Variations of Texas Hold EM Poker.

Omaha ‘High' and ‘Hi-Lo':

The main difference between standard Texas Hold'EM and Omaha is that instead of being dealt two private cards (i.e. cards not to be shown to fellow competitors) players are dealt four. The aim of the game is, like Texas Hold'EM, to make the best combination of cards between the four privately dealt and the five communal cards. To create the winning combinations, players can only use two of the privately dealt cards and three of the communal cards. The rules that dictate the course of the game are the same as Texas Hold'EM; pre-flop, flop, turn and river. In the variation of ‘Hi-Lo', the pot is divided in two; the best hand wins half, whilst the least best hand wins the other half. You can thus create, with two of the private cards the highest combination of five cards, whilst with the other two the lowest combination of five cards. A hand is regarded as low only if none of the cards of which it is composed is higher than or equal to 8. The ace is at the same time the highest and the lowest value card.

This Hi-Lo alternative is played largely by the professional players of Texas Hold'EM, who find new ways to challenge and defeat players with this finer variation of poker.

Click here for a basic overview of rules for Texas Hold'Em

Crazy Pineapple:

This is practically the same game as Texas Hold'EM, with one exception: players receive three private cards at the beginning of the game (instead of two). Players have to throw out one of these cards at the time of the flop, without showing the card to others.

Double Flop Hold'EM:

Again, this is practically the same as Texas Hold'EM except that the number of communal cards is doubled: there are two flops, two turns, and then two rivers. Therefore there are two times as many communal cards, ten in total. Players must create the best combination of five cards between the two privately dealt cards and the ten communal cards. Because there are more communal cards players have a better vision of what their competitor's cards may be. However, because there are twice as many communal cards, this augments the possibilities of potential combinations. The central pot is allotted in halves; the first half goes to the winner of the first communal round, the second half to the winner of the second communal round. It is possible to win both halves at the same time and to scoop the whole pot.

Seven Card Stud:

Stud is another form of Poker (as well as Hold'EM). It is played with a combination of open cards (seen by everyone) and closed cards (seen only by the individual player). The Seven Card Stud is the most common variation of stud poker, and is played by a maximum of eight players at a time, in ‘limit' variety only. The aim is to create the best combination of five cards, from among the seven cards held. These seven cards include four face-up cards (revealed) and three face down cards (hidden).

In the first part of the deal, each player receives two cards faced down and one card faced up. The player who has the lowest value card face-up is the first to play and deposits a ‘bring-in'- a sum equal to half the raise limit. The second round of dealing consists of a card face-up to each player. The third round of dealing consists of one face-up card to each player. The fourth round of dealing consists of another face-up card. The fifth round of dealing consists of one face-down card to each player. For each round of betting three raises is the maximum permitted. The players still in play will reveal their hands and compare cards. The winning hands are the same as for Texas Hold'EM.

Click here to view winning card combinations

Five Card Stud:

This game has the same rules as seven card stud, except that each player receives five cards; one face-down and four face-up.

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