Different Poker Variants: From Texas Hold ’em to Badugi

Card games have become an inescapable part of everyday culture nowadays. That’s because of their competitive nature, strategic thinking and unpredictability. One of these is Poker. Due to its popularity, you can find multiple Poker Variants offline and online. 

Some of these variants are:

i)  Badugi Poker

ii) Razz Poker

iii) Texas Hold’em Poker

iv) Seven-card Draw Poker

v) Omaha Poker

vi) Five-card Draw Poker

Of these, people most commonly prefer to play Texas Hold ’em Poker, Five-card Draw Poker and Badugi Poker. If you’re a beginner, you can learn how to play poker on our website. We also organise multiple daily tourneys. 

With that being said, if you’re curious to explore the different Poker Variations, continue reading below. 

Texas Hold ’em – The King of Poker

While most people consider the town of Robstown to be the original source of Texas Hold ’em Poker, no concrete accounts support this. 

That’s because you can find stories and documented records that mention people playing this game in towns like Waco, Corpus Christi and Fort Dallas as well. 

However, if there is one thing you can agree on,  it’s the rise in the popularity of this game after the World Series of Poker, which was started by Benny Minion. 

When Johnny Moss won the inaugural edition of this tournament, he became a household name all across America.

After that, poker started to be televised in 2002, further contributing to its popularity. 

Then, with the advent of the digital age in 1998, a site called Planet Poker hosted Texas Hold’em Poker and other poker games on its platform. This digital revolution therefore helped people play against others worldwide and broke all boundaries.

The fundamental objective of this game is to create a strong five-card hand from the seven cards dealt to each player. In the beginning, two face-down (or “hole”) cards are handed to each player.

As the game progresses, the players have to utilise the five cards dealt by the dealer to form the required hand to win. The player who forms the strongest hand at the end of all the rounds is declared the winner. 

One of the reasons that Texas Hold’em Poker is so popular is that it involves high stakes, unpredictability and the element of bluffing. You can find this game on our website as well. 

Omaha Hold ‘em– The High-Action Alternative

While it shares a part of its name with Texas Hold ‘em Poker, it is different from the game. William Walter Boyd introduced it as “Nugget Hold ’em” at Golden Nugget Casino. Following that, it attained popularity in 1983 when the Stardust Casino organised the first tournaments. 

Basically, players must form a five-card hand to win this game, much like Texas Hold ‘em. However, that’s where the similarities end. That’s because players are handed four face-down (“hole”) cards instead of two. 

Apart from that, they can only use two of the four “hole” cards along with three of the community cards. Additionally, while bluffing is common in Texas Hold ‘em Poker, it is not so in Omaha poker. 

That’s because you can finish a five-card hand before the “river” turn. Apart from that, players prefer to play this game due to the additional challenge of the two extra “hole” cards that are dealt to them. 

Badugi – A Unique and Unconventional Poker Variant

This particular Poker Variation originates from Korea and is quite popular for its different outlook on the game. It is different from popular poker variants like Texas Hold ‘em Poker in that plates have to make the lowest popular hands.

The basic objective of this game is to create a “Badugi” or a four-card hand without any duplicate suits or face values. It shares similarities with Lowball and 5-card poker.

Also, unlike in other poker games, the Ace is considered a low-value card here. That’s why players attempt to make a hand with the Ace card, Number Two, Number Three and Number Four cards. 

All players are handed four face-down (“hole”) cards at the beginning of the game. After the initial rounds of betting, you can draw cards thrice. 

Apart from that, during the game, you should strategically discard and draw cards to make a low-value “Badugi”. Another thing that makes Badugi different is that you cannot gauge your opponent’s strength accurately by studying the chips they raise. 

Seven-Card Stud – The Classic Before Hold ’em Took Over

This is one of the oldest variants of poker, since its origins in the 19th century in the USA. It is one of the variants of Stud poker that is popular today. It is different from the other poker variants like Texas Hold ‘em Poker as the players who can raise chips first keep changing.

Another thing that makes this game different from other poker variants is that players are dealt a mixture of face-down (“hole”) and face-up cards. Additionally, players cannot raise a random number of chips, as they have to follow a fixed number. 

The basic objective of this game is that players have to win the pot of chips that everybody raises during a deal. Additionally, just like other variants of poker, you have to create a five-card meld. 

At the beginning of the game, each player receives two face-down (“hole”) cards and one face-up card. As the game progresses, the players receive three face-up cards and one face-down (“hole”) card after the first interval of raising chips.

The number of cards that each player is dealt depends on the round they’re playing. For example, in the “Fourth Street” round, players receive one extra face-up card after the first interval. 

Overall, every player gets over seven cards, from which they have to use five cards to make a winning hand. 

The standard practice is to have an interval in between all rounds where all players can raise chips. 

Razz – A Lowball Poker Game

You should consider playing this variant of poker if you want to enjoy a unique twist to the game. Unlike other variants, it is similar to 7-card stud poker, except for one thing. 

In other words, players have to form a low hand to win the game. Some other notable differences include the Ace card having a low value and combinations like “flushes” or “straights” having no low. 

It is also similar to the Korean card game Badugi. At the beginning of the game, all players are dealt two face-down (“hole”) cards and one face-up. This round or deal is known as the “third street” since players get three cards each. 

Players receive four more cards, as the game progresses, leading to a total of seven cards in their hands. They must then utilise five of the best cards from this combination to create a winning hand of five cards. 

So we advise players to use the cards with the lowest value, as you must make a low hand. For example, consider using an Ace card, Number Two, Number Three, Number Four card and Number Five to create a winning hand.

We would recommend playing this game since it will help you develop an alternative train of thought. 

In Review

As you can see, there are multiple poker variations that you can play depending on your preferences. If you’re a beginner, we would recommend starting with something simple like Razz or Badugi. You can also choose to play Texas Hold ‘em Poker on our website if you want a challenge. 

Remember to play practice games on our mobile application and not get frustrated if you lose some of those matches. That’s because it is natural to experience defeat during the learning curve.  

Finally, don’t forget to let us know about your favourite poker variations!