The term poker covers several card games that do not necessarily follow the same rules. On digital platforms, it may describe player-versus-player games, games played against a dealer, or variants with different card counts and betting structures. Understanding these categories is more useful than treating every poker game as a single format.
Texas Hold’em: two hole cards and five community cards
Texas Hold’em is one of the best-known poker variants. Each player receives two private cards, while five community cards are revealed in stages. Players make the best five-card hand from the seven available cards. Betting rounds occur before the flop, after the flop, after the turn, and after the river, subject to the game’s betting structure.
Because all participants share the community cards, position, available actions, and interpreting possible hands are important strategic concepts. See the Texas Hold’em guide for the basic rules.
Omaha: four hole cards and a strict selection rule
In Omaha, players generally receive four private cards. Unlike Hold’em, a player must use exactly two hole cards and exactly three community cards to make a five-card hand. Using one, three, or four hole cards is not permitted.
This requirement changes how hands are evaluated. Four cards of the same suit in a player’s hand do not automatically make a flush, because three community cards must still be used. Omaha includes high-only and high-low formats, with different pot-sharing rules.
Seven-Card Stud: no shared community board
Seven-Card Stud is a classic poker variant. Unlike Hold’em and Omaha, it does not use a five-card community board shared by all players. Instead, each player receives a combination of face-up and face-down cards over several dealing rounds, then selects the best five-card hand from seven cards.
Exposed cards provide information about opponents’ possible hands. However, the number of cards, betting order, and table structure should be understood according to the specific version being played.
Five-Card Draw and classic poker formats
Five-Card Draw gives each player five private cards. In a common format, players may exchange a permitted number of cards after a betting round in an attempt to improve their hand. Its straightforward mechanics make it a useful introduction to poker hand rankings.
Casino table games that use poker combinations
Three Card Poker, Caribbean Stud, and Casino Hold’em are often discussed alongside poker-based casino games. Although they use familiar hand rankings, they differ from player-versus-player poker. Players may compete against a dealer or follow fixed payout rules rather than compete for a shared pot.
Three Card Poker uses three-card hands and rankings adapted to that format. Caribbean Stud generally compares a player’s five-card hand with a dealer’s hand under specific rules. Casino Hold’em borrows community cards from Hold’em but uses a dealer-facing format. Exact rules can vary by operator and jurisdiction.
Quick comparison of poker variants
| Variant | Private cards | Key feature |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Hold’em | 2 | Five community cards; player-versus-player |
| Omaha | 4 | Exactly two private cards must be used |
| Seven-Card Stud | Up to 7 dealt in stages | No shared community board |
| Five-Card Draw | 5 | Opportunity to exchange cards |
| Three Card Poker | 3 | Dealer-facing table game with distinct rules |
What should readers compare?
Consider the number of cards, how private cards may be used, hand rankings, who the opponent is, and how the result is determined. The word poker alone does not explain a game’s mechanics. For the five-card rankings used in many variants, consult the poker hand rankings cheat sheet.
Digital games also operate under different legal and consumer-protection frameworks depending on the country. This article explains rules in general terms; it does not recommend platforms or encourage betting.
Editorial note: This material is provided for card-game education and historical reference.