The game No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em has been the bedrock of poker’s explosion in recent years, spawning a multi-billion dollar online poker industry.
It’s probably the simplest form of poker to pick up and play, but the many layers of intricacy to Hold ‘Em make it a beguiling card game that takes heaps of skill and dedication to master it.
But despite its almost universal appeal and appearance on countless poker TV shows, the game isn’t just all about Hold ‘Em; there are a whole host of other variants on offer online too.
So let's swot up and get ready to do battle across the virtual felt.
No-limit Texas Hold ‘Em
First off, the familiar one. Hold ‘Em has been played at the World Series of Poker since 1970 to determine the champion, so it’s fair to assume it’s no flash in the pan. Poker legend and septuagenarian Doyle Brunson once famously described the game as the 'Cadillac of poker', and it’s easy to see why.
In this community card game, players are dealt two cards (hole cards) face down. The two players to the immediate left of the dealer post a small and big blind (forced bet), the big blind is twice the amount of the small blind.
Players can choose to fold, call (match the big blind) or raise. After the betting comes a three-card flop, followed by a fourth card (the turn), and finally a fifth card (river), both of which trigger more rounds of betting.
Players use one or both of their hole cards in conjunction with the community cards to make the best five-card hand.
Despite being dealt just two hole cards, there are 1326 possible hand combinations, Ace-Ace, or pocket rockets, being at the top of the tree.
No Limit does exactly what it says on the tin. You can bet or raise any amount or all of your chips, creating lots of action and swings in fortune.
Pot-limit Omaha
To the uninitiated, Omaha looks identical to Hold ‘Em other than the fact you are dealt four cards instead of two.
This is true but there is one crucial difference that new players have discovered to their cost. Pay attention because ignoring this fundamental rule can be harmful to your wealth.
You must use two of the four cards you receive and any three cards from the board to make your best five-card hand.
If you are dealt King-King-King-7, you don’t have three Kings – you have a pair of Kings. Similarly, on a board showing 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, you do not have the straight if you hold a Jack or a 5. You need two hole cards and three community cards to make the straight.
The best starting hand is Ace-Ace-King-King followed by Ace-Ace-Jack-Ten double suited. (Ace and Jack of one suit while Ace and 10 are of another).
However, Omaha is a game where players' hands will usually improve as the board develops, and their hole cards connect in different combinations.
The standard of play in Omaha online can range from good to downright awful. Punish those players who are dabbling with the game after taking a break from Hold ‘Em.
Seven-card stud
Stud poker is invariably associated with old western movies and cowboys sporting ten-gallon hats in smoky saloon bars of the Wild West. Stud was the number one poker variant before Hold ‘Em took the poker world by storm, but it’s been experiencing a resurgence lately.
Played with between two and eight players, each person antes and is dealt two cards face down and a third card face up (door card). Betting moves clockwise, starting from the person with the lowest door card.
Then comes a fourth card, more betting, and similar action follows, provided everyone doesn’t fold, until the seventh card is dealt face down.
You now have your two original down cards, four up cards and a final down card. Players construct the best five-card hand from the seven they are dealt.
It’s worth noting that this is a limit game so your raises probably won’t scare opponents into folding because you can’t just shove all in.
Paying attention is vital so don’t play whilst watching the football and swigging beers. You need to remember what up cards players have folded to assess what’s left in the deck and whether you will hit your drawing hand.
Razz
Forget the allure of flashy Kings and pretty Queens. Razz, which has featured at the World Series of Poker since 1971, is all about making the lowest or worst possible hand possible, which takes some getting used to.
The best hand is A,2,3,4,5, also known as a ‘wheel’. Aces are always low and flushes and straights don’t count. For instance, 6-high beats 7-high.
Remember, pairs ruin many potentially winning Razz hands, which is one reason why Razz can prove to be a particularly frustrating variant of poker.
So that's a quick introduction to some of the main poker games. If you want more information on these games, or on Texas Hold'Em, maybe it's time to read a few books. Check out our article on The best books on poker.
