Hey there!

Are you interested to play poker but are afraid to ask. worry not. there are many ways you can learn how to play poker and you do not have to spend a single peso to practice.

But first, we want to teach you the basic poker stuff you would need to know in order for you to be prepared to play poker!

Hand ranking

Most poker varieties are following a simple poker hand ranking. Although this article is about the different varieties. We would first go to the very basic combination or poker hand ranking that the most poker variety use.

We would go deeper on hand rankings in another article soon!

We would delve into this deeper in another article. but for now, we would be writing more on the different kinds of poker varieties that players play. 

Texas Hold-em

Texas hold ’em (also known as Texas holdem, hold ’em, and holdem) is one of the most popular variants of the card game of poker. Two cards, known as hole cards, are dealt face down to each player, and then five community cards are dealt face up in three stages.

The stages consist of a series of three cards (“the flop”), later an additional single card (“the turn” or “fourth street”), and a final card (“the river” or “fifth street”). Each player seeks the best five card poker hand from any combination of the seven cards; the five community cards and their two hole cards.

Players have betting options to check, call, raise, or fold. Rounds of betting take place before the flop is dealt and after each subsequent deal. The player who has the best hand and has not folded by the end of all betting rounds wins all of the money bet for the hand, known as the pot. In certain situations, a “split-pot” or “tie” can occur when two players have hands of equivalent value. This is also called a “chop-pot”.

Omaha (4 cards/5 cards/6cards)

Omaha is similar to hold-em with the main difference is that you are either given 4/5/6 cards.

But the basic is still the same. although you are dealt with 4 cards. 2 from your hand must play. You can not choose as well as the best hand combination will be used to play from your hand. If you ever misread your hand but opened your cards facedown. The rule of card speak will be enforced. So no worries.

Unlike Hold-em where the board can play. In Omaha. 2 of your cards from your hand must play.

Omaha (4 cards/5 cards/6cards)

Omaha is similar to hold-em with the main difference is that you are either given 4/5/6 cards.

But the basic is still the same. although you are dealt with 4 cards. 2 from your hand must play. 

Unlike Hold-em where the board can play. In Omaha. 2 of your cards from your hand must play.

Omaha Hi-Lo

Omaha Hi-Lo is a little bit different and most of the time confusing. Part of the pot will be split only if there is a Lo hand combination.

To have a Lo-hand combination. The board or the community card must have 3 cards that are 8 or below and no repeat numbers.

If the board has an example a king, 2 eights, and 2 fives on the board. then there is no Lo-hand.

There must be 3 cards on the board of different numbers from 1-8.

Now for the second part. A player has 4 cards in his hand. the player must then have 2 cards that are lower than 8 and must not match the community card numbers.

The nuts of the low hand or the best combination is 1,2,3,4,5.

In case the board does not have 3 cards lower than 8 of different numbers or no players have a Lo-card combination. then there is no Lo-Pot and the whole pot goes to the winner of the high pot.

Badugi

Badugi is based Korean card game that has been growing.

There is no community card. players are given 4 cards. the objective of the game is to have the lowest 4 cards of different suits.

There is an initial betting round. Most Badugi games are pot base games or the player at maximum can only bet the number of chips that are in the pot at his turn. 

After the initial bet, players are given 3 chances to change any number of cards in their hand. and then the betting round continues.

As poker has turned like the flop, turn, and river. Badugi has 3 rounds of change and after every change, the betting continues. 

Badugi played by Koreans are somewhat different as they have etiquette that must be observed while you play Badugi.

The current Badugi that you can play online is a westernized version of the game. 

Short Deck Poker. 

In shortdeck, All of the 2’s, 3’s, 4’s and 5’s are removed from the standard 52-card pack leaving a game where only 36 cards are used. This means the 6 is the lowest card…. Unless you use an Ace as low.

As in traditional Hold’em the Ace can be used as either a High or Low, but in the Short Deck version of the game it can also make up the low and high ends of a straight. As in:

• A 6 7 8 9 is classed as a straight (In this example the Ace is classed as a ‘5’)

In Short, Deck Hold’em

•A Flush beats a Full House – This is because mathematically it is harder to make a flush than a full house from the reduced deck.

Note: This is the general rule. However, some houses may still have it the other way around – As ever; check the house rules before taking your seat.

Other variations and how to play for free.

There are other variations of the games and there are countries that have their own variation of the game.

Now if you want to play the game. just visit the AppStore or Google play store and download UPoker. 

UPoker is a play app where you can play those variations before you start playing for real money.

And remember. poker is easy to learn but it takes a lifetime to master. So take it slow. learn the game. 

Stay safe Poker playas!