The Most Popular Poker Game Variants Played Online
There are so many online poker games for real money that can be played online. As long as you have a device and some sort of internet connection, you can play. These poker games online are fun, safe and there are always free options in order to master the games online before betting big.
Where to Play Top Poker Games Online
Supplies You Need to Play
Playing in person, you only need 3 simple things: a deck of cards, betting chips and a dealer. Playing online is easy – you just need a device that connects to data or the internet and you’re good to go!
Variants of Poker Games Online
Texas Hold’em: Players are dealt two hole cards and share five community cards. Rounds of betting take place as each community card is drawn, the player with the best poker hand at the end wins the pot.
3 Card Poker: Three cards are dealt to players face up and to the dealer face down. There are no exchanges, so players will either fold or bet and the best hand wins.
5 Card Draw: Players are dealt five hole cards and are able to switch out up to 5 cards after betting rounds. The goal is to make the best five card hand and winner takes the pot.
Stud Poker: Players are dealt cards face up, face down or a combination of both. This depends on which variant is being played. As always, there are multiple betting rounds and the best hand wins.
5 Card Stud: Players get one card face up and one card face down. After each betting round, players get one card face up. The best five card hand wins!
7 Card Stud: Cards are dealt two face up and one face down. Community cards are dealt after betting rounds take place and winner takes it all!
Mississippi Stud: Two hole cards are dealt to players and three community cards are dealt face down. There are three betting rounds and after each round, a community card is shown. Best five card poker hand wins!
Caribbean Stud: Players are dealt five cards face down and one dealer card is face up. It’s now when players must fold or raise. The dealer will then flip their last four cards and the highest hand wins.
HORSE Poker: This is a multi-game form of poker that consists of one different game per letter in the word ‘horse.’ The games played are usually as follows:
- Texas Hold’em
- Omaha Hi-Lo
- Razz
- Seven Card Stud
- Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo Split-Eight or better
Omaha Poker: Players get four hole cards and three community cards. The goal is to make the best 5 card hand using the three community cards and two out of the four dealt hole cards.
Omaha Hi-Lo: Played like Omaha poker, however, the highest hand and the lowest hand split the pot, but only if the lowest hand is an eight or lower.
Hand Rankings
Hand rankings will vary depending on which of the poker games online you are playing. The following is a poker hand ranking chart with the most common rankings in poker.
| Ranking | Hand | Description | Example Hand |
| #1 | Royal Flush | A straight from 10 to Ace, all the same suit. |  |
| #2 | Straight Flush | Any cards in consecutive order that are all of the same suit. |  |
| #3 | Four of a Kind | Four of the same card. |  |
| #4 | Full House | One pair and three of the same card. |  |
| #5 | Flush | All cards are the same suit. |  |
| #6 | Straight | Cards are in consecutive order. |  |
| #7 | Three of a Kind | Three of the same card. |  |
| #8 | Two Pairs | One pair of one card and one pair of another card. |  |
| #9 | Pair | Two of the same card. |  |
| #10 | High Card | None of the hands above, relying on the highest card in your hand. |  |
Be sure to know which hands are best based on the game you’re playing!
Community Terms
The following is a comprehensive list of poker terms any and all players should know. This applies to the real money poker games online as well as playing live.
Ante: A stake put up by players prior to being dealt their cards.
Call: To match a bet or a raise.
Raise: To increase the size of an existing bet placed.
Bet: Wagering a certain amount of money in a poker game.
Fold: Discarding your hand and forfeiting that pot.
Pot: The sum of money that was bet, that the winner of the round will receive.
Bluff: To bet or raise on a hand that is not good in order to mislead the other players into folding.
Poker for Everyone
Playing poker games online can be easy, fun and even free! There are options to bet big, bet small or not at all. There is a game out there for everyone, whether it be Omaha or Five Card Stud, let this serve as your guide to learning, understanding and winning poker games online.
Start Mastering These Variants
Texas Hold’em – 3 Card Poker – 5 Card Draw – Stud Poker – 5 Card Stud – 7 Card Stud – Mississippi Stud – Caribbean Stud – HORSE Poker – Omaha Poker – Omaha Hi-Lo
Frequently Asked Questions
It is safe to play poker online, but you should always make sure the sites or apps you are playing on the most trusted poker sites and always read the reviews!
Check out our Ignition review, Americas Cardroom review, BetOnline review and Bovada review.