Different Types of Poker - Part 2

This article is written in continuance of "Different Types of Poker - Part 1". A quick summary of what was covered in part was the general instructions of how to play popular poker styles including Texas Hold'em, 5 card stud, and 7 card stud. This article will focus on draw poker, Omaha, triple draw, crazy pineapple, and razz.

Draw poker is a most simplified and very popular version of poker. The person dealing rotates around the table between hands. This game includes small and big blinds for the 2 players to the left of the dealer. Each player is then dealt 5 cards. There is an initial bet that circles the table then given the option to discard 0 to 5 cards. The cards discarded are replaced with new cards from the deck with intent of building a good poker hand. Card values are kept the same as most poker variations. Following each players discard there is one final betting round to complete the hand and of course the winner takes the pot.

In comparison to Texas Hold'em, Omaha has most of the same rules but you are only provided 4 cards instead of 2 from the dealer. The change in the amount of cards one is holding greatly changes the game. This puts more mystery into people's hands and changes the style of play. Omaha is still found being played quite often inside casinos.

Razz is a reverse version of 7 card stud. In razz the winner is the one with the lowest hand out of each player. Flushes and straights normally don't count against you but there are different versions with different stipulations. Even the losers can be winners in this game!

Crazy pineapple is a variation of Texas Hold'em. Each player is dealt 3 cards instead of 2. Both the betting and poker standards are all the same as Hold'em. One major change made that puts a spin on the game is that you have to discard one of the cards in your hand prior to the fourth card being flipped from the flop. At the end you still end up with the same amount of cards as Texas Hold'em but you had an opportunity to build a more solid hand. This discounts how the percentages you and your opponents are able to figure by what's shown on the flop.

These games are all very similar in many ways but the slight changes made to each game completely change the mathematics, methods, and means of success. Many also find that buy playing these games you learn a further understanding of each by seeing the games from different aspects. All were very popular from time to time just as Texas Hold'em is today.