Source: www.memolition.com

Poker is still a new game for India since its primary roots are in the west where it is a billion dollar industry. Many people know poker by the name Texas Hold’em Poker which has become the most popular over the past decade owing to the online social casino websites and world tournaments. But there exists a humongous variety of Poker which is equally popular and are played with the same level of enthusiasm.

Here we have compiled a few of the most popular versions of Poker which will delight you as much as the other social casino games.

1. Texas Hold’em
   No. of Players: 2 to 6
   Initial Deal: Players are dealt 2 cards face down
   Play: First betting round takes place after the dealing of cards is done, this is known as ‘pre-flop’. The community cards are displayed on the table one by one after each betting round. ‘The flop” round takes place in which three community cards are dealt by the dealer which is followed by the second betting round. Other rounds ‘the turn’ and ‘the river’ takes place in which the fourth and the fifth community cards are dealt respectively which are subsequently followed by the betting rounds. In total four betting rounds occur prior to the showdown. The best five-card hand is the winner.
    

2. 5-Card Draw
   No. of Players: 3 to 6
   Initial Deal: Players are dealt 5 cards face down in the beginning.
   Play: There is one betting round after the dealing of cards. After this, each player is allowed to take up to 3 cards. There is another betting round and after that player shows their remaining cards. This game can be made more interesting with the use of wild cards or by setting a requirement of a minimum hand to initiate betting round.
    

3. Omaha
   No. of Players: 2 to 10
   Initial Deal: Players are dealt 4 cards face down.
   Play: It is almost similar to Texas Hold’em poker. Player has to use two cards from the total of four ‘hole cards’ dealt to them to make the best hand. After all the cards are dealt, first betting round takes place known as pre-flop. Each player has an option to either fold, call or raise. After this, the flop is dealt face up and the second betting round takes place. The player can check or bet in this round, however, they are not required to add money to call or fold their cards. Post this ‘the turn’(third community card) is dealt face up in the middle of the table followed by another betting round . The final round of betting occurs after ‘the river’(fourth community card) is dealt. A quick thing to notice here is that a player can use only three cards from the five community cards dealt face up besides the two cards they choose from the four ‘hole cards’ dealt to him. A player with the best hand takes the pot.
    

4. Seven Card Stud
   No. of Players: 4 to 7
   Initial Deal: Players are dealt 2 cards face down and 1 card face up
   Play: There is one betting round in the game after the cards are dealt. Subsequently, three more cards are dealt face up while one card is dealt face down. After each deal, a betting round takes place making it a total of five betting rounds. The best five-card poker hand wins the pot.
    

5. Crazy Pineapple
   No. of Players: 2 to 6
   Initial Deal: Players are dealt 3 cards face down
   Play: This game is exactly similar to Texas Hold’em poker. The only difference in this game is that the player has to discard his third card after placing his bet post the flop. The rest of the game remains same and the best five-card hand wins the pot.
    

6. 2-7 Triple Draw
   No. of Players: 3 to 7
   Initial Deal: Players are dealt 5 cards face down, one at a time
   Play: Once the cards are dealt, the betting round begins after which the players enters the drawing round. In this round, the player announces the number of cards he wants to throw and receive new ones in return. The player is dealt all of the cards at once before another player can throw his cards. One can either discard all his five cards or choose not to discard any. Once everyone has received their cards, the second betting round begins. The process is repeated until only one player is left and the rest of the players have folded.
    

7. Badugi
   No. of Players: 3 to 7
   Initial Deal: Players are dealt 4 cards face down
   Play: The main objective of Badugi is to make a four card low hand. Flushes and suits count against the player and the Ace is always considered as a low card. There are total 3 rounds of drawing a card by each player and after each draw betting takes place.  The hand would be A-2-3-4 of different suits. If somehow no one has a Badugi i.e.  a non-paired hand of different suits then the best three-card low hand wins followed by the best two-card.