Poker has been a favorite card game among the masses for centuries. It has evolved across different cultures from Europe to China and the Middle East. By the 1800s, it had gained massive popularity and became a global sensation.
Fast forward to today, and online poker has taken the gaming experience like never before. It is all due to the internet and smartphones. The online version allowed players to enjoy poker anytime, anywhere. No need to visit a land-based site to experience the thrill.
With so many poker variations available, each with its own rules and strategies, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. To help you find your next favorite, this blog brings you a list of 12 exciting poker games you can play in 2025. Get ready to explore different styles and test your skills!
Table of Contents
Here is the list of 12 different types of poker variations games to choose from in 2025:
Texas Hold’em is the most popular poker variant widely played across the globe. In this game, each player receives two private hole cards, while five community cards are distributed in a face-up position on the table. The prime aim is to create the best possible hand of five cards using any combination of these seven cards. The game consists of four rounds: pre-flop, flop, turn, and river. Players can check, bet, raise, or fold on the basis of their hand strength and table dynamics. Due to its simple rules and deep strategy. Texas Hold’em is the preferred choice for poker tournaments for many poker enthusiasts.
A fast-paced and strategic poker variation that is similar to Texas Hold’em but with a few key differences. Herein, each player is dealt four private hole cards instead of two, and five community cards are revealed face up. Players are required to form the best five-card hand using exactly two of their hole cards and three community cards. There are four rounds and have popular variations like Omaha Hi-Lo where players aim for both high and low hands. This game attracts enthusiasts as well with increased action and complex hand possibilities to serve them with a more challenging and dynamic poker experience.
Five-Card Draw is a simpler variant often played casually among family and friends. It follows a straightforward set of rules which is the reason it remains an ideal choice for beginners. Each player is dealt five cards. Standard poker hand rankings apply in this game and players can improve their hands by drawing new cards from the deck. Unlike Texas Hold’em and Omaha, Five-Card Draw features fewer betting rounds. The game begins with a drawing phase, where players can exchange unwanted cards for new ones. After the draw is completed, a betting round takes place. If multiple players are left after betting, there is a showdown and the best hand wins the game.
Razz Poker is one of the top poker variations that follows the same format with a key difference. Here the objective is to form the lowest possible hand rather than the highest valued hand. Unlike Five Draw Poker, here players cannot swap their cards. The aces are always low, and straight and flushes do not count against a low hand being made. The traditional hand rankings are reversed. If you have played Stud Poker earlier, then you may find Razz Poker enjoyable.
Open Face Chinese Poker is one of the most popular types of poker games in 2025. In this game, instead of wagering chips, players compete for points. The objective is to create the highest-scoring hand by collecting more points than the opponents. Players take turns by drawing and placing cards into different hand formations aiming to make the best hand. In the end, the player with the highest number of points is the winner.
Stud Poker secures a place in the list of different poker game types. Players, throughout this game, receive a mix of face-up and face-down cards. Stud Poker does not involve shared cards. Instead, players must rely on the cards they are individually dealt. There are multiple betting rounds usually four or more, depending on the specific version. One of the most popular variants is the Seven-Card Stud, often known as Stud Poker. The primary difference between its variants lies in the number of cards dealt and the structure of betting rounds.
Also Read :- Online Seven Stud Poker Game Development
It is a lowball poker variant that is similar to Razz, where the goal is to make the lowest possible five-card hand. Here, straights and flushes are counted against the player’s hand, and Aces are always considered high. This makes the worst possible traditional poker hand the best possible hand in 2-7 Triple Draw. The best possible hand in this format is 2-3-4-5-7 (with at least two suits to avoid a flush). The game allows three drawing rounds allowing players to discard and replace cards to improve their low hand. Since hand rankings differ from standard high-hand poker, strategic decision making is crucial.
When you want to know how many types of poker games are there, then how we can forget Crazy Pineapple? Players are initially dealt three-hole cards instead of two (as in Texas Hold’em). The major difference occurs after the flop (the first three community cards) when players must discard one of their three-hole cards and keep only two for the remainder of the hand.
After discarding the card, the game proceeds in the same fashion as Texas Hold’em where the turn (fourth community card) is revealed, followed by another betting round, and then the river (fifth and final community card) is dealt. During the last round, a showdown occurs, and the player with the best five-card hand wins the game.
Badugi is a unique poker variant that differs from traditional poker hand rankings. It follows a lowball format where the primary aim of a player is to have the lowest possible hand of four cards. Here, aces are always low. The game consists of four betting rounds during which players have the option to draw and replace up to four cards in each round for the scope of improving their hand. The objective is to create a Badugi hand with four unique ranks and suits (no pairs and no repeated suits). The best possible hand in Badugi is A-2-3-4 with all four cards of different suits. One with the best Badugi hand in the end wins the game
Also known as Omaha 8 or Better, it is a split-pot poker variant based on Omaha Poker. The main difference is that the pot is split between the best high hand and the best low hand. Players are dealt four hole cards and must use exactly two of them along with three community cards in order to form their best five-card hand. To qualify for the low hand, a player must have five unpaired cards with rank 8 or lower.
In case no qualifying low hand exists, the entire pot goes to the player with the best high hand. The pot is divided at the end of the final round where half portion goes to the best high hand and the rest half to the best low hand. If a player has both the best high and low hand (a scoop) then they win the entire pot.
Seven-Card Stud ranks just behind Texas Hold’em when it comes to popularity. This poker game does not involve community cards. Instead, each player is individually dealt a combination of face-up and face-down cards throughout the hand. Each player starts with three cards: two hole cards face down and one face up. Throughout the hand, four more cards are dealt to each player, three face up and one final face down, totaling seven cards. To win the game, a player must form the best possible five-card hand from these seven cards.
HORSE is a mixed poker game that combines five different poker variants. The name HORSE is an acronym representing the five games played in rotation:
In HORSE, players must adapt to the changing game type after a set number of hands or a specific time interval. As each poker variant has its own unique rules and strategies, HORSE requires well-rounded poker skills. For instance, a player who is proficient in only Texas Hold’em or Omaha may struggle as other variants require a completely different approach. Due to this complexity, HORSE requires skills over these five variants. It is often featured in major poker tournaments like the World Series of Poker (WSOP).
Poker continues to offer a variety of exciting game types for every skill level. From Texas Hold’em and Omaha to unique lowball variants like Razz and Badugi, there is something for everyone. Each of the different types of poker games brings in fresh challenges and endless fun. Explore these diverse games and start playing them today with your friends!
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Ans . A list of poker variants includes:
Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, Seven-Card Stud, Raz , Five-Card Draw, Pineapple poker , Crazy Pineapple, HORSE, Triple Draw Lowbal , Deuce-to-Seven Lowball, Crazy Pineapple, Chinese Poker, Short Deck Poker (Six-Plus Hold’em), Stud Hi-Lo , Guts, Open Face Chinese Poker.
Ans .An online poker game excluding complex features can cost you between ten to twenty thousand dollars. With complex features, it can go beyond 20,000 dollars, and if you merge all the prominent variants in a single game, it would cost around 50,000 dollars.
Ans An online Poker game requires various game-enhancing features like secure payment systems, user-friendly UI, multilingual support, multi-currency support, and daily bonuses for promotions to provide an immersive gaming experience.
Ans They are two of the most popular Poker variations of Poker. In Omaha Poker, four cards are dealt to each player instead of two. Besides that, there are no distinct differences between the two variations.
Ans An online Poker game requires various security protocols to maintain the integrity and authenticity of the platform. Features like SSL encryption, two-factor authentication, and PCI DSS are integral for ensuring the security of the Poker platform.
Ans Yes, you can monetize and generate revenue from your Poker game. An online Poker platform can take advantage of multiple monetization strategies like in-app purchases, entry fees from matches, and advertisements.
Ans On average, it takes around 2 to 3 months to develop a Poker game from scratch.
