There are an incredible number of poker variants out and about in the world. Most people are familiar with popular versions of poker like Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and seven-card stud. These are some of the most common ones you’ll see in casinos, at professional tournaments, or even at casual poker nights with friends. People also hold false beliefs or myths about gambling.
But there are many other weird variants out there, and two of them are certainly Pineapple and Razz. Pineapple, for instance, is very similar to Hold’em. The main difference is that players are dealt three hole cards, not two. Razz, on the other hand, is similar to seven-card stud, but you’re trying to make the lowest possible five-card poker hand.
Curious about some others? Here are some other poker variants you must try:
Crazy Pineapple
Want to make Pineapple even crazier? Then you must try out this variant. It’s just like Pineapple except that you must discard after the flop. This version really ups the ante of both Hold’em and Pineapple, so it’s worth a shot if you’re a fan of both.
Follow the Queen
In this seven-card stud variant, after a queen is dealt face up, the next card dealt face up becomes a wild card for all of the players. This is also true for the other three cards of the same rank. So if a five of hearts is dealt face up after a queen, all of the other fives become wild for every player, not just the player that was dealt the card. However, if a queen is dealt face up after the first queen, the previous wild card is canceled. Instead, the next face up card (after the queen) becomes wild. Other variants of this version include all wild queens or the dealer drawing last to determine the final wild rank.
Boston
Boston is a lot like five-card stud except for a few key factors. Each round, a community card is dealt face up. Then, at the end of the game, the pot is split between high and low hands, which are made up of community cards and five cards.
Deuce-to-Seven Triple Draw
This variant is a type of five-card stud where players play for the worst poker hand. You’ll have the chance to draw three times, but you don’t have to discard when you draw. Unlike other low-ball games, aces are always high. Straights and flushes also count against your low hand.
Chicago
This variant is a split-pot seven-card stud game. In it, the pot is split between the highest hand and the highest spade in the hole, and face-up spades don’t count. After the final round, each player must declare which hand they’re going for or if they’re going for both. In a variation of this one, Low Chicago, the pot is split between the lowest spade and the highest hand.
Kings and Little Ones
A variant of seven-card stud, Kings and Little Ones is a wild game — literally. Players must use their kings and smallest hold cards as wild cards. However, aces can be played low or high. If played low, the card is automatically wild.
Multi-board Hold’em
There are many variations you can think up with this concept in mind. Basically, some part of the board must be doubled up. For example, you could do two full boards or two flops. However, if you have two boards, you can’t mix and match cards, but your hand can be made with any of the boards. This variant also has a lot of potential to become huge and more bizarre if mixed with other variants. The possibilities are pretty much endless, and they can make the game much more complex and fun for poker lovers.
If you’re tired of playing the same old variants, playing one of the above can help you to mix things up. But there a ton of variations out there, so you’re sure to never get bored. Who knows, you might just discover your new favorite poker game!
