Unique Game Variants Beyond Texas Hold’em Worth Playing

Texas Hold’em is the most popular game in the poker rooms and poker universe, but the universe of poker games is still larger than this one. Expanding your poker repertoire not only brings you new challenges but also can improve your overall game. A lot of pro players say that their success comes from mastering various variants, which in turn requires deeper diving into the poker fundamentals.

The skills that you have acquired in different formats often are carried back to Hold’em and this is where you get an advantage over those players who are one-dimensional. Moreover, there is also something refreshing about changing the game when you have played thousands of hands of Hold’em. The change of pace can even renew your passion for poker as a whole.

Most Popular Alternatives to Texas Hold’em

Players looking for new experiences have plenty of options at Royal Reels Casino and other poker platforms. Omaha stands as the second most popular poker variant globally, featuring four hole cards instead of two. This seemingly small change creates vastly different gameplay, with more possible combinations and bigger action. The requirement to use exactly two of your hole cards with three community cards creates fascinating strategic decisions.

Stud poker varieties offer a completely different experience, with no community cards at all. Seven Card Stud was once the dominant poker game in America before Hold’em took over. In Stud games, players receive a mix of face-up and face-down cards across multiple betting rounds, requiring excellent memory and observation skills.

Short Deck (also known as Six Plus Hold’em) has surged in popularity, especially in high-stakes games across Asia. This Hold’em variant removes all cards lower than six from the deck, dramatically changing hand values and creating more action. With fewer cards, players make stronger hands more often, leading to bigger pots and wild swings.

Draw Poker Varieties

Draw poker games represent some of the oldest forms of poker, predating both Hold’em and Stud. These games feature no community cards, with players working to improve their private hands through discarding and drawing new cards.

Five Card Draw remains the simplest variant, familiar to many as “kitchen table poker.” Players receive five cards and get one opportunity to discard and replace cards in their hand. Despite its simplicity, the game requires sharp reading skills since you have minimal information about opponents’ hands.

Triple Draw variants add complexity through multiple drawing rounds and often feature lowball hand rankings. In 2-7 Triple Draw, players aim for the lowest possible hand with no straights or flushes counting against you and aces always high. This creates a fascinating puzzle as you try to construct specific low hands while denying your opponents the cards they need.

Mixed Games and Rotation Formats

For true poker versatility, mixed games offer the ultimate challenge. Formats like H.O.R.S.E. rotate through multiple variants, testing adaptability and well-rounded skill. Each letter in H.O.R.S.E. represents a different poker game:

Even more comprehensive mixed games exist, including 8-Game and 10-Game mixes that incorporate additional variants like 2-7 Triple Draw and Badugi. These rotation formats reward versatile players who can shift gears between different structures and hand rankings.

Lowball Variants

Lowball poker turns traditional hand rankings upside down, rewarding the worst hand instead of the best. These games create fascinating strategic puzzles that challenge your poker intuition.

Razz stands as the most accessible lowball variant for Hold’em players. Played as seven-card stud for low, players aim for the lowest five-card hand with straights and flushes ignored. The ace always counts as low in Razz, making A-2-3-4-5 the best possible hand (called “the wheel”).

Badugi offers perhaps the most unique experience in the poker world. This four-card draw game aims for the lowest hand with no pairs, where each card must be a different suit. A perfect “badugi” contains four unpaired cards of different suits, with A-2-3-4 of mixed suits representing the nuts. The game’s unusual drawing and hand evaluation rules create a distinct strategic landscape unlike any other poker variant.

High-Action Community Card Games

Several community card games have emerged to satisfy players’ appetite for action and big pots. These games often feature more betting rounds, multiple board runs or modified hand rankings to create exciting gameplay.

Pineapple and Crazy Pineapple deal players three hole cards instead of two, with Crazy Pineapple requiring players to discard one card after the flop. This extra card creates stronger starting hands and more action. The discarding decision in Crazy Pineapple adds a strategic layer that even experienced Hold’em players find challenging to master.

Irish Poker combines elements of Hold’em and Omaha, dealing four cards initially but requiring players to discard two after the flop. This creates fascinating strategic choices about which two cards to keep based on the community cards and betting action.

Regional Variants Worth Discovering

Poker’s global popularity has spawned regional variants reflecting local preferences and playing styles. Chinese Poker (also called Pusoy) features players arranging 13 cards into three poker hands of different sizes. Players score points by comparing their hands against each opponent’s corresponding hands.

Open-Face Chinese Poker adds complexity by having players set their hands one card at a time, creating a fascinating puzzle as you try to build three strong hands without knowing which cards you’ll receive next. Special bonus points for making particularly strong hands (like royalties for quads or straight flushes) add another layer of strategy.

Choosing Your Next Variant

The best next step depends on your poker experience and goals. Omaha makes a natural transition for Hold’em players since it shares the same betting structure and community cards. Short Deck offers exciting action with minimal rule changes. For a complete change of pace, try a draw game or dive into Seven Card Stud.

Remember that most variants require adjustments to fundamental strategy. Hand values shift dramatically between games—for instance, flushes beat full houses in Short Deck, while straights and flushes don’t count against you in many lowball games. Take time to study these differences before playing for significant stakes.

Many players find that exploring different variants not only provides fresh challenges but also makes them appreciate the nuances of their preferred game even more. The broader your poker knowledge, the more complete your understanding of the game becomes.