Three Poker Variants You Should Learn In Addition to NL Texas Hold’em

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No-Limit Texas Hold’em is currently the king of poker. The majority of the poker games around the world are in this format with countless millions being wagered every day.

However, any poker player will tell you that over time the game can get a bit stale. Also, NL Hold’em has evolved to the point where the average player is remarkably better than just a few years ago.

As such, some of you may be looking for ways to “freshen up” the game and make it interesting again. May we suggest that you consider learning new forms of poker? Below are three poker variants that every player should learn in addition to NL Hold’em.

PL Omaha

The first-cousin of NL Hold’em, Pot-Limit Omaha is popular because the rules are nearly similar with two differences. The first is that you get four hole cards rather than two. Next, to make a winning hand you must use two cards in your hand and three on the board.

PLO is popular for two reasons. First, this game allows for many more pre-flop combinations than NL Hold’em and the game allows for a lot of “gambling.” Some of the most powerful hands in the game involve big drawing games, especially big nut drawing hands.

You probably are thinking that Pot-Limit betting would result in smaller wins than NL Hold’em. The opposite is true. Due to the gambling nature of the game, you will often see larger average pots than NL Hold’em. It is not uncommon to see big drawing hands pushed to the max before the river card hits.

This game is the second most popular form of poker in the world and perhaps the most popular form of poker in Europe. It is often the first new game an NL Hold’em player learns when they are ready to expand their skills.

2-7 Triple Draw Lowball

The most popular draw poker game currently spread around the world is 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball. This is basically Five Card Draw played for low. Straights and flushes count against you and aces are always high. This makes a non-suited 7-5-4-3-2 the best possible hand.

Although played in Limit format, this game can build sizable pots because of the fact that players get three draws at making their best hand. It is not uncommon to see three or more players involved in a hand at least until the second draw.

Lowball has reemerged as a viable poker option because of both online poker and mixed games. It is a primary component of all mixed games from 8-game and up. If you plan to become a well-rounded mixed games player, this is one you definitely need to learn.

Open Face Chinese Poker

If you really want something a little different, you might want to consider playing Open Face Chinese Poker. Typical Chinese Poker requires that you make three poker hands out of 13 cards. The first hand, the bottom hand, is five cards and must be the highest hand played.

The second hand, another five-card hand, is the middle hand and must be lower than the bottom and higher than the top hand. The top hand, a three card poker hand, must be the lowest overall hand. Upon showdown, you win points on each hand based on whether you beat other player hands.

For example, if you win the bottom hand against two players, you get two points. Points are worth a set dollar amount. If you were playing at $1 a point, you’d get $2 for winning the bottom hand.

Open Face Chinese is a bit different than typical Chinese Poker. In Open Face Chinese, you do not get all of your cards to start but over the course of five rounds. You then play the cards each round face up while trying to make your hands.

Open Face Chinese adds extra strategy elements. First, you get to see your opponent’s hands as they are playing, allowing you to try and improve your own position as you continue through the hand. However, since you get cards over five rounds, you have to balance trying to improve your hand over your opponents and completing a valid hand.

If you happen to make an invalid hand, such as the bottom hand lower than the middle hand, then you lose the entire hand automatically and pay points to each player.

There are more elements to the game including bonus points and “Fantasyland.” You get bonus points in this game when you make certain hands in certain spots. For example, you get bonus points for making a straight or higher in the middle hand and quads or better at the bottom.

If you make a pair of queens or better at the top, you get to play “Fantasyland” which allows you to play the next hand with all 13 cards to start and you can play them face down like a typical Chinese Poker game.

Open Face Chinese Poker takes the puzzle elements of regular Chinese Poker and adds strategy to the game. It can be a very volatile game but it is also a lot of fun, which is one reason that poker pros and many casual players learn the game.