The world of poker houses dozens of unique variants, each with different dynamics and rules. It can be played at live tables, video poker machines, and in both physical and virtual cardrooms, but what’s truly fascinating is the sheer variety of poker types that you can choose from.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to find a poker genre that suits your preferences, from poker hand rankings and the main types of poker to the trendiest poker versions played across UK casinos, and more.
How Many Different Types of Poker Are There?
If we count the growing list of video poker games, there are over 50, possibly even more than a hundred, different types of poker today. Still, most of them fall under one of the three main categories – Community Card Poker, Stud Poker, and Draw Poker. If you’re new to poker gaming, here’s a quick introduction to each:
- Community Card Poker: These poker games feature face-down cards that are revealed at various stages. They are used by the players to form winning combinations. Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Pineapple poker are the most popular types of Community Card Poker.
- Stud Poker: In Stud Poker, a combination of revealed (face up) and Hole cards (face down) is dealt. The most common iterations of Stud Poker are Seven Card Stud and Caribbean Stud.
- Draw Poker: Players can discard and replace some of their cards in Draw Poker. The classic Five Card Draw is the biggest hit in this category.
We should note that Community Card and Stud poker are significantly more popular at real money casinos than Draw Poker, but some sites usually include a variant or two of the latter.
What Are the Different Types of Poker Hands?
You win in poker by having the strongest “Poker Hand”, but these come in various shapes and sizes – literally so, because both the rank and the suit of your cards matter when determining the victor.
So, if you’re wondering which hands rank the strongest, check the table below:
| Hand Ranking | Hand Name | Description | Example | Approximate Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Flush | The highest and most elusive combination of the strongest card ranks from the same suit, arranged in a sequential order | 10, J, Q, K, and A in order, from the same suit | 0.000154% |
| 2 | Straight Flash | Any five cards following a sequential pattern, but they must belong to the same suit | 7, 8, 9, 10, and J from the same suit | 0.0014% |
| 3 | Four of a Kind | Any combination of four cards of the same rank | Four 10s | 0.024% |
| 4 | Full House | A combination of one Three of a Kind and one Pair | J, J, 9, 9, 9 | 0.1441% |
| 5 | Flush | Any five cards from the same suit | A, 4, 6, 8, 10 from the same suit | 0.1965% |
| 6 | Straight | Any five cards following a sequential pattern | 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 | 0.3922% |
| 7 | Three of a Kind | Three cards of the same rank | Three 4s | 2.1277% |
| 8 | Two Pairs | Two combinations of two cards | 2, 2, 6, 6 | 4.7619% |
| 9 | Pair | Two cards of the same rank | A, A | 41.6667% |
| 10 | High Card | One card of the highest rank that the player is holding | A | 76.9231% |
Theoretically speaking, an average player has the odds of drawing a High Card once every 1.3 hands, a Three of a Kind every 46 hands, and a Royal Flush once in nearly 650,000 games.
Knowing the odds can influence your strategy depending on the poker variant you’re playing. In Community Card games, strong hands can form naturally from shared cards, but in other formats, you’ll need to weigh your Hole Cards more carefully against the odds of drawing the ones you need.
What Are the Different Types of Straights in Poker?
There are four suits in a deck (Clubs, Hearts, Diamonds, and Spades), and any five consecutive cards from any mix of suits form a Straight. In total, 10,200 possible Straight combinations can be made using a standard 52-card deck, but when it comes to hand rankings, only 10 unique Straight types actually matter.
Below are some of the most common examples:
- The Wheel (Bicycle) Straight: A-2-3-4-5. This is the lowest-ranking Straight you can draw, but it still beats all lower-ranking hands, such as Three of a Kind and below.
- Standard Straight: Anything from 2-3-4-5-6 to 9-10-J-Q-K can be described as a “Standard” Straight hand. If two players hit a Straight at showdown, the one with the highest starting (and ending) card wins.
- Broadway Straight: 10-J-Q-K-A. This is the strongest Straight variant that is only outranked by Flush and higher combinations.
One of the most common misconceptions about Straight poker rankings is that the Ace can wrap around and double as the highest and lowest (or vice versa) card in a combination. Let’s take a look at some examples:
- A-2-3-4-5: The classic Wheel Straight uses the numerical value of 1 for its Ace, hence it’s a valid combination.
- 10-J-Q-K-A: In a Broadway Straight, the Ace is effectively the highest card, which is also valid.
- Q-K-A-2-3: In this combination, the Ace would both be the highest card and a 1, which is against the rules.
Texas Hold’em: The Most Popular Poker Game Worldwide
Texas Hold’em is the Jack of All Trades in the poker world. No Limit Hold’em is a staple at high-roller tournaments, while the fact that no one knows your cards leaves ample room for bluffing.
The rules are easy to memorise – everyone gets two Hole Cards and all players can use up to three Community Cards to make a combination. As for the game tempo, betting rounds are played in four stages, called Pre-Flop, Flop, Turn, and River.
During the Pre-Flop, the Community Cards are placed face down. You’re dealt two Hole Cards and can call, raise, or fold, depending on how you like your hand. At the Flop stage, the first three Community Cards are revealed. The Turn brings out the fourth Community Card, while the River reveals the fifth.
You’ll find Texas Hold’em at virtually all UK poker rooms and online casinos in various formats, whether you’re looking for freeroll and satellite tournaments, major-league knockout contests, sit & go events, or video poker-style Hold’em.
Omaha Poker: The Action-Packed Alternative to Hold’em
Omaha poker shares quite a few similarities with Texas Hold’em. Both play over four betting rounds and Community Cards are involved, but instead of starting with two, you’ll begin your games with four Hole Cards.
The kicker here is that you can only use two Hole Cards and up to three Community Cards when building your finisher. The odds of drawing major cards are different than those in Hold’em. Players are statistically more likely to hit Straights, Flushes, and Full Houses, and less likely to win with just a Pair or Two Pairs.
While the added flexibility is a game-changing difference, another major distinction of Omaha Poker is that it’s usually played with much larger jackpots. One popular variant, called Pot Limit Omaha (PLO), is somewhat more approachable to low-rollers, but it remains a veteran’s favourite.
Omaha Poker is big in UK-licensed poker-only sites and cardrooms. Some online casinos feature Pot Limit Omaha, while niche variants like Fixed Limit Omaha and Hi-Lo Omaha are usually popular features in big online and in-person tournaments.
Seven Card Stud and Five Card Draw: Classic Poker Variations
Five Card Draw Poker is what most video poker games are modeled on. The round begins by dealing exactly five cards to each player, after which you can replace the ones you don’t need. After that, you can only make combinations from the cards you currently hold.
While some beginners may take some time to evaluate their hands and betting options, rounds in Five Card Draw tend to move exceptionally quickly. The rules are so simple that you can arrange a poker night with a few friends, show them the basics, and get started in minutes. Five Card Draw is rarely featured in tournaments and competitions, but many UK online casinos support it.
On the other hand, Seven Card Stud is a hit at online poker rooms and casino sites across the United Kingdom because it adds an extra layer of unpredictability. You’ll get a total of seven cards across multiple betting rounds, some face up, and others face down, to build the best 5-card hand from them.
First-time players who’ve mastered Five Card Poker can pick up Seven Card Stud almost instantly. The rules are very similar, but there’s more information sharing.
Are There Different Types of Poker Games for Beginners?
The sheer variety of poker games you can play at UK casinos and online may confuse first-timers. However, there are plenty of beginner-friendly poker variants that you can use to learn the ropes and get some experience.
Five Card Draw Poker
The Five Card Draw is, arguably, the easiest poker variant you can start with. There are no Community Cards, and you won’t have any information about which cards your opponents have, but that works both ways. Everyone gets five “private” cards, then you’ll have one chance to swap out as many as you like before the final round of betting
This poker variant is widely available in UKGC-licensed casinos in standard formats. Some casinos may offer variants with special “house rules” that restrict how many cards can be redrawn or impose time limits per round.
Seven Card Stud
The Seven Card Stud is more of a memory game than one of bluffing and pure luck. Each player receives a mix of face-up and face-down cards, with betting rounds between each deal. Strive to memorise which cards have been revealed/folded between the rounds, and you’ll quickly master the basics.
SCS Poker is included in both single-player (RNG tables) and live poker formats across UK online casinos. Caribbean stud is one of the most popular variations, although it uses rules from Five Card Stud and pits players against the Banker instead of each other.
Three Card Poker
Three Card Poker is a relatively new type of poker, and one that is particularly well-suited for beginners. The only real requirement is the knowledge of poker hand rankings. You’ll be dealt exactly three cards, and if you can make a stronger combination than the Dealer, you win.
This variant excludes all the highest-ranking combos, from Straight to Royal Flush (plus Two Pairs). A lot of the time, you’ll be winning with nothing but a High Card in your hand. Three Card Poker isn’t as widespread as Seven Card Stud or Five Card Draw poker, but many UK-licensed casino sites offer it in an automated table game format.
Tips for UK Gamblers
- Many UK-licensed online casinos let you try out non-live poker games in demo mode. It’s one of the safest ways to learn the ropes and understand hand rankings without staking any real money.
- If you’ve already registered but your casino doesn’t offer free-play versions, head to the official websites of the game providers. Most of them offer demos with no sign-up or deposit required.
- Once you’ve gained some experience, you may want to test your skills at low-roller video poker games. They typically accept bets as low as 0.10p per hand.
- Video poker can’t teach you how to bluff or read your opponents. Once you feel confident, you can try playing low buy-in poker games at real poker tables.
- After demos, practice, and small-time cash games, you eventually might want to try your hand at poker tournaments. Many UK online casinos host daily, weekly, and seasonal contests. Just make sure to pick a regulated site before paying for your tickets.
Online vs Live Poker: Different Types of Playing Experiences
There’s a world of difference between playing poker against a computer, a few casual players at your local pub, and seasoned gamblers who frequent UK-licensed casinos. It all boils down to how you wish to play and which environments suit your needs.
Video poker machines, whether played in person or online, offer a great starting point. Rounds are fast, there’s no bluffing involved, the outcomes are determined by RNG software, and you can usually bet anywhere from 0.10p to £10 per round.
Online poker rooms, such as BetFred Poker and Boyle Poker, offer poker cash games and tournaments, but they also offer a variety of promotions that can help you build a stronger gambling bankroll. They typically rock a mix of video poker games and live dealers. Below are some of the online poker casinos we recommend:
- BetMGM: Offers over a dozen RNG and live poker games from major providers like Playtech, Pragmatic Play Live, Games Global, and Evolution Gaming, featuring video poker like Aces & Faces and Jacks or Better, as well as live dealer Caribbean Stud and Three Card Poker.
- BoylePoker: A dedicated online poker cardroom owned by BoyleSports. One of the best for true fans of live poker gaming, especially if you’re looking for freerolls and guaranteed tournaments.
- Betway: One of the most trusted UKGC-licensed casinos. You can play a broad range of video poker and live poker games at this site, with the most prominent being Double Double Bonus Poker, Live Bet on Poker, and 6+ Poker.
- BetFred Poker: A virtual poker room owned by Betfred. It sticks out with a huge sign-up bonus of up to £1,000 that can be used on various poker titles, such as Bet On Poker and Caribbean Stud.
Many brick-and-mortar casinos in the UK feature real poker tables and video poker machines, similar to online casinos. The main difference here is that instead of looking at your opponents’ avatars, you’ll be sitting with them face-to-face. It’s a unique, highly dynamic environment that online casino sites strive to emulate.
FAQs
Some of the most popular types of poker you can play at UK Casinos are video poker games, such as Aces & Faces, Bonus Poker, and Jacks or Better, and live dealer versions of Caribbean Stud Poker, Five Card Draw, and Seven Card Stud.
Five Card Draw and Three Card Poker are ideal for first-time poker players. New players may also want to try basic Video Poker games, such as Jacks or Better.