MOST POPULAR TYPES OF POKER

Texas Hold'em

Texas Hold'em follows simple rules that a beginner can easily learn and begin to play immediately. Inspite of the simplicity, it is a fast and complex game that takes years to master. No wonder it has become one of the most popular forms of poker played today.

Texas Hold'em uses a disc called a dealer button to indicate where the cards are to be dealt. Prior to the deal, the two players to the left of the dealer button place live bets called the small and big blinds. It's called blind because it's made prior to seeing any cards. It's called live because it counts as part of any further bets in the first betting round.

The play begins with two cards dealt face down to each player. Action starts with a betting round beginning with the player to the left of the dealer button and continuing clockwise around the table. Players may bet, check, raise, or fold in turn. The large blind has the privilege of last action, and may check or raise the action.

Three community cards are then dealt face up in the center of the table and another betting round takes place beginning with the player to the left of the dealer button. Another card (called the 'turn', or 'fourth street') is dealt face up followed by a round of betting. The fifth and last card (called the 'river', or 'fifth street') is dealt face up and a final round of betting takes place.

Players remaining in the hand will then show their cards and the winning poker hand will be awarded the pot. Any combination of hole cards and community cards may be used to make the best five-card poker hand.

Omaha Hi 

Omaha is a form of Hold'em, just that 4 cards are dealt face down instead of 2. You must use two cards from your hand combined with three cards from the board to form your best five-card poker hand.

Omaha 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 dealer button. Players may bet, check, raise, or fold in turn.

Community cards are then dealt face up in the center of the table in the same manner as in Texas Hold'em with betting after each round.

After the final betting round, the players remaining in the hand will then show all their cards. The person with the best 5 card poker hand using 2 cards in their hand wins. 

Omaha Hi/Lo 

Omaha Hi/Lo is very similar to regular Omaha, but the pot is split between a high hand (the same as in ordinary Omaha) and a low hand (which is based on five cards, which start at eight or below.

Players are dealt four 'hole' cards face down, and five 'community' cards that everyone can see and use. Each player must use two of their hole cards, as well as three of the community cards, to make their hand.

The game is divided into four rounds of betting, and the betting moves around the table in a clockwise direction. The betting starts from the position next to the dealer button, which moves one place to the left after each hand. In online games, the dealer button replaces the 'real' dealer.

If two or more players are in a tie from holding an equally strong winning five-card hand, the pot will be split between the tying players.

Seven-Card Stud

In Seven-Card Stud, each player receives two cards face down and one card face up. The player with the low card opens the betting. Each player in turn must call, raise, or fold.

Each player is then dealt 3 cards face up with a betting round following each card.

The last card dealt to each remaining player is face down with the final betting round following.

Players remaining in the hand will then show their hands and the winning poker hand will be awarded the pot. Suits are not used in determining the winning hand, and tied hands will split the pot.

Five-Card Stud

In five-card stud poker, players place a small wager known as an 'ante'. 2 cards are dealt to each player, one dealt face down, known as the 'hole' card and the other face up.

The player with the lowest ranking up-card must place the opening bet.

Each player to the left of the player making the opening bet must in turn either call the opening bet, raise it or fold.

When this round is complete each player is then dealt another card face up followed by a round of betting. This continues until all players have five cards, one face down and four face up, or until only one player remains.

From the third card onwards, the betting is started by the highest poker hand showing.

All players have five cards in their hand, one down and four up.

If there is a showdown, players show all five cards. The winning hand is the highest ranking five card poker hand.

Razz

Razz poker has rules very similar to seven-card stud, except you want to have the lowest possible hand. The person with the lowest hand is the winner, using only five of the seven cards dealt. The lowest hand is an A, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of any suit. The Ace is always low. Straights and flushes are discounted so that you are not impacted if you have one.

First round bets are placed. This is done before any cards are dealt. The minimum ante is about one-fifth the lowest possible bet amount.

Three cards are dealt to each player. Two cards are faced down, one is faced up. This is called ''third street".

Players review their face up card. The player with the highest card must bet first. The bet must be equal to one-fifth of the low limit bet.

Then, one card is dealt to each player, called "fourth street". Bets are placed again if you wish to remain in the game. The bet limit is the low bet amount.

Then, one more card is dealt face up to each player still in the hand, called "fifth street". Bets are placed on cards currently on table. The betting amount is now equal to the higher limit.

One more card is dealt to active players, called "sixth street". Bets are placed again at higher limits.

Then final card is dealt to remaining players face down, called "seventh street". Bets are placed at higher limits.

Finally, players remaining turn over face down cards to see who has the winning hand.

Regular Pineapple

The game is identical to texas hold'em except players are dealt 3 hole cards face down to begin in stead of 2.

After the 3 hole cards are dealt, players discard 1 hole card and keep the other 2. There is a round of betting. After the betting is complete, the 3 community cards are dealt, and another round of betting begins.

The turn card is then dealt, another round of betting starts. Then the river card is dealt, another betting round, and then there's a showdown.

The best 5 card poker hand wins.

Crazy Pineapple

Crazy pineapple is identical to regular pineapple except players discard 1 card after they see the community cards, or "flop".