Expanding Your Arsenal

Seven-Card Stud

Seven-Card Stud is a classic poker variant that predates Texas Hold’em and remains popular in both live and online settings. Unlike Hold’em and Omaha, Seven-Card Stud does not use community cards.

What Are The Basic Rules?

1. Setup: The game is typically played with 2 to 8 players. Each player receives seven cards, but only the best five-card hand wins.
2. Ante: All players place a small ante into the pot before the hand begins.
3. Deal: Each player is dealt three cards initially – two face down (hole cards) and one face up (door card).
4. Betting Rounds:

•     Third Street: The player with the lowest face-up card initiates the betting.
•  Fourth Street: Each player receives another face-up card, and the highest hand showing begins the betting.
• Fifth Street: Another face-up card is dealt, and the highest hand showing starts the betting.
• Sixth Street: Each player receives a fourth face-up card, followed by a betting round.
• Seventh Street (River): A final face-down card is dealt, and the last betting round ensues.

5. Showdown: Players reveal their hands, and the best five-card hand wins the pot.

What Are Some Unique Aspects?

• Memory and Observation: Keeping track of exposed cards is crucial, as it helps deduce opponents’ possible hands.
• Slow Play: The lack of community cards means there are fewer opportunities for sudden changes in hand strength, leading to more strategic, deliberate play.

Razz

Razz is a lowball variant of Seven-Card Stud where the objective is to make the lowest possible five-card hand.

What Are The Basic Rules?

1. Setup: Played with 2 to 8 players, each receiving seven cards with the aim of making the lowest hand.
2. Ante: Each player places an ante into the pot.
3. Deal: Three cards are dealt initially – two face down and one face up.
4. Betting Rounds:

• Third Street: The player with the highest face-up card starts the betting (opposite to Seven-Card Stud).
• Fourth Street: Players receive another face-up card, and the player with the lowest hand showing begins the betting.
• Fifth Street: Another face-up card is dealt, followed by a betting round.
• Sixth Street: Players receive a fourth face-up card, and betting continues.
• Seventh Street: A final face-down card is dealt, followed by the last betting round.

5. Showdown: Players reveal their hands, and the lowest five-card hand wins the pot.

What Are Some Unique Aspects?

• Low Hands: Aces are low, and straights and flushes do not count against the hand.
• Bluffing and Representation: Bluffing is more about representing a weaker hand rather than a stronger one, adding a unique twist to traditional bluff strategies.

Five-Card Draw

Five-Card Draw is a straightforward poker variant that is often one of the first forms of poker people learn.

What Are The Basic Rules?

1. Setup: Played with 2 to 6 players, each dealt five cards.
2. Blinds or Antes: The game can be played with blinds or antes.
3. Deal: Each player receives five face-down cards.
4. First Betting Round: Players bet based on the strength of their initial hands.
5. Draw Phase: Players can discard and draw new cards to replace those discarded, aiming to improve their hands.
6. Second Betting Round: Another round of betting follows the draw phase.
7. Showdown: Players reveal their hands, and the best five-card hand wins the pot.

What Are Some Unique Aspects?

• Simplicity: The game’s straightforward nature makes it ideal for beginners.
• Bluffing: Since there are no community cards, bluffing plays a significant role as players have limited information about opponents’ hands.

Badugi

Badugi is a unique draw poker variant from Asia that uses a different hand-ranking system focused on creating the lowest four-card hand with different suits.

What Are The Basic Rules?

1. Setup: Played with 2 to 8 players, each aiming to make the lowest four-card hand with different suits and no pairs.
2. Blinds: The game typically uses blinds.
3. Deal: Each player receives four face-down cards.
4. First Betting Round: Players bet based on their initial hands.
5. Draw Phases: Players have three opportunities to discard and draw cards to improve their hands, with a betting round after each draw.
6. Showdown: The best Badugi hand wins. A perfect Badugi hand is A-2-3-4 of different suits.

What Are Some Unique Aspects?

• Hand Rankings: The lowest unique-suited four-card hand wins, creating different strategic considerations compared to other variants.
• Draw Decisions: Deciding how many cards to draw and when to stand pat is crucial.

Pineapple And Crazy Pineapple

Pineapple and Crazy Pineapple are Texas Hold’em variants that add an extra layer of excitement by giving players an additional hole card.

What Are The Basic Rules? (Pineapple)

1. Setup: Played similarly to Texas Hold’em but with three-hole cards.
2. Blinds: Uses the same blind structure as Hold’em.
3. Deal: Each player receives three hole cards.
4. Discard: Players must discard one hole card after the flop in Pineapple or after the pre-flop betting round in Crazy Pineapple.
5. Betting Rounds: The game follows the same betting structure as Texas Hold’em (pre-flop, flop, turn, river).
6. Showdown: The best five-card hand wins.

What Are Some Unique Aspects?

• Increased Hand Potential: The extra hole card allows for more possibilities but requires strategic discarding.
• Adjusting Strategy: Players must adjust their usual Hold’em strategy to account for the additional card and subsequent discard.

Triple Draw Lowball (2-7)

Triple Draw Lowball (Deuce to Seven) is a draw poker variant where the goal is to make the lowest possible five-card hand.

What Are The Basic Rules?

1. Setup: Played with 2 to 6 players, each aiming to make the lowest hand possible with Deuce to Seven hand rankings.
2. Blinds: The game uses a blind structure similar to Hold’em.
3. Deal: Each player receives five face-down cards.
4. First Betting Round: Players bet based on their initial hands.
5. Draw Phases: Players have three opportunities to discard and draw new cards, with a betting round after each draw.
6. Showdown: The lowest hand wins. Straights and flushes count against the hand, and aces are high, making 2-3-4-5-7 the best hand.

What Are Some Unique Aspects?

• Strategic Drawing: Deciding how many cards to draw each round is key.

Hand Reading: Observing opponents’ draw patterns can provide insights into their hand strength.