Types of Poker Game
Broadly speaking there are two distinct types of poker game. These are draw poker games and stud poker games.
In Draw Poker Games the cards are dealt face-down. Draw poker gets its name from the fact that during gameplay a player may draw new cards from the deck at some time after the cards are initially dealt. Players bet after receiving their initial cards, and after they draw new cards from the deck.
In Stud Poker Games the cards a player is dealt are the only ones with which they play. Some of the cards are dealt face-down and some are dealt face-up. Players bet after each round of face-up cards is dealt and after the final face-down card is dealt.
Poker Game Variants
Both Draw-Poker and Stud Poker Games have variants which use five or seven cards.
High, Low and High/Low Games
Both games can also be played as High Games, Low Games or High-Low Games.
In high games it is the player with the highest ranking hand that wins the pot.
In low games the player having the lowest possible hand is the winner
In high-low games the pot is split between the player holding the highest hand and the player holding the lowest hand. When the pot doesn't divide easily into equal amounts it is the high-hand that traditionally takes the larger share. There are circumstances under which the high-hand and the low-hand will be held by the same player
In many 7-card games players may use any five of their seven cards for a high-hand and a different five cards for their low hand.
Declaring High or Low
It is required in some high-low poker games that a player declares whether they are aiming for a high hand or a low hand at the same time as the other players in the game. In these poker games, the intention of going high is often indicated by secretly placing an object in their hand. If the player is planning to go low, they will leave their hand empty. At the time of declaration, the players open their hands to reveal whether or not they are holding an object. In some casinos players actually use chips as the objects but this is not advised due to the obvious confusion it can cause.
In the past is was traditional to actually drop the object on the table, but is now considered bad poker etiquette in that this makes a fair bit of noise and can make it difficult to identify which player dropped an object It also gives players an opportunity to change their declaration by palming their object.
In some games players are permitted to declare both high and low simultaneously. Declaring high-low is also know as swinging the bet. In these games, players often declare high-low by showing two objects in their hand, showing one for high, and none for low. Usually when a player declares high-low they MUST win both the high and low hands. If the player ties or loses either the high or low hand they lose the game.
Dummy Hands
In some poker variations where there are not enough layers participating in a game to make it interesting a dummy hand might be dealt to the table. This is particularly common in poker-games where the action depends on particular cards coming into play. Dummy hands are dealt to the dealer's left in the first position. The hand is considered in at all times, it never folds, or bets.
A Pinch of Spice
There are several rules that can be added to poker games to liven them up a little. These can all be implemented individually or in combination with each other.
The Happy Rule
When the happy rule is in use in a poker game, each individual player is permitted to pick their own wild card before the hand is dealt
The Murder Rule
Each poker player picks a 'Death Card' for the player to their left. When that card appears face-up in the game the player to whom it is assigned must immediately fold their hand. Some games allow for the murder rule to apply to the players to the left and the right. If a player folds because their death card was dealt the Death card is usually reassigned to the next player in the following round. A death card assigned by a now dead player will not affect any other player.
The Suicide Rule
The suicide rule works the same as the murder rule with the difference that each player picks their own death card
The Manslaughter Rule
A 'death card' is agreed upon before the start of the game (usually the joker). When a player is dealt this card they must immediately pass it on to another player (to the left or right) thereby forcing that player to fold and be removed from the game.
Poker Betting Structures
Poker is a betting game. There are several possible betting structures that a player may encounter when playing poker.
Back to Top- Home
- Poker Rules
- Poker Game Types
- Poker Books
- Poker History
- Poker Terms Glossary
- Poker Resources
- Sitemap
