TYPES OF POKER GAMES  |  POKER HAND RANKINGS  |   KEY TERMS  |  HISTORY OF POKER  |  FAQS

Seven-Card Stud
Each player receives three cards down and four cards up. The best five-card poker hand out of the seven cards wins the pot.

Each player antes and receives two cards down and one card up. The player with the lowest up card must open the betting. This is the only forced bet in the game. All other players may call the bet, raise or fold. There are four additional rounds of betting after each of the fourth through seventh cards are dealt. The fourth through sixth cards are dealt up, and the last card is dealt down. On each round of betting after the first, the highest hand showing always starts the betting. Betting limits normally double after the fifth card is dealt. Players may check, bet, call, raise or fold. Checking and then raising after another player bets is allowed.

Hold 'Em
Hold 'em is similar to Seven-Card Stud. Each player receives two cards face down. Five cards are turned up in the center of the table and used by all players. Players may use any combination of their two hole cards plus the five community cards on the table to make the best five-card poker hand.

Before any cards are dealt, the first player on the left of the dealer button must bet "in the blind." In some games, two or more blinds are required. After the first two cards are dealt, players may call the blind bet, raise or fold. Players required to bet "in the blind" have an option to raise the blind on the first round of betting after the flop. The player to the left of the button starts the action. Betting limits normally double after "fourth street" is dealt.

Omaha
Omaha is similar to Texas Hold 'em. Each player receives four cards face down. Five cards are turned face up in the center of the table and are used by all players. Players must use precisely two cards from their four-card holding and three cards from the five community cards to make the best five-card poker hand.

Each player antes and receives two cards down and one card up. The player with the lowest up card must open the betting. This is the only forced bet in the game. All other players may call the bet, raise or fold. There are four additional rounds of betting after each of the fourth through seventh cards are dealt. The fourth through sixth cards are dealt up, and the last card is dealt down. On each round of betting after the first, the highest hand showing always starts the betting. Betting limits normally double after the fifth card is dealt. Players may check, bet, call, raise or fold. Checking and then raising after another player bets is allowed. You must use exactly two cards from your hand and you can only use three cards from the board.