Poker Variations

Stud Poker

A form of poker in which one or more cards are dealt to each player face down, followed by one upcard (with a betting round) more up cards (and a betting round after each) and then, in seven-card stud, a final downcard (and a final betting round).

The forms are five-card stud and seven-card stud, and sometimes six-card stud. The additional cards received can drastically change the rank of player's hands - and this volatility makes the game a favourite with big-time players. Once the new cards are received, the player has another chance to bet.

Seven Card Stud

There are three variations: high, low and high-low. In seven-card high, the highest ranking hand takes the pot, in seven-card low, the lowest hand wins and in seven-card high-low the plyers vie for both extremes with the highest hand and the lowest hand each claiming half the pot. In each variation, players receive seven cards (surpirse, surprise). After the first three cards are dealt (two face down, one up) there is a betting round. The next three are dealt open with a betting round after each. The last card comes "down and dirty". The remaining players, who haven't folded, therefore have four open and three closed cards from which they choose their best hand.

Texas Hold'em

Similar to seven-card stud. The main difference is that all the players get just two cards face-down of their own and five cards face up in the middle of the table for everyone's use (called "community cards"). Each player has seven cards to make up the best poker hand possible - just that the five community cards are used by all the other players as well. Up to nine players may play at a time. Also, Texas hold'em has only four rounds of betting opposed to five like seven-card stud.

Omaha

Four cards down to each player, plus five cards down to the table. Otherwise, identical to Texas Hold 'Em, and the final hands must include exactly two of the player's four cards and three community cards.

English Stud

As in seven-card stud, with two down and one up to each player except players only get six cards. Before the sixth card is dealt, each player, beginning at the dealer's left, may exchange one card. If they discard an up-card, they get a new up-card; ditto down-cards. A player may choose not to exchange. When all players have exchanged or stood, the sixth card is dealt. After the ensuing round of betting, players may make another exchange. This is followed by a final round of betting and a showdown.

Let it Ride

Not really poker, but played in casinos as 'Let it ride poker'. Three cards are dealt to each player and two face down to the dealer (the bank, house or casino). The players are paid according to how good a poker hand is made by the player's three cards plus the dealer's two cards. You must place three equal stakes before the deal. After the cards are dealt you may look at your three cards and withdraw one of your stakes if you wish. One of the dealer's cards is then turned up and you have another opportunity to withdraw one of your stakes. So you will have one, two or three of your stakes still in front of you when the dealer's second card is exposed. After exposing the second card, the dealer collects the remaining stakes of any players whose three cards together with the dealer's two cards do not form a pair of tens or better. The other players are paid according to their remaining stakes at fixed odds.