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Online Poker offers plenty of game types, each with its own rules, hand formats, and pace of play. They all use standard Poker hand rankings, but the way cards are dealt and how rounds are structured differ from game to game, partly shaped by innovation driving the gaming sector.
New to online Poker or just curious about different formats? Understanding the key differences between popular variants can help you choose games that match your style.
Here are five of the most commonly played online Poker variants and what makes each one unique.
Texas Hold’em
Texas Hold’em is the most popular version of Poker you’ll find online and in physical card rooms. Each player gets two private cards (known as hole cards), and five community cards are dealt face up in the centre of the table. These community cards are revealed over three stages: the flop (three cards), the turn (one card), and the river (one final card).
Your aim is to make the best five-card hand using any combination of your two hole cards and the five community cards. Betting rounds happen before and after each set of community cards is dealt, creating four betting rounds in total.
Omaha
Omaha shares some similarities with Texas Hold’em but differs in a few key ways. You’ll receive four hole cards instead of two, and must use exactly two of them combined with exactly three of the five community cards to make a hand.
This rule adds complexity and opens up more potential hand combinations. Omaha’s often played in a Pot Limit format, meaning the maximum bet is limited to the size of the current pot.
5-Card Draw
5-Card Draw is one of the oldest forms of Poker and is relatively straightforward. You’re dealt five private cards, and after the first round of betting, you can discard and replace any number of them.
There’s one draw round, followed by a final betting round. Unlike Hold’em or Omaha, there are no community cards in 5-Card Draw. Because of the limited information available, this game relies entirely on private hands and your card replacement decisions.
Caribbean Stud
Caribbean Stud Poker is a house-banked game, meaning you’re playing against the dealer rather than other players. Each player places an ante and receives five face-down cards. The dealer also receives five cards, but only one is face up.
After viewing your cards, you can choose to fold or place a raise. The dealer’s hand must qualify with a certain minimum value (usually Ace-King high) for the round to proceed. The rules are fixed, and there are no draw or community card elements involved.
Three Card
Three Card Poker is another simplified, house-banked version of Poker. You’re dealt three cards and play directly against the dealer. The hand rankings are adjusted to fit the three-card format—for example, a straight beats a flush due to probability differences with fewer cards.
There are usually two main bets: Ante and Pair Plus. The Ante is based on beating the dealer’s hand, while the Pair Plus bet depends on whether your hand contains a pair or higher. Some versions also include an optional bonus bet.
