Poker Game Variations

• 5 Card Stud
• 7 Card Stud
• 7 Card Stud High Low
• Heads Up
• Omaha High
• Omaha High Low

5 card stud

Each player is dealt one card face down and one face up. The player with the lowest upward facing card makes a forced bet of either half minimum bet or full bet (player's choice) to start the game. The rest of the players, in clockwise order either, call the opening bet, raise it, or not call and "fold" their hands back to the dealer.

All players then get a third card face up followed by a round of betting. From this round on, the player with the highest upward facing card(s) is always first to check or bet.

After the fourth card is dealt face up, the minimum bet goes to the higher minimum level.

Then the fifth card is dealt face up and followed by the final round of betting. The dealer then determines the highest hand and awards the pot to the winning player.

 

7 card stud poker

After all players have anted, each player is dealt two cards face down and one face up. The player with the lowest upward facing card is forced to bet either half the minimum bet or the full bet (player's choice) to start the game. The rest of the players, in clockwise order, have to either call the opening bet, raise it, or not call and "fold" their hands back to the dealer.

All receive a fourth card face up which is then followed by a round of betting. From this round on, the player with the highest upward facing card(s) is always first to check or bet.

After the fifth card is dealt face up, the minimum bet then goes up in value.

The sixth card is then dealt face up and another round of betting commences.

The seventh and last card is dealt face down and followed by the final round of betting.

The dealer then determines the highest hand and awards the winning player the pot.

7 card stud high low

Each opposing player is dealt two hidden cards and one exposed card. The player with the lowest exposed card is the "bring-in", and is therefore forced to make a wager of either a half a small bet or a full small bet. This proceeds clockwise around the table until betting is complete for the round.
For the purposes of determining the bring-in, ties in card rank are broken by suit, with the order being spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs (in descending order).

Each player then receives an exposed card, called "Fourth Street". The first player to act is the individual whose exposed cards have the highest poker value. This player may either check or bet. If no player shows a pair amongst his or her exposed cards, the bet will only be a small bet. If any player shows a pair, the betting can be opened for a big bet to be placed down.
Each player then receives another exposed card, called the "Fifth street". Again, the first player to act is the individual whose exposed cards have the highest poker value.

For example: if you start on fifth street for the rest of the hand, all bets will therefore be in big bet increments.
Each player then receives another exposed card, called "Sixth Street". Once Again, the first player to act is the individual whose exposed cards have the highest poker value.

Each player then receives a seventh and final card, which is dealt face-down and known only to the player to whom the card is dealt. The first player to act is the individual whose exposed cards have the highest poker value.

If there is more than one remaining player when the final betting round is complete, the last bettor or raiser shows his or her cards. If there was no bet on the final round, the player whose exposed cards have the highest poker value shows his or her cards first. The player with the best five-card hand wins half the pot, and the player with the best hand for low wins the other half. In the event that no hand qualifies for low, the best hand(s) for high wins the pot.

 

Heads up

Head’s up is a hybrid form of poker that only includes two participants. It can be played using most of the poker variations with Texas hold’em being the most popular.

The rules for heads up are essentially the same as for any multiplayer game except for the order of play...

The rules are as follows;

• The highest hand wins
• The dealer is responsible for placing the small blinds
• The big blind is dealt with the first card
• After the flop the dealer is second to act

 

Omaha high

The game begins with four cards dealt facedown to each player. The game then starts with a round of betting beginning with the player to the left of the blind bets, this then continues clockwise around the table. Players may bet, check, raise or fold in turn. The big blind has the privilege of the last action and he/she may check or raise the bet.

Three community cards called the flop are then dealt in the centre of the table and another round of betting commences beginning with the player to the left of the dealer button.

Another card is dealt facing upward (called the turn) followed again by a round of betting.

The fifth and last card called the river is dealt face up and a final round of betting takes place. Players remaining in the hand will then show their cards and the best hand is awarded the pot. Players must form their best five-card poker hand from only two of their four pocket cards and any three of five community cards.

Once all betting is complete, players establish the best five-card hand that they can make from two of their four pocket cards and three of the five community cards. Four of these cards will be in their own tenure and dealt as down cards, and five will be face up as community cards to be shared amongst all players.

Therefore, if a player is dealt four kings down, only two of the kings count toward the final hand. The remaining three cards must come from the community cards. The player with the best five-card poker hand wins the pot. Should multiple hands tie, the pot is split with the player directly to the left of the dealer.

 

Omaha high low

Before each player is dealt four cards face down, the player directly left of the button, called the "Small Blind" must bet (half the minimum bet). Then the player to his/her left and two seats to the left of the button, called the” Big Blind", must bet the minimum bet. Each player is then dealt a four card hand.

The player to the left of the ‘big blind’ is first to take action and he/her must either call the big blind's bet, raise, or fold his/her hand. Continuing clockwise, all the players around the table must call, raise or fold. When the betting goes all the way back around to the small blind, he/she can fold and lose the bet placed earlier, call the amount required to get up to the betting level or raise their bet. The big blind is then the last to act before any cards are turned upward in the middle. The blinds are played during the first round only.

The dealer turns the three cards over in the centre of the table. This is the "Flop", then the player to the left of the button is first to act. After this there are no more compulsory bets and the players can all check around if they want to. Bets right after the flop are at the minimum bet level.

Now the "Turn" card with more betting which now raises the higher minimum bet level.

Finally the last or "River" card is turned upward which means the last betting round commences. The players still in the contest reveal their cards and the highest hand wins the pot or splits with the lowest qualifying low hand. Of course, the ideal result is to win the high end with no split or to have the cards to win both ways so the final pot is entirely yours.

Once all betting is complete, players then determine the best five-card high or low hand possible  from two of their own four pocket cards and three of the five community cards in the centre of the table. In Omaha High/Low the pot is split 50-50 between the best high hand and the best qualifying low hand, with each consisting of 5 cards of different values ranked 8 or lower.

Straights and flushes are not counted against you when evaluating a low hand. However, they do still apply when evaluating a high hand. Aces can be used both for high and low hands.

Therefore, the best possible low hand is A,2,3,4 and 5, which is also a straight for the high hand. It is possible for a player to collect the entire pot with both the highest and lowest hands. Four of these cards will be in their own possession and dealt face down, and five will be upward facing as community cards to be shared by all players.

Therefore, if a player is dealt four kings down, only two of the kings count toward the final hand. The remaining three cards must come from the community cards. The player with the best five-card hand and the player with the qualifying best low hand share the pot evenly. Should multiple hands tie, the pot is split with any odd amount going to the player immediately to the left of the dealer.

The 'button' is moved clockwise around the table so that every player can benefit from the advantage of being last to act once per round. Like Hold 'Em, position is an important advantage for a player so when a player has the button they have the biggest advantage during the game.