Poker Variations – A Guide to Different Online Poker Games

Modern poker dates back to the early 19^th century, but the game has roots that go back almost 1,000 years. However, many people who play the game today think of Texas Hold’em when they think of poker.

The reality is that there are many variations of poker in the world. While Texas Hold’em is king in casinos and online poker rooms, it is not the only game available.

Today, we will cover the different variants of poker that you can play online besides Texas Hold’em. We will focus primarily on games you can find in online poker rooms or mobile apps.

We’ll also cover some of the common table game poker variants you’ll find at online casinos in Australia and give some suggestions on where to play them.

Top Online Poker Game Variants

Texas Hold’em dominates the poker landscape, but around 2006, the demand for mixed games started to grow. This was due in part to the popularity of mixed games amongst celebrity poker players and high-stakes players.

Let’s look at some of the most popular poker variants besides Texas Hold’em.

Omaha Poker

Omaha poker is the second most popular game in the world and is considered the most popular variant in Europe. It is often the next game that many Hold’em players learn as it has similarities to Hold’em.

Omaha has been called four-card Hold’em as each player gets four hole cards as opposed to the two you get in Hold’em games. The community cards are the same as Hold’em, with a flop, turn, and river.

The difference between Hold’em and Omaha is how hole cards are played. In Omaha, you can only use two cards in your hand and three cards from the board.

This difference can be challenging at the start, but most players quickly acclimate. Another primary difference is that drawing hands have much more power in this game than Hold’em.

Omaha is called a game of big cards and big draws. Pot-Limit Omaha is the most commonly played version of Omaha, and it is often common to see larger pots in this game than Texas Hold’em.

Omaha Hi-Lo

A popular variation of Omaha Poker is Omaha Hi-Lo. In this game, players are competing for two pots –  a high pot and a low pot.

The high pot is won when a player has the highest hand. The low pot is won when a player has a low hand with five cards that are eight or lower.

In the case that a player wins both the high and low portions of the hand, they scoop the pot. The main object of the game is to scoop pots.

One notable difference between this game and standard Omaha is that you can use different cards for high and low. For example, if you are dealt Ac-Kd-2h-3c, you could use Ac-Kd for the high hand and Ac-2h for the low.

Omaha Hi-Lo can be played in either Pot-Limit or Fixed-Limit formats. Some No-Limit options are available, but they have yet to become popular.

Seven Card Stud

This classic poker variant has made a comeback in the poker world thanks to the rise of mixed games. In this game, there are no community cards, and each player gets their own hand.

Players start with two down cards and one up card. Over the next three betting rounds, players get an additional upcard for each round. The final betting round sees everyone get a card face down.

At showdown, the player with the best hand wins the pot. This game is a seven-card variation of the classic game you see played in many Westerns.

This game also has a Hi-Lo version where players can compete for a high and low pot. The low pot is won by a player who has five cards eight or lower.

If a player has both the high and low hand, or if there are no qualifying low hands, that player scoops the pot.

Razz

Razz is Seven Card Stud played for low only. The low does not have to be a qualifying low of eight or under. Simply, the hand with the lowest five cards is the winner.

This game is played in limit format and is often part of a mixed game like HORSE or 8-Game. It can be found as a standalone cash game in some poker rooms, and you’ll see Razz tournaments at the World Series of Poker.

Five Card Draw

Five Card Draw is the classic poker game where players are dealt five cards, and they make a single exchange of cards to improve their hand.

After cards are exchanged and betting is concluded, the player with the best five-card hand wins. This game can be found at Fixed-Limit or Pot-Limit stakes. Occasionally, you’ll find an NL game.

Five Card Draw was effectively extinct at the start of the poker boom, but the resurgence of mixed games led to a revival of this game.

2-7 Lowball

2-7 Lowball is a variant of Five Card Draw where the object is to make a low five-card hand. Straights and flushes count against you, so the lowest hand is 7-5-4-3-2.

There are two versions of 2-7 Lowball found in casinos. The most common is Limit Triple Draw 2-7 Lowball, which consists of three drawing rounds with a round of betting after each.

The other variation is NL 2-7 Draw. This game has a single drawing round with NL betting rules.

Lowball games are popular online and are core parts of mixed games like 8-Game.

Mixed Games

Some online poker rooms will include mixed games that include multiple poker variants. These are known by acronyms like HORSE, HOSE, OE, or 8-Game.

Here’s a breakdown of the games in various mixed-game elements:

• HORSE – Limit Hold’em, Omaha Hi-Lo, Razz, Stud, Stud Hi-Lo
• HOSE – Limit Hold’em Omaha Hi-Lo, Stud, Stud Hi-Lo
• OE – Omaha Hi-Lo, Stud Hi-Lo
• 8-Game – Limit Hold’em, Omaha Hi-Lo, Stud, Stud Hi-Lo, Razz, Triple Draw 2-7 Lowball, NL Hold’em, and PL Omaha.
• Big Bet – NL Hold’em, PL Omaha

Most mixed game formats are played in a tournament structure with a fixed number of hands for each game dealt before switching to another game.

Online Casino Poker Games

Many online casinos in Australia offer table game options for poker. The difference between table game poker and standard online poker is that you are playing against the dealer and are subject to house edge.

As such, these games are not beatable long-term. However, these games are still a lot of fun, and some have the potential for large payouts. Let’s look at the most common forms of table game poker you’ll find at online casinos.

Three Card Poker

As the title implies, this game is a three-card poker game where you try to make a better three-card hand than the dealer. To win the hand, the dealer must have a qualifying hand.

This game often has a Pair Plus side bet that pays separately from the main game. It pays on any three-card hand dealt to the player which is a pair or better, up to 40 to 1 for a straight flush.

Please note that there are a lot of variations of this game with various names. Triple Edge Poker and Let ‘Em Ride are popular options you’ll see at many online casinos in Australia.

Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker

This game is a table game version of Texas Hold’em. The player and dealer receive hole cards, and the flop is dealt.

If the player wishes to play, they can make a call bet equal to twice the ante. The turn bet is optional, and the player is allowed to check.

At showdown, the best hand wins between the player and the dealer. Some versions of this game will require that the dealer qualify, and the standard qualifying hand is A-K high or better.

In addition to standard payouts, this game often has a Bonus Bet that pays when the player has AJ through AK or any pair. The highest payout for this game is when both the player and dealer have pocket aces. This can pay up to 1,000 to 1, depending on the casino.

There are a couple of other names you might see this game listed as. They include Casino Hold’em and Caribbean Hold’em.

Caribbean Stud Poker

This is a table game version of Five Card Stud poker. The player and dealer get five cards, with one of the dealer’s cards being exposed.

If the player wishes to continue playing after the deal, they must place a raise bet that is twice the ante. After the player decides to bet, the dealer will show their hand.

The dealer must have an A-K high or better to qualify. If the dealer qualifies and the player wins the hand, they will receive a payout based on their hand.

Payouts range from even money up to 100 to 1 for a Royal Flush. There is a Progressive Jackpot side bet in some versions of this game. You get the entire progressive jackpot if you play this bet and hit a Royal Flush. A straight flush gets 10% of the jackpot.

Oasis Poker

Oasis Poker is a variation of Caribbean Stud Poker, but in this game, you can exchange cards after the deal.

If you opt to exchange cards, you will pay a multiple of your ante, as follows

• 1 Card – 1x your ante
• 2 Cards – 2x your ante
• 3 Cards – 3x your ante
• 4 Cards – 2x your ante
• 5 Cards – 1x your ante

If you exchange four cards or fewer, you can opt to fold or raise after exchanging cards. If you swap out your entire hand, you will raise automatically.

After you opt to raise, the dealer will show their hand. They must have an A-K high or better to qualify. If they qualify and your hand wins, you will be paid based on the strength of your hand. Payouts range from even money for one pair or lower up to 100 to 1 for a Royal Flush.

Wazdan offers a version of this game called Caribbean Beach Poker. The difference between the Wazdan version and others is that it automatically holds a pair similar to what you see in some video poker games.

Pai Gow Poker

Pai Gow Poker is a popular seven-card poker table game where the objective is to outrank the dealer in both hands. Your seven cards will be split into a five-card high hand and a two-card low hand.

The game is played with a 53-card deck that includes a Joker. The Joker is partially wild. They can be used to complete a straight or flush or as an ace.

When setting your hand, the five-card high hand must be higher than your two-card hand. If it is not, most programs will not allow you to set your hands. This is considered a foul in a brick-and-mortar casino, and you lose your hand automatically.

After setting you high hand and low hand, it is compared against the dealer. If both hands beat the dealer’s, you win. If one hand wins and one hand loses, it is a push. Otherwise, it is a loss.

This game has payouts similar to Baccarat, in which a winning hand pays a 5% commission. As such, you will win 0.95 to 1 on a winning bet. Commissions are not paid on pushes.

Is Video Poker the Same as Online Poker?

We’ve often been asked whether video poker and online poker are the same. They are not. Video poker is similar to online pokies and even plays like a pokie.

The object of the game is to make your best poker hand. You are not playing against another player or the dealer. However, you can only win if you make a hand on the payout chart, effectively making it a glorified pokie.

The difference between video poker and online pokies is that you can actually use strategy to improve your RTP. In some cases, you can virtually eliminate the house edge. However, this requires perfect play.

If you plan to play video poker, we suggest you learn how to find the best video poker paytables and to learn perfect strategy for your preferred variant. This is the best way to improve your odds.

Best Australian Online Casinos to Play Casino Poker Games

If you’re looking for some places to try games like Pai Gow Poker or Oasis Poker, there are plenty of Australian online casinos to choose from. Here are our top picks and the table poker variants you can play.

• Lucky Wins Casino – This casino is the perfect place to “Get Lucky” with thousands of online casino games and tons of table poker options. You can play Caribbean Poker, Pai Gow, Triple Edge Poker, Oasis Poker, and more.
• Hell Spin Casino – Hell Spin sets the casino world ablaze with exceptional online casino games and lucrative bonuses. Some table poker games they offer include Texas Hold’em Poker, Oasis Poker, Caribbean Poker, and more.
• QueenSpins – While QueenSpins is a bit smaller than some of the casinos on this list, they still offer a fantastic selection of games and superb bonuses, including a $5,000 welcome package. For poker games, they offer Caribbean Poker, triple Edge Poker, Caribbean Beach Poker, and more.
• Ozwin Casino – This Real Time Gaming casino only has a couple of table poker variants, but they have progressive jackpots. Let ‘Em Ride, Caribbean Hold’em, and Caribbean Stud Poker all have progressive jackpots of $25,000 or more.
• Spin Fever Casino – Spin Fever Casino is not just a slots paradise. It is also a great place to play table games and poker games. Here you can find games like Casino Hold’em,  Triple Edge Poker, Caribbean Stud Poker, Oasis Poker, and more.

There’s More to Poker Than Texas Hold’em

As you can see from above, Texas Hold’em is just one game in a sea of poker variants. Online poker rooms have a great variety of popular poker games, while online casinos in Australia have a fantastic selection of poker table games.

Now that you know a bit about the different games that are available, it’s time to give them a try. With any new form of poker, we suggest you take the time to learn some basic strategies to help improve your odds of winning.

Also, take your time and learn one game at a time. It is better to become proficient in one game than to overtax yourself trying to learn a dozen games at once.

Online casinos in Australia give you the chance to try out numerous variants of table poker games, always giving you something new and fresh to play. As always, make sure that you keep poker fun and entertaining by gambling responsibly.