Online Poker Game Types
Limit
No-Limit
Pot-Limit
Tournaments

Online Poker Game Variants
Texas Hold’em
Omaha
Omaha Hi/Lo
Seven Card Stud
Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo
Five Card Stud
Crazy Pineapple
 
 
Note that most versions of each of the games listed are played very much the same, but there are slight differences in the rules of some online poker rooms.  Each online poker rooms has in-depth rules for each of the their games so it recommended that you read these over before playing. 
 
 
Online Poker Game Types
 
Limit    [back]
In structured limit games, the only valid bet/raise is the current limit, for example $5 on the first two rounds in a $5-$10 Hold'em game. There may be a maximum of 4 bet/raises in a round of betting. This includes a bet, raise, re-raise and a cap.


No-Limit    [back]
In no-limit, a valid bet/raise must be at least the higher of the current limit and the last bet/raise. No higher limit is available, other than the players’ credits. No maximum number of raises exists.


Pot-Limit    [back]
In pot-limit, the valid bet/raise must be at least the higher of the current limit and the last bet/raise. A pot-limit bet/raise may be at highest the value of the pot, plus all bets at the table including the current players call. No maximum number of raises exists.
 
 
Tournaments    [back]
In tournaments, players start with the same number of chips.  Chips do not have actually monetary value - the goal is to stay in the tournament as long as possible with the intent of being the only player left with all of the chips that the tournament began with.  To ensure the tournament ends, blinds and/or antes increase regularly.  Top finishers are paid a preset amount. 
 
 
Online Poker Game Variants
 
Texas Hold'em    [back]
In Texas Hold'em, each player is given 2 pocket cards. The game continues with a total of 5 community cards face up, first 3, then 1 after the other. Between each deal there is a round of betting.

Hold'em is played with two blinds (a bet before the pocket cards are received). The first two players after the dealer pay the blinds. The small blind is posted by the first player and the big blind by the second.  The first two betting rounds are played with the lower limit while the last two rounds of betting are played with the higher limit.

The game is played as follows:

First, be aware that many tables have betting limits. A minimum, and a maximum bet. For example, a 25¢/50¢ game means the minimum bet is 25¢. The maximum bet is 50¢.  If the game is no limit then this can be ignored.

1. One player is the dealer. The two players to the left of the dealer make "blind" bets. The first player makes a bet that is equal to half the minimum bet at the table. This is known as the "small blind". The second player makes a bet equal to the minimum table bet. This is the "big blind".
2. Two cards are dealt face down to each player on the table.
3. The player to the left of the Big Blind begins play. He/she may choose to call (which means match the bet on the table), raise, or fold. This continues to the left until the betting round is completed.
4. The first three face up cards are then dealt at the same time. This is known as the "flop".
5. The next betting round begins with player to the left of the dealer and continues to the left. If there is no bet on the table, a player may bet or check (which means to neither bet, nor fold - the turn simply passes to the next player). If there is a bet on the table, a player may call, raise or fold.
6. After the close of the betting round, the next card is dealt, face up. This card is called the "turn".
7. The next round of betting occurs. For this and the final round the value of a bet increases to the table maximum.
8. After the close of the betting round, the final card is dealt. This card is known as the "River"
9. The final betting round takes place. At the conclusion of betting, the best hand takes the pot.

Omaha    [back]
Omaha is a poker game derived from Texas Hold’em. Each player is dealt four cards ("hole cards"), which belong only to that player. Five community cards are dealt face-up on the "board". All players use three of the five community cards together with two of their hole cards to make the best five-card poker hand.

The game is played as follows:

1. Posting the Blind Bets The first Member Sitting-in in a clockwise fashion to the left of the Dealer Posts the Small Blind Bet (half the Table’s Lower Limit Stake). The second Member Sitting-in in a clockwise fashion to the left of the Dealer, Posts the Big Blind Bet (equal to the Table’s Higher Limit Stake).
2. The Pocket Cards: The First Deal The Dealer distributes four facedown Pocket Cards to each Member. The cards are dealt in a clockwise fashion, one at a time, starting with the Member to the left of the Big Blind.
3. The First Betting Round: The first Member Sitting-in to the left of the Big Blind begins the first Betting Round. The Betting Round then proceeds, in a clockwise fashion, around the table, with each Member acting in Turn. This Betting Round is set at the Table’s Lower Limit Stake. In this Betting Round, each Member is required to at least Call the Big Blind, in order to remain in the game.
4. The Flop: The Dealer places three Community Boardcards, face-up, in the center of the Table. These cards are shared by all the Members.
5. The Second Betting Round: The first active Member (who has not Folded) to the left of the Dealer begins the second Betting Round. The Betting Round then proceeds, in a clockwise fashion, around the table, with each active Member acting in turn. This Betting Round is set at the Table’s Lower Limit Stake.
6. The Turn: The Third Deal The Dealer places a fourth Community Boardcard, face-up, in the center of the Table.
7. The Third Betting Round The first active Member to the left of the Dealer begins the third Betting Round. The Betting Round then proceeds, in a clockwise fashion, around the table, with each active Member acting in turn. This Betting Round is set at the Table’s Higher Limit Stake.
8. The River: The Dealer places a fifth Community Boardcard, face-up, in the center of the Table.
9. The Fourth Betting Round: The first active Member to the left of the Dealer begins the fourth Betting Round. The Betting Round then proceeds, in a clockwise fashion, around the table, with each active Member acting in. This Betting Round is set at the Table’s Higher Limit Stake.
10. The Showdown: Once the fourth Betting Round is completed there is a Showdown (if more than one Member remains). In the Showdown, each active Member combines any two of his/her four Pocket Cards, and any three of the five Community Boardcards, to create the highest valued Poker hand possible (see Poker Hand Value Chart). The active Member who creates the highest valued Poker hand wins the Pot, minus the Rake.

Omaha Hi/Lo    [back]
The player with the best five-card hand for high wins half the pot, and the player with the best hand for low wins the other half. In Omaha, players must use two and only two of their four hole cards in combination with three cards from the board. In the event of identical hands, the high and low shares of the pot will be equally divided between the players with the best hands. In the event that no hand qualifies for low, the best hand(s) for high wins the pot.

For a five card hand to qualify for low, it cannot include cards higher than 8 or contain any pairs. Aces can be used for both high and low. When comparing low hands, the winner is the hand with the lowest high card, thus 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 is better than Ace, 2, 3, 4, 8. The best possible low hand is Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5.

The game is played as follows:  

1. Prior to dealing the cards, two blind bets (the Small Blind and the Big Blind) are placed in the pot by the two players to the immediate left of the dealer. The blinds are put in to start the action.
2. Everyone is dealt four "down" cards. The action begins with the player to the left of the Big Blind folding, calling, or raising. Play continues with all players making one of these decisions. This is the first betting round.
3. Upon completion of the first round of betting, three cards are dealt face-up in the center of the table (community cards known as "the Flop"). This is the second round of betting. Beginning with this round of betting and throughout the remaining rounds of betting, the player to the left of the dealer button acts first. A player may now Check or Bet (if there is no betting in front of them). If there is betting and/or raising in front of them, they may Call, Raise, or Fold.
4. Upon completion of the action on the "flop," another card is dealt face-up (known as the "The Turn" or "Fourth Street"). This is the third betting round. The size of the bet doubles on this round of betting. The betting again starts with the player closest to the left of the button.
5. Following the completion of action on "the turn", the dealer turns over the last card (known as "The River" or "Fifth Street"). This is the final round of betting.
6. Upon completion of the final round of betting, the best hand wins the pot.

Important:

1. Straights and flushes do NOT count against you when qualifying for "Low".
2. You are permitted to use different cards in your hand for the "High" side and different cards for the "Low" side or the same cards for both the "High" and "Low" sides. In a split pot, any leftover odd chip goes to the "High" side of the pot.

Ties: In case two or more players "tie" for one side of the pot, they will split that half into equally divided portions. If there is an odd chip(s), it will go to the person(s) closest to the left of the "button". (One player winning the "High" side and two players who tie for the "Low" side is not uncommon in Omaha 8 or Better.)

Key to Remember: To determine your hand(s) in Omaha 8 or Better, you MUST play two of your four "down" cards with three of the "up" cards (community cards). You may play different cards for the "High" and "Low" sides. A player "scoops" the pot when they win the whole pot.

Seven Card Stud    [back]
In Seven Card Stud, players are dealt seven cards throughout the course of the hand, but only the best five-card hand possible for each player is used to determine the winner.

Before a game of Seven Card Stud starts, all players ante a nominal amount, for example $1 in a $10-$20 game. Each player is dealt two hidden hole cards and one exposed card. The player with the lowest exposed card is the "bring-in", and is forced to make a wager of either a half a small bet or a full small bet (for example, either $1 or $2 in a $2/$4 game). Action continues clockwise around the table until betting is complete for the round.

In the unlikely event that all 8 players are still in the hand on the river, the total number of cards needed for all the players to receive their own card would not be available in a standard deck of cards. In this case the river card is dealt face up on the table and it will be used as a community card.

The game is played as follows:  

1. Everyone "antes" (puts a predetermined amount in the pot before the cards are dealt). This amount is based on the size of the game.
2. Each player is dealt three cards (two "down" cards and one "up" card). The "up" card is also known as the "door card" or "Third Street". The lowest "up" card must initiate the action with a "Bring-In" bet. (If two or more players have the same lowest card, the person who brings it in is determined by suit order progressing from clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades.)
3. Upon completion of the first round of betting, another card is dealt face-up to each player that still remains in the pot (those who didn't fold on "third street"). This is "Fourth Street" (the second round of betting). From "Fourth Street" on, the highest hand showing begins the action by checking or betting.
4. If a pair is showing on "Fourth Street", players have the option to make a single or double bet. If your opponent makes a single bet, you may call, raise a single bet, raise a double bet, or fold. If your opponent makes a double bet and you wish to raise, you may only raise an equal amount.)
5. Upon completion of the betting on "fourth street", another card is dealt face-up to those who remain in the pot. This is called "Fifth Street" (the third round of betting - which doubles - and continues at this amount for the remaining betting rounds). The highest hand showing again starts the action by checking or betting.
6. Upon the completion of betting on "fifth street", another card is dealt face-up. This is "Sixth Street" (fourth betting round).
7. The final card is dealt down. The last card is also known as the "River Card" or "Seventh Street" (final round of betting).
8. Upon completion of the final round of betting, the best hand wins the pot. (The pot may also be won by someone who bets without being called at any time during the hand.)
9. Very seldom, a situation occurs where there are not enough cards left in the deck to give each player their own river card. In this event, the dealer will turn one board card face-up and it will be used as a community card.

Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo    [back]

Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo is the Hi/Lo version of Seven Card Stud. It is a "split-pot" game that is quite popular.

• Players receive seven cards, three "down" cards and four "up" cards.
• Your hand(s) are determined by using the best five of seven cards for your high hand and your best five of seven cards for your low hand (if you qualify for low).
• The game is played like Seven Card Stud (with the exception that you cannot make a double bet on "Fourth Street" if a pair is showing).
• If someone qualifies for "Low", the pot is split.

Basics: There is no qualifying on the "High" side - the best hand automatically wins half the pot and could win the whole pot. To win the "Low" side, however, you have to qualify (which is why the game is called Seven Card Stud "8 or Better").

To qualify for Low: It takes a five-card hand with different numerical values from Ace through eight (with the Ace being the lowest value) to qualify for the "Low" half of the pot. The best "Low" hand is A,2,3,4,5 (also known as the "wheel" or "bicycle"). The winning "Low" hand is the one with the lowest high card in it. If two or more players qualify for "Low" but have the same highest card, the second lowest high card (and if necessary progressing down to the third, fourth, or fifth lowest high card) would be the winning hand. For example, a 2,3,4,6,8 would be a better "Low" hand than an A,2,4,7,8.

Important:

1. Straights and flushes do NOT count against you on the "Low" side.
2. You may use any combination of cards for the "High" hand or the "Low" hand or you may use the same cards for both the "High" and "Low" sides.

Split Pots: Any leftover odd chip goes to the "High" hand. If two or more players tie for the "High" side of the pot and there is an odd chip, the player with the highest card in their hand is awarded the odd chip. (If they have the same high valued card, the suit takes preference going from Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, and Clubs.) If two or more players "tie" for the "Low" side of the pot and there is an odd chip, that chip is awarded to the player with the lowest card in their hand. (If they have the same lowest card, the suit takes preference in the order of Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, and Spades.)
 
 
Five Card Stud    [back]
Five card stud is played very similarly to seven card stud, except in how the cards are dealt out.  You begin with one card down, followed by four cards up.  After each card you are dealt there is a round of betting.  If the game is $2/$4, for example, the small bet ($2) is used for the first 3 cards and the large bet ($4) is used for the last 2 cards. 
 
 
Crazy Pineapple    [back]
Crazy Pineapple is closely related to Texas Hold'em. If you know how to play Hold'em, then learning Crazy Pineapple will be easy.

1.  Each player is dealt three cards, face down. These are the 'hole' cards.
2. A round of betting takes place.
3. 'The Flop': Three cards are placed face up in the center of the table. These cards are shared by everyone at the table, and are known as 'community cards'.
4. A round of betting takes place.
5. Each player must discard one of their hole cards.
6. 'The Turn': A fourth card community card is placed in the center of the table, face up.
7. A round of betting takes place
8. The River': A fifth community card is placed in the center of the table, face up.
9. The final round of betting takes place.
10. Players show their cards, in order. Highest hand wins the pot.