The Best Poker Games – A Beginner’s Guide

When you think about poker, you’re probably thinking about Texas Holdem, a variety of poker that’s enjoyed a recent surge of success following its appearance in films like Rounders (1998) and Casino Royale (2006). 

In fact, there’s a wide range of poker variations to get to grips with, each with a unique set of features and rules. Our guide to the best poker games will explore the most exciting types of poker games. Rules, strategy, tips, and more, we’ve got you covered!

Texas Holdem

No introductions needed, Texas Holdem is the most popular variation of poker! There’s a large skill element to the game; you need to understand the value of your hand, and the hand that your opponent might have based on how they’re betting. Of course, there’s also bluffing to contend with. If you’re looking for easy poker games, keep looking!

So, what are the rules for Texas Holdem? Let’s take a look at a typical round: 

Texas Holdem is so popular because of its strategic elements. We’ve compiled some key advice to help you navigate the game:

Omaha Poker

The rules for Omaha can be a little confusing, especially when you’re first learning how to play poker, but there’s a couple of things you need to keep in mind. You’ll be dealt four hole cards instead of the usual two, and you need to make a hand using two of your hole cards and three of the shared community cards. This makes Omaha an extremely fast-paced version of poker, with players frequently achieving “the nuts” (the best possible hand). Since players get “the nuts” so often, even strong hands are vulnerable, so it’s vitally important for players to fully capitalize on high-ranked hands like Straights and Flushes.

Most Omaha poker games are PLO (Pot Limit Omaha) which means that players are able to bet what’s in the pot, in addition to their call. This encourages aggressive play, and you’ll frequently see players going all in. There are a couple of other variations, but they’re nowhere near as popular. A version of Omaha poker called Omaha Hi Lo is gaining traction amongst poker lovers all over the world. Its main feature is that the pot is split between the players who have the best high hand and the best low hand.

So, how is a usual round of Omaha poker played?

That all sounds easy enough. Still want a little extra help? No problem, we’ve got a few tips and tricks up our sleeves!

Seven Card Stud Poker

Before Texas Holdem, Seven Card Stud poker was probably the most popular variation of the game. It’s played with seven cards, and in contrast to Texas Holdem, no community cards are used. With highly strategic elements, the need for discipline and analytic thought, Seven Card Stud poker is a difficult, albeit extremely rewarding, version of the game.

The structure of the game is as follows: 

There’s plenty of ways you can maximise your chances of winning:

Poker Razz

The aim of Poker Razz (a “lowball” game) is to make the lowest value five-card hand. It’s a variant of Seven Card Stud poker, and like that game, it doesn’t involve the use of community cards. Poker Razz hand rankings differ from the hand rankings in other types of poker games. The Wheel – Ace, Two, Three, Four, and Five – is the best hand, for example.

It’s played exactly like Seven Card Stud Poker, except the player who bets first is the player who has the lowest value up-cards, and tied hands are broken by suit. Spades is the highest suit, followed by Hearts, Diamonds, and Clubs.

Now, why not try them out for yourself. Betsson has a wide range of different types of poker games that you can try online. Take the plunge today!