Texas Hold'em is a great game that is fun to play; but even great games can become grating after awhile. This article will outline a number of fun, challenging, even silly variants of the most popular poker game ever.
Too much of a good thing can still be too much. No-Limit Texas Hold’em is arguably the most popular poker game around, and many who’ve never played poker in any form are picking up this exciting game. If you don’t know, Texas Hold’em is a community betting game where two to ten players try to make the best five-card hand out of two personal cards and five group cards. Part of the popularity of the sport comes from being able to watch how a hand unfolds, with most of the cards visible to spectators. With the addition of lipstick cameras placed just so, those watching televised tournament games can see all the cards, even the two secret, “pocket” cards held by each player. The other reason for Hold’em’s popularity is the “No-Limit” part of the name, which refers to the ability of any player, at any time, to push in their entire stack of chips, placing a lot of pressure and drama on the outcome of the hand.
Poker is a game that is a blend of skill, psychology, courage and luck; Texas Hold’em, in some ways, more than most. There is something to be said for a native ability to read people, a mind that picks up numbers and combinations and predictability with ease, and a bankroll that can absorb any number of losses. For the rest of us, it takes a little time to learn the rules, and a lot of time to master the game.
What this means is newcomers and old timers alike will be spending game after game and night after night playing Texas Hold’em in order to build their skills (and possibly their bank accounts.) What this also means is there will come a time when a player just wants to toss the cards in and do something, anything, different.
Instead of walking away from the table or canceling Game Night with your buddies, try a Texas Hold’em variation that will keep players interested, sticking around, and having fun.
Variations of Texas Hold’em range from the obvious to the absurd, and nearly all of them are quick and easy to learn. A few minutes reading the variant rules, perhaps a practice hand or two, and you will be all set.
Texas Hold'em Refresher
In order to ensure understanding of the variant game rules below, a quick refresher of Texas Hold’em is in order.
There are two to ten players, with the dealer position often being determined by high draw and indicated by a white chip, referred to as a dealer button. The player to the left of the dealer makes a mandatory bet, the amount determined before play. This bet is referred to as the “little blind;” the “big blind” is a second mandatory bet, twice the amount of the first, and made by the person in the second position to the left of the dealer button.
Each player is dealt two pocket cards, after which there is a round of betting. Three community cards are placed face up; this is called “the flop.” There is a second round of betting followed by a fourth face up card, called “the turn.” There is a third round of betting and then the final face up card, called “the river,” after which is a final round of betting. The winner is the player with the best hand using five of the seven available cards following the standard poker-hand ranking. Don’t forget that at anytime a player can go “all in,” betting every chip they have.
So if your Texas Hold’em Poker Night is starting to drag, or if a few players are late and the ones that are there want something to play, give these variants a try:
Church
also called “Iron Cross”
The Play: Each player gets five pocket cards instead of two. The five table cards are dealt in the shape of a cross, face down. Each round one card is turned face up, starting with the card in the North position, then moving clockwise, with the middle card being last. After each card is turned over players may bet. The winner is the player with the best hand of five cards.
The catch: A player may only use three of the cards in the cross, and they have to be in a row, either vertically or diagonally.
Elevator
The Play: Four pocket cards are dealt; two face up and two face down, to each player. The community cards are dealt in the shape of a capital “H,” three forming each arm of the letter and one in the middle. Players attempt to make the best hand of five using up to three of the table cards. The name “Elevator” comes from the ability of a player to move the middle card up or down.
The catch: A player can only use cards from the table that form a row of three across; thus the ability to move the center card up or down comes into play.
Double Flop Hold’em
The Play:Taking Hold’em to the next level, this variant uses two boards, or groups of community cards. Each player has their two pocket cards and tries to make the best hand of five for each board.
The catch: Players don’t tell which board they are trying to win until the last bet is placed. In this way it is possible to have two winners (one for each board,) in which case the pot is split. In some variants of this variant, the winner of one board (determined before play) takes the entire pot.
Spanish Poker
also called “Synthetic Poker”
The Play: Popular in Spain, this variant has a stripped down deck of 28 cards. All cards are removed except eight through ace. The ace can act as high card or low card (substituting for a seven) for straights. In this game an ante is used (a small, mandatory bet from all players before cards are dealt.) There is no flop; instead the five community cards are dealt face up one at a time, each followed by a round of betting. Like in Texas Hold’em the winner is the player with the best hand of five.
The catch: A player must use both pocket cards, and in this variant a flush can beat a full house.
Pineapple
The Play: Pineapple plays a lot like Texas Hold’em. The main difference in this variant: each player is dealt three pocket cards instead of two.
The catch: After the flop, each player must discard one pocket card, going down to two. Winner has the best hand of five made up from their remaining two pocket cards and the five table cards.
Cincinnati
The Play: Like many variants of Texas Hold’em, Cincinnati plays much the same, with the same hand ranking and rules on betting. The major difference is also...
The catch: Each player is dealt five pocket cards instead of two. The table cards are dealt all at once, but face down. Each table card is turned over one at a time, with a round of betting following each turn over. Best hand is made up of five cards in any combination of the ten available to each player.
Guts
The Play: This variant is very different from Texas Hold’em, but a lot of fun nevertheless. Each round a player can chose to ante up or stay out; once the antes are in, each player is dealt three cards face down (they are pocket cards so the players can take a look at their own cards.) Once more each player can decide if they are in or out. Those who don’t fold have to put in a second ante, typically the same amount as the first. After this the dealer counts to three and says “Drop!” Any players who want to fold drop their cards to the table. Any players who play on show their hands. Winner takes the pot, and is determined to have the best hand by the following ranking: Three of a kind; Straight Flush; Straight; Flush; Pair; High Card.
The catch: Anyone who lost the pot has to match it for the next round, in addition to the new antes that will come.
Omaha
The Play: Possibly the most similar to Texas Hold’em, Omaha is nevertheless full of different strategy. In Omaha each player is dealt four pocket cards instead of two, and the winner makes the best hand of five out of the available cards.
The catch: Players can only use two of the four pocket cards, and must use three of the five table cards.
Omaha Hi-Lo
The Play: In yet another variant’s variant, Omaha Hi-Lo plays exactly the same as standard Omaha, except that the pot can be split between the player with the highest hand and the player with the lowest hand.
The catch: A player has to qualify for his hand to be the lowest with a 8-7-6-5-4 or lower hand. Ace can be a low card. If no player has a qualifying low hand, the high-handed player wins the entire pot.
The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
The Play: In a very different Texas Hold’em variant, The Good, The Bad and the Ugly offers laughs and groans along with fun game play. Each player is dealt two face down cards and one face up card, referred to as the “up card.” The three community cards are dealt face down on the board. After an initial betting round, the first table card is turned face up. This is “The Good,” and indicates what cards can now be used as wild cards. After a round of betting the second card is turned face up, and this is “The Bad;” any cards matching this must be discarded. Another round of betting, then the final table card is turned face up and called “The Ugly;” any player with an up card matching this must fold. There is another round of betting, and then every player gets a fourth card face down. After a last round of betting is the showdown; best hand wins the pot.
The catch: This game is so wild it dosen't need a catch!
With so many variants available, don’t fret if your Texas Hold’em Poker Night is holding you hostage. Tell your friends to show up for something a little different and treat them to a Hold’em variation or two.