Most Popular Online Poker Games

Online poker has exploded in popularity over the years. There is a vast variety of online poker rooms that offer a wide variety of games for players to choose from. But even players who are familiar with Texas Hold Em will find new varieties of poker that they don't recognize. What are the most popular real money poker games today? These three game types are commonly found in mixed games, as well as in just about every online poker room.

Texas Hold Em

This is the most well known, and by far the most popular real money poker game online. Every poker site will offer Texas Hold Em. This poker variant is so well known that it's regularly featured in movies, and even players who don't like card games, or gambling, will typically recognize the name “Texas Hold Em”.

In Hold Em, players are dealt 2 cards, and 3 community cards which are dealt face up. This version of poker requires players to make the best hand possible out of these 5 cards. Strategies vary, though some players view this variation on poker more about betting and bluffing- with having good cards to back up your bets almost secondary. There are a number of options players have to play this game- poker sites offer a wide variety of limit, no limit, and pot limit tables, as well as freerolls and tournaments. On top of this, there are mixed games, such as HORSE, which Texas Hold Em is the “H”. Obviously the thrill of the game, coupled with the near-constant media and movie coverage make this long time favourite the most popular poker game on the market.

Omaha

Omaha is technically another flop variation of poker much like Texas Hold Em. However this variation is rated second in the most popular online poker games. Some of the smaller poker sites may offer only Hold Em and Omaha.

In this game players are dealt four cards, with five community cards dealt face up. Players must make the best hand possible using at least two of their cards and three of the community cards. There is a great deal of strategy involved, especially when playing the Hi or or Lo variations. It is very difficult to in the pot with a less than stellar hand considering the wide variety offered each player. Omaha Hi is the typical poker game, with the best hand winning. Omaha Hi-Lo makes it even more complicated- players try to make the best high and low hands. There are two separate pots in this variation- which can be paid to the same player if they succeed in making the Best and Lowest hands. On top of these variations, players can also find Pot Limit and rarely, No Limit Omaha. It is also found in mixed games such as HORSE where Omaha is the “O”.

Stud

There are a number of versions of Stud Poker, which is a poker variant where every player receives both face up and face down cards. There are no community cards dealt, and the majority of your hand is dealt face up. There are quite a few varieties of this game, the most popular are 5 and 7 card Stud.

7 card stud used to be the biggest poker variant before Texas Hold Em gained so much popularity. It was extremely popular thanks to the insanely high pots available. Texas Hold Em only has 4 betting rounds, where 7 Card Stud has 5 betting rounds. This type of poker hides very little from other players, so aggressively betting with a weak hand is not advised. 7 Card stud may be the most popular of the Stud games, but there are a wide variety of games, including 5 Card Stud, 6 Card Stud, Mississippi Stud, and Caribbean Stud. On top of all these varieties, you can find 7 Card stud in mixed games such as HORSE where it makes the “S”.

There is also 7 Card stud 8 or Better, which is the most popular is a combination between 7 Card Stud and Omaha. The betting is the same as 7 Card Stud, but there is a split pot, paid out to the highest and lowest hands like in Omaha. The difference is players must have an 8 High hand or less to win the Lo pot. If there is no qualifying Lo hand, the best High hand wins the entire pot. This poker variation can be found in mixed games such as HORSE, where it makes the “E”.

By: Peter Smith