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Texas Hold’em
Even your grandmother has heard of this game. Played either in a limit or no limit format, this game has been called the “Cadillac of Poker.” Each player is initially dealt two cards called the pocket cards. After a round of betting, three cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table. This is called the flop. These are community cards that can be used by any player at the table to help form their best possible five-card hand. Following another round of betting, a fourth card is dealt face up. This is called the turn or fourth street. Another round betting follows, and the fifth community card, called the river or fifth street, is dealt face up. There is a final round of betting and then the showdown. The best possible five-card hand using the two pocket cards and the five community cards wins the pot.
Seven Card Stud
Formerly the most popular poker game before being dethroned by Texas Hold’em, seven card stud begins with each player being dealt two cards turned face down and one face up. The player with the highest upcard showing usually opens the betting. After the round of betting, another upcard is dealt to each player. This is fourth street. A round of betting ensues, and a fifth card is dealt face up to each player. This is called fifth street. There is another round of betting, and another face up card is dealt to each player. There is another round of betting, and the final card is dealt face down to each player. After the final betting round the player who can make the best five-card hand out of their three face down cards and four face up cards wins the pot.
Omaha Hold’em
Omaha Hold’em is quickly growing in popularity thanks to recent television exposure. The game is very similar to Texas Hold’em but with two notable differences Each player is dealt four cards face down instead of two and must use exactly two down cards and exactly three of the five community cards to make his or her final best possible hand. As in Texas Hold’em, there is a round of betting after the initial four cards are dealt to each player. Then three community cards are dealt face up in the center of the table followed by another round of betting. The turn is then dealt followed by a round of betting. Final the river is dealt, and the final round of betting is completed. The player with the best hand wins.
Five Card Draw
In this game, each player is dealt five cards face down. Then there is a round of betting. Then beginning to the dealer’s left, each player will have an opportunity to discard up to three cards and exchange them for new cards. After all players have received their new cards, the player who opened the first round of betting has the opportunity to bet or check to the next player. Once this final round of betting is completed, the remaining players showdown their hands, and the best five-carded hand wins the pot.
Hi-Lo
Some stud and hold’em games can be played hi-lo. In hi-lo, you can play for both the high hand and the low hand. The high hand is what is considered the best hand as in most poker games. The low hand, however, is the a five-card hand consisting of five unique cards that are 8 or lower. An ace counts as a low card in a low hand. Thus, the best possible low hand is the ace, 2, 3, 4, 5 also known as the wheel. This is a very strong hand in high low because it almost wins the low and stands a good chance of winning the high. When there is a qualifying low hand in hi-lo, the player with the high hand and the player with the low hand split the pot fifty-fifty. When there is no qualifying low hand (when there is no possible five-card hand with five unique cards 8 or lower), the high hand wins the entire pot.
Limit and No Limit
There are a variety of limit games. Limit determines the style of betting in the game. If the game has a limit, no matter what type of limit, then that means that there is a cap as to how much a player can bet in any round. If the game is no limit, then that means that a player has no restrictions on the amount of his or her bet. That means the player can push all-in on any hand at any time of the game.
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