Types of Poker: A Breakdown of 12 Types of Poker

 Types of Poker: A Breakdown of 12 Poker Types

There are several types of poker, a card game in which a dealer issues cards to players who then independently try to assemble the most valuable hand of cards possible--traditionally, to win cash, poker chips, or other units.

What is Poker?

Poker is a card-game in which players wager on who has a better hand (the number of cards you hold) according to different rules depending on what type of poker they are playing. A 52-card standard deck is used for the game, although the game's type will determine the number of cards that you use. The dealer may also set the rules for the game, so the value of each card can change. Poker can be played in casinos, at home, or in community card games.

26 Common Poker Terms

These terms refer to poker only, but some can also be used to describe card games in general.

Ante: In order to be eligible to play a round or poker, there is a set amount you have to wager. The ante is the amount you must wager.

All-in: The player who pushes all their chips (or cash), into the pot is considered all-in.

Big blind: A big blind refers to a variant of a blind that requires the player two positions to the right of the dealer (or with the dealer buttons) to deposit money into the pot before the hand can be dealt. This amount is determined based on the stakes of a game and is often the minimum bet.

Blind: Some poker games require that players place bets are made. The dealer is the person who holds the button. The dealer's left hand has a small and the dealer's right has the big blind. Because the player or players are required to contribute to the pot, they are called blinds.

Bluff: When a player has a bad hand but plays on, it is called a bluff. If you suspect a player may be bluffing, you can call their bluff to continue betting or raise your stake.

Call: A poker game that involves betting has a minimum amount each player must play with for each round. Calling the bet is when a player puts the minimum amount in the pot so that the betting can continue with the next person.

Cash games: Instead playing with poker chips you can play with cash.

Check: If you don't want to play any further, you can check the pot in some poker variations. Each player must call the raise or fold if another player raises the stakes.

Chips: Poker chips are used to play. These can be in any color, including red, green, black, or blue. The dealer assigns values and cash to the chips before the game starts.

Dealer: The dealer (or someone who isn't playing at all) is the one who deals the cards to other players and shuffles each card after each hand.

Deuces: Cards with the "2" designation are called deuces. Some poker games have "deuces wild", which means that "2" cards can be used to represent any other card in their deck.

Fixed limit: A fixed-limit poker game limits the amount that each player can place on the table. They can only place bets up to this amount.

Flop is the third set of three cards that are placed face-up in a game with community cards.

Fold: This is when you want to fold and end your hand.

Hand: A hand refers to a set of five cards used in a game. These may be the five cards that were dealt to you or a combination between five cards created using your cards and those of the community.

Kicker: This is the highest-ranking cards in your deck when you have a high card hand. It also includes the card that remains after the hand has ended. The fifth card, for example in a four-of a kind hand, is the kicker.

No limit: Poker players can wager as much money in a game with no limits as they did during a betting session.

Online poker: This is the game of poker you play online on your computer, tablet or phone. Online poker is the same as standard poker.

Pocket cards: When you play with community card, pockets cards are cards you have that aren't part of the community. Sometimes called "hole card".

Pot: The sum of all the chips and cash (if you're using cash) goes into the pot. This is typically located at the center of each table. When you ante up, your money goes into the pot. The entire pot is won by the winner.

Pot limit: Poker players are limited to placing bets in a certain range. This includes starting at the pot ante and ending at that amount in the final pot. Each player may only place bets up to the pot's amount.

Raise: This is the act of placing a higher bet than the minimum to play. All bets are raised to the amount you have set. This means that other players must either call or fold.

River: If you are playing a game of community cards, the river card is the last card from the five community cards the dealer has issued.

Showdown: All players must either fold or reveal their cards during the showdown.

Small blind: The small blind is when the player is one position behind the dealer (or holding the dealer button, which is a token indicating their status) and must place a bet before the hand is dealt. The amount you place will vary depending on how high the stakes are, but is generally half the amount in the big blind.

Turn: In a game that uses community cards, a "turn" is the fourth card, face-up and placed alone.

12 types of poker

There are many types of poker. The game can change depending on variables like wildcards and poker rules. It can also determine which hand is the lowest or highest. The following are the most well-known poker types:

2-7 triple Draw: Before a betting round starts, the dealer gives each player five cards, facedown. After the initial draw round, each player has the option to swap cards between their hand and the dealer's. The next round includes a second betting round, and a second drawing. The third betting round starts, followed by a final round and a third drawing round. In a 2-7 lowball, the lowest-ranking poker hand is declared winner.

5-card draw. In a five card draw game, each player receives five cards. In the same order that the dealer dealt their cards, each player has the opportunity to trade in three of their cards to get new cards from the dealer. The player with the highest five-card hand at the end of the round wins.

7-card Stud: Seven-card stud is a game that's similar to a 5-card draw, but the players are each dealt seven cards. Three cards of those seven are facedown cards and four cards are faceup. A seven-card stud game requires that each player creates the highest-ranking hand with five cards from their seven deck. The winner is the player with the highest hand.

Badugi: Badugi uses the same ranking structure that traditional poker has except that aces are high-value cards and they are now low. After the dealer gives out four cards to players, a betting game begins. The first draw round, where each player can draw four cards at a given time, begins. The second round starts with a betting round. After that, there's a draw of four cards and then a third round. The showdown begins with the final draw, the final betting round and the final draw. The winner is the player with the best poker hand from all four cards.

Chinese poker: Each player receives 13 cards from the dealer. Each player splits his cards into two hand with five cards each and one with three cards. Each one of these hand names is Chinese poker. The three-card hand known as the front is the front. The two five-card hands known as the middle and back are each called the middle and back. The goal is for the front hand (lowest-ranking) to be the best-ranking and the back (highest-ranking) to be the worst. The players place their cards face down on the table. First the front hand should be facedown. Second the middle hand should facedown. Third the back hand should facedown. Each player announces if they are playing their own hands. If they choose to, they reveal the amount of royalties they plan to pay (the group decides this unit prior to the game). The hands that players reveal earn them points, and the winner gets royalty units.

Community card: These games are similar to Texas hold 'em and require that the dealer hand out each player pocket cards. The table also has community cards that are dealt face up. Each player creates their hand using their community cards and pocket cards.

Draw: An alternative to standard poker, a draw game lets players swap cards (usually between two and three cards) with the dealer once they have received their first set. These cards are then combined with the original set to make a hand.

Omaha hold 'em - Also known as Omaha poker or Omaha, Omaha hold ’em has four betting rounds and five cards that are shared with the community. Each player will receive four pockets cards and the five community cards face up from the start. Each player builds their five-card hand with four of their pocket cards and five community cards. Omaha hi/lo is an Omaha variation on Omaha Hold 'em. Omaha hi/lo allows players to create a five card hand with high cards and a low five card hand.

Pineapple poker - Pineapple poker is a variation of Texas hold'em. Each player begins with three cards in their pocket. Then they take a look at the cards and decide which one to discard. The first round of betting starts. From here, the rules of Texas hold 'em apply. Crazy pineapple poker plays in the same way, but the players keep their pocket cards until the round before either the dealer deals or turns over the fourth card. Also known as the turn, crazy pineapple poker has the players holding onto all three of their cards. The lazy version of pineapple poker plays similarly to pineapple poker but the player does not have to discard any cards until the dealer deals the river card, the final card from five community cards.

Razz: A razz game of poker is a low-ranking game. In this game, the highest-ranking hand wins. The traditional rankings of the cards, ace being the highest and two the lowest, do not apply. The ace, however, is the lowest card on the deck. The objective of the game is not to win a high hand but a low one. Razz is a stud game, which means the players can't swap their cards.

Stud Poker: Stud is a variant of standard poker. Stud poker is a game where the dealer gives you cards and the player has to put together the best possible hand. A stud game does not allow for card swapping. These games typically have five to seven cards per hand.

Texas hold 'em is: Once you have anted up, each player gets two pocket cards. Next, the dealer places five community card facedown on the table. A round of betting starts. Next, the dealer flips three of the community cards face up on the table, known as the flop. Another round of betting follows. The dealer faces up the fourth community card, also known as the turn, on the table. A second round of betting ensues, but this time the stake has been doubled. Finally, the dealer flips the river, the last community card. The stake is again doubled in the final round. Each player can then choose to fold or take part in the showdown. They will play their hand using both their pocket and community cards. The highest-ranked hand wins. The Different Types of Poker