The flip side is clear: online poker has been a journey of transformation in the last decade. While online poker variants such as Texas Hold’em and PLO4 were the kings of the virtual world a few years back, modern players are becoming less and less satisfied with them, and they are now in search of deeper strategic thrills that breed an adrenaline rush. This has given rise to the immoderate popularity of PLO5 and PLO6 around the world, but most notably amongst old pros and high-stakes grinders.
But it is not just that; popular poker variants such as Open Face Chinese Poker, Razz, and Stud Poker have carved their niches in calling players after unique formats and plenty of strategic diversity. So, whether you are an ambitious poker entrepreneur or an operator planning to launch your own set of poker games, knowing these popular online poker variants is critical.
Most Popular Online Poker Variants
So here’s an overview of each of these popular poker variants and how they differ (rules of the game) from each other:
1) Texas Hold’em – The Timeless Classic
Texas Hold’em remains one of the most widely played types of poker games, be it online or offline. Each player gets two hole cards while five community cards are laid down in the middle of the board. A player has to make his best possible five-card poker hand out of his hole cards, or bluff others by making them fold.
Why is it popular?
- Easy to learn and hard to master.
- Many features make it perfect for both multi-table tournaments and cash games.
- Decades worth of televised poker history and online dominance from one format. If you are going to develop an online poker room or platform, Texas Hold’em is one of those types of poker that you are going to have to have if you want to attract the largest player base possible.
2) PLO4 (Pot Limit Omaha) – The Strategy Booster
Following Texas Hold’em, PLO4 is the second most famous form of poker games. With this game, every player is dealt four hole cards, but they use only two of these and three community cards to make a hand. Mostly, actions remain rather hot in PLO because the format of the game is played pot-limit and not no-limit.
Why do players love it?
- The pots are larger; hence, the variance is larger.
- More starting hand combinations: base for original strategies.
- The pros just love the way this game is tough to crack.
Must Read Guide for Poker Entrepreneurs: Texas Hold’em or Omaha: What’s Better for Your Poker Platform?
3) PLO5 – The Latest Craze
PLO5 was surely made popular by this last decade. The vast difference here would be the fact that every player is dealt five hole cards, and each player can only use two hole cards from the five and three community cards to make a hand. Thus, it multiplies potential combinations many times over. This makes the game more demanding as, in this variant, decisions would have to be more precise, and there must be a better understanding of the odds associated with the pot value and the assessment of the hand as stated by the opponent.
What makes it exciting?
- Essentially, a lot of action with more hands in play
- For those who like high-stakes, high-rewards formats
- Quick to catch on in Europe and Asia
4. PLO6 – The High-Stakes Favorite
So, if PLO5 was full of action, PLO6 was so overboard. With six hole cards for every player now, there is a very good chance for many colossal pots. Just like in PLO4 and PLO5, each player can only use two hole cards from the six and three community cards to make a hand. Hence, unsurprisingly, it has now become the top choice among high-stakes players for adrenaline-pumped sessions.
Why does this stand out?
- Monster draws and massive swings.
- Encourage aggressive play
- Frequently displayed at online tables with nosebleed stakes.
5. Open Face Chinese (OFC) Poker – The Strategic Twist
OFC Poker is a relatively unique variant that is also quickly growing. Here, there are no shared community cards. Instead, players arrange their own 13-card hands to be placed face up in three: front, middle, and back. Associated with this is what is known as ‘special moving rounds’; a round for placing hands is eliminated, which is one of the most normal features in traditional poker.
Why players like OFC?
- It is all about making hands and planning.
- Less bluffing, more pure mathematics and logic
- Recreational players, but looking for something new
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6. Razz: Playing the Low
It is often dubbed as the “lowball” poker variant, considering that Razz is just one of those games in which the lowest hand wins. Players need to come up with the best possible low five-card hand from seven dealt. This variant is different from others because no community cards are used, and there are no points, especially in straights or flushes against a player; hence, A-2-3-4-5 is a pretty big hand.
Why does Razz attract a niche group?
- The idea involves a 180-degree shift in mentality from Hold’em and Omaha.
- Awesome in slow, skilled formats.
- Generally appears in mixed-game poker events.
7. Seven-Card Stud
The game that is now largely dominated by Texas Hold’em was Seven-Card Stud, which was once the game most often played in any gathering. Players are each dealt seven cards, and the best five make up their best hand. In this variant, there are no community cards; hence, more reliance on memory and observation.
Why it remains relevant?
- Beloved by traditionalists and mixed-game fans
- Forty memory ability to recall the kinds of cards exposed
- Big in the biggest online poker rooms
Other Emerging Variants to Look Out For.
However, as the mentioned formats still rule the roost, there are a few other types of poker games that have been recently developed and are stirring some interest among players.
- Short Deck Hold’em (6+ Hold’em): Clearly, this game is played with a decrease in deck size, hence creating more action and a better distribution of high-end hands.
- Badugi: A draw poker variation where the player forms their lowest possible hand out of four cards.
- Five-Card Draw: A simple format that is easy for beginners to grasp, it’s still loved at home games and smaller events. An assortment of such games will prove immensely effective in keeping different player segments engaged on the platform.
The Bottom Line
The online poker industry is fast-paced only due to continuous diversification in the variants on offer. While timeless favorites are held by Texas Hold’em and PLO4, a spurt of PLO5 and PLO6 means that there is a serious claim for more action-packed formats these days. At the rate, niche games like OFC, Razz, and Stud have already made significant progress in their player preferences; to that end, they would start to be more vital for long-term retention.
