Types of Poker Games to Play Online

Poker Games List

These are some of the most common types of poker games available online. You can play these games on your computer, iPhone, or Android phone at the sites we have recommended.

Quick Guide to Types of Poker Games

There are two key options at your disposal when you visit the best poker sites:

• Compete against fellow players.
• Play against the house.

Poker Tournaments and Cash Games

If you opt to compete against rival players at an online poker room, there are two main formats to consider:

• Poker Tournaments | Everyone pays an entry fee, and each player receives an identical stack of chips. The poker site takes a cut of the prize pool, and the remaining funds are distributed among the best performing players when the tournament ends. Different types of poker tournaments include Sit and Go, multi-table tournaments, shootouts, and knockout bounty tournaments.
• Poker Cash Games | You can buy as many chips as you like, and you can use them to place real money wagers throughout the game. At any point, you can walk away from the table and cash out your chips.

There are also different types of poker games:

• Community Card Poker | Shared cards are laid out in the middle of the table. Players are dealt hidden cards, which they must use in conjunction with the shared cards to create the best possible hand. Examples include Texas Hold’em and Omaha.
• Draw Poker | Players can choose to replace certain cards in an attempt to improve their hands when playing draw poker. Examples include Five Card Draw and Badugi.
• Stud Poker | Some of your cards are hidden and others are exposed. Examples include Seven Card Stud and Razz.
• Mixed Games | These games combine multiple variants, so they can be complex. Examples include H.O.R.S.E.

Most online poker sites focus on community card games, such as Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Omaha Hi-Lo. Other important factors to consider include:

• Betting Structure | There are fixed limit, no limit and pot limit games. Fixed limit games impose a cap on the amount you can bet and raise, whereas no limit games do not.
• Number of Players | A full ring game utilizes the full table, whereas a shorthanded game limits the number of players. A heads up game features just two players.
• Pace | If you are competing in a tournament, the pace is determined by the structure of the blinds and the antes. Deepstacks are played at a slow pace, whereas standard tournaments progress at a regular place, with blind levels increasing gradually at predetermined intervals. Faster options include turbo, super turbo and hyper-turbo tournaments.

Casino Poker Games

If you opt to play against the house, you also have two clear options:

• Video Poker | Similar to the video poker terminals found at land-based casinos. Examples include Deuces Wild and Jacks or Better.
• Casino Poker | These are table games, such as Caribbean Poker, Three Card Poker, Let It Ride, and Pai Gow Poker. You can play virtual casino poker games, which are powered by Random Number Generators, or live dealer versions.

You don’t need to bluff when you play against the casino. Just try to build the best hand possible, and if you win, your payout will be determined by the strength of your hand. You can play casino poker games whenever you like, as you do not need to wait for a seat to become available at a table. 

Different Types of Poker Games for Beginners

Beginners should steer clear of challenging games such as H.O.R.S.E. or Badugi. They require a deep understanding of poker fundamentals, as well as advanced strategies specific to each variant.

These are the best poker games online for newcomers: 

• Three Card Poker
• Caribbean Poker
• Teen Patti
• Texas Hold’em
• Omaha

Three Card Poker

This is a simple casino poker game, which is very easy for newcomers to understand. Start by placing an initial bet, which is called the ante. You will be dealt three cards, and the dealer will receive three cards face down.

At this point, you can either fold or bet. If you decide to bet, you will need to place a wager equal to the size of your initial ante bet. There are then three possible outcomes:

• The dealer has a weak hand and does not qualify. Your ante bet wins (with a 1:1 payout) and your play bet pushes.
• The dealer has a strong hand and qualifies. If your hand is stronger, both your ante bet and play bet win.
• The dealer qualifies and beats your hand, which means both of your bets lose.

This is a very straightforward game. If you learn to play Three Card Poker, other forms of table poker should also come naturally to you.

Caribbean Poker

This game is similar to Five Card Stud, but you play against the house instead of rival players at a table. The format is pretty much the same as Three Card Poker, but you are dealt five cards instead of three.

If your play bet wins, your payout will be determined by the strength of your hand. If you have a high card or a pair, you’ll be paid out at 1:1. Two pairs will earn you a 2:1 payout, three of a kind provides a 3:1 payout, and so on.

If you get a Royal Flush, you will be paid out at 100:1. The paytable will be displayed clearly on the screen, so it is very easy to follow.

Teen Patti

This is the easiest poker game for beginners. It does not require any strategy whatsoever. You are simply dealt three cards, and you will be paid out if you receive a strong hand. The payout is 2:1 on a pair, 5:1 on a flush, 6:1 on a straight, 30:1 on three of a kind, and 50:1 on a straight flush.

Texas Hold’em

Texas Hold’em is the most popular poker variant in the world. It is widely played in both casual and competitive settings. The straightforward rules and accessible gameplay make it an excellent choice for beginners.

Each player is dealt two cards, which nobody else at the table can see. Five community cards are dealt face-up on the table. You use the community cards and your private cards, known as your hole cards, to create the best possible five-card hand. The game features four betting rounds, and you can bet, raise, call or fold during each round.

Omaha

Omaha is similar to Texas Hold’em, but players receive four hole cards instead of two. While it is slightly more complex than Hold’em, Omaha is nevertheless one of the easiest online poker games for beginners to grasp.

The main difference is that you must use exactly two of your hole cards and three of the community cards to create your five-card hand. Once again, there are four betting rounds, and the remaining player with the best hand wins.

Where to Play Poker Games Online

Bovada and Ignition are the busiest online poker rooms for players in North America. Both sites also offer a wide range of table poker and video poker games, alongside a busy schedule of poker tournaments and cash games.

The same is true of BetOnline and Everygame, which both offer online casinos and poker rooms rolled into one. Meanwhile, sites like Wild Casino purely focus on table poker and video poker games, which are played against the house, but Wild Casino offers an exceptionally broad variety of those games.

These are the best sites for anyone seeking a wide range of online poker games:

Responsible Gambling

Please gamble responsibly when playing online poker games. Even the world’s best poker players cannot guarantee success, so do not play with money you cannot afford to lose. If you are spending too much time and money playing online poker and find it difficult to stop, that could indicate a gambling addiction, and these sites can help:

• National Council on Problem Gambling
• SAMHSA National Helpline
• Gamblers Anonymous 
• GamTalk

Poker Games Summary

The best online gambling sites offer several different types of poker games. You can play Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Omaha Hi/Lo at the best online poker rooms, which host a huge array of tournaments and cash games each day. They cover lots of different formats and betting structures, ensuring there is something for everyone.

You can also play casino poker games such as Caribbean Poker, Three Card Poker, Oasis Poker, and Pai Gow Poker against the house whenever you like. Just make sure you sign up with a trusted, secure, and reputable online poker site. The best poker sites include Bovada, Ignition, BetOnline and Everygame, and you can claim large welcome bonuses at those sites by following the links on this page.