from embarrassing friends as they have to remove pieces of clothing when they lose a hand. This game actually has different forms and you can even play Texas Hold’em strip poker. A word of warning if you’re shy – this game may not be for you!

Pot Limit Omaha Hi

Omaha Hi is incredibly popular around the world. It combines the play of Texas Hold’em but double the starting cards. You start with 4 and must use 2 in your hand. Hold’em players often find it tricky moving to Omaha as you will find strong hands much easier but often be beat. Top pair is a decent hand in Hold’em but practically worthless in Omaha. Omaha is prefect for players who love to gamble as it’s definitely more action than other poker variants. Be prepared for swings though!

Razz

Similar in play to Stud but with a massive difference – make the lowest possible hand! Razz is one of those games very few know how to play well. The best possible hand is 5-4-3-2-A as aces are low in Razz. The best possible starting hand is therefore A-2-3. This game doesn’t get much traffic online or in casinos but is often featured in mixed games. It’s great to play a game where you are aiming to get a low hand for a change and it’s even more fun seeing all the mistakes players make.

Texas Hold’em

Last but not least, the most popular game of all is Texas Hold’em. The game is played with 2-hole cards each, 4 rounds of betting (preflop, flop, turn and river) and no limits – it is the cadillac of poker. It’s popular soared after Moneymaker won the WSOP in 2003 and continues to be the most popular form of poker. The rules are simple but mastering the game can take a lifetime.