Types of Poker: 10+ Variants You Can Play in 2026

Poker is one of the world's most popular card games, but there is no single way to play it. Over the years, dozens of poker variants have developed, each with its own rules, pace, and strategy.

Some versions use shared community cards, while others rely on hidden hands, draw mechanics, or lowball scoring systems. From casual kitchen table games to competitive online formats, every variant offers a slightly different experience.

This guide breaks down more than ten popular types of poker you can play in 2026, including beginner-friendly classics like Texas Hold'em and Five-Card Draw, along with more advanced variants like Badugi and Razz.

Every game covered here can be played casually and without real money, making them a great way to learn poker at your own pace.

Most poker variants belong to one of three major categories:

• Community card games
• Stud games
• Draw games

Community card games combine private cards with shared cards placed face-up in the center of the table.

Stud games deal a mixture of face-up and face-down cards directly to each player over several betting rounds.

Draw games allow players to exchange cards in hopes of improving their hand before the showdown.

A few poker variants fall entirely outside these categories, especially mixed-game formats and home-game favorites.

Texas Hold'em is the most widely played poker variant in the world. It is the version most players recognize from televised tournaments, casinos, and online poker rooms.

Each player starts with two private hole cards. Five community cards are then revealed across three stages:

• The flop
• The turn
• The river

Players build the best possible five-card hand using any combination of their hole cards and the community cards.

Texas Hold'em uses standard poker hand rankings, from high card all the way up to a royal flush. The game can be played in:

• No-Limit
• Pot-Limit
• Fixed-Limit

If you want to learn the game without risking money, you can play Texas Hold'em free online on Arkadium against the computer at your own pace.

Omaha is closely related to Texas Hold'em but introduces one major difference: players receive four hole cards instead of two.

To make a hand, players must use:

• Exactly two hole cards
• Exactly three community cards

That rule creates far more possible hand combinations, which often leads to larger hands and more action.

Omaha Hi-Lo splits the pot between:

• The highest hand
• The qualifying lowest hand

This adds another layer of strategy because players may compete for both halves of the pot simultaneously.

Pot-Limit Omaha, often called PLO, remains one of the most popular poker variants online today.

Stud poker was one of the dominant forms of poker long before Texas Hold'em became popular.

Unlike community card games, stud variants do not use shared cards. Instead, each player receives their own mixture of face-up and face-down cards across several betting rounds.

Seven-Card Stud

In Seven-Card Stud, players receive seven total cards:

• Three face-down
• Four face-up

The goal is to build the best five-card poker hand from those seven cards.

Because many cards remain visible throughout the hand, players must pay close attention to the cards their opponents are showing.

Five-Card Stud

Five-Card Stud is a simpler and older version of stud poker.

Players receive:

• One hidden card
• Four face-up cards

Betting rounds occur after each new card is dealt.

The game is straightforward compared to modern poker variants, which makes it popular for casual home games and beginner players.

Razz Poker

Razz is a lowball variant of Seven-Card Stud in which the lowest hand wins the pot.

Aces count as low, and:

• Straights
• Flushes

do not count against your hand.

The best possible Razz hand is:

• A-2-3-4-5

Because the goal is reversed, Razz creates a very different strategy from traditional high-hand poker games.

Draw poker variants allow players to exchange cards during the hand in hopes of improving their final combination.

These games are often easier for beginners because the rules are simpler and the pace is slower.

Five-Card Draw

Five-Card Draw is one of the most recognizable poker variants ever played.

Each player receives five private cards followed by a betting round. Players can then discard and replace some of their cards before a final betting round and showdown.

Because there are:

• No community cards
• No face-up cards

the rules are easy to follow, which makes the game approachable for new players.

Five-Card Draw is still one of the easiest poker variants for new players to learn.

2-7 Triple Draw

2-7 Triple Draw is another lowball draw game where players try to make the lowest possible hand.

Unlike Razz:

• Aces count as high
• Straights and flushes count against you

Players receive three opportunities to exchange cards during the hand, creating deeper strategy and more decision-making throughout each round.

Badugi

Badugi is a four-card lowball draw game with a devoted following among poker enthusiasts.

The goal is to build the lowest four-card hand possible using:

• Four different suits
• No matching card ranks

The strongest Badugi hand is:

• A-2-3-4, all in different suits

Because the hand rankings differ significantly from traditional poker, Badugi offers a completely different style of gameplay.

Pineapple poker adds a small twist to Texas Hold'em.

Instead of receiving two hole cards, players start with three cards and must discard one during the hand.

Pineapple

In standard Pineapple poker, players discard one card before the flop.

After that, the game proceeds similarly to Texas Hold'em.

Crazy Pineapple

Crazy Pineapple allows players to keep all three hole cards until after the flop before discarding one.

That small rule change creates more possible hand combinations and increases unpredictability throughout the hand.

These variants remain especially popular in casual home games because they feel familiar while still adding something new.

Some poker sessions rotate through several variants rather than sticking with a single game all night.

These formats are known as mixed games.

H.O.R.S.E.

H.O.R.S.E. rotates through five poker variants:

• Hold'em
• Omaha Hi-Lo
• Razz
• Seven-Card Stud
• Stud Eight-or-Better

Each game changes after a fixed number of hands or betting rounds.

This format rewards versatile players who understand multiple poker styles.

Open-Face Chinese Poker

Open-Face Chinese Poker uses a completely different structure from traditional betting poker games.

Players gradually build:

• A top hand
• A middle hand
• A bottom hand

across several rounds while trying to avoid fouling their setup.

The game focuses more on hand-building strategy than betting.

Dealer's Choice

Dealer's Choice is exactly what it sounds like.

The dealer selects the poker variant for each hand, allowing players to rotate through different rules and formats throughout the night.

This keeps home games unpredictable and encourages players to learn new variants.

Some poker games are easier to learn than others.

Five-Card Draw is often considered the simplest because:

• The rules are short
• There are no community cards
• There are fewer moving parts

Texas Hold'em is slightly more complex but remains beginner-friendly because it is so widely available online and easy to practice.

Pineapple is another approachable option because it mostly follows standard Hold'em rules with one additional twist.

Players interested in slower, more strategic games may also enjoy trying Razz once they become comfortable with lowball hand rankings.

You can play Texas Hold'em free online on Arkadium against computer opponents in a relaxed sit-and-go format.

Arkadium also offers a full collection of free online casino games and free card games, including:

• Blackjack
• Solitaire
• Bridge
• Canasta

If you want another classic casino-style game, you can also play Blackjack free online directly in your browser.

All games are free to play with no downloads or real-money wagering required.

What are the most popular poker variants?

Texas Hold'em remains the most popular poker variant worldwide, followed by Omaha and Pot-Limit Omaha. Other widely recognized games include Seven-Card Stud, Five-Card Draw, Razz, and Pineapple.

What are the main categories in poker?

Most poker games fall into three categories:

• Community card games
• Stud games
• Draw games

Mixed-game formats and specialty home games sit outside those categories.

Can you play poker with just two players?

Yes. Most poker variants can be played heads-up with only two players. Texas Hold'em is one of the most common formats for two-player games online.

What is the easiest poker variant to learn?

Five-Card Draw is usually considered the easiest poker game for beginners because the rules are simple and there are no community cards to track.

How many types of poker are there?

There are dozens of poker variants played worldwide, including:

• Texas Hold'em
• Omaha
• Razz
• Badugi
• Pineapple
• Five-Card Draw
• Open-Face Chinese Poker
• Many others

New home-game variations also continue to appear regularly.