As casino games online continue to evolve, new poker variants (beyond the ultra-popular Texas Hold’em and Omaha) have come to the fore, providing players with greater variety, unique opportunities to improve their skills, and new, thrilling experiences. 

Here are three poker variations worth a try.

Double Flop Texas Hold’em

In Double Flop Texas Hold’em, players are dealt two separate sets of three community cards (two flops) followed by a single turn and river card. Each player must then form the best possible hand using one or both sets of community cards in combination with their hole cards. The gameplay dynamics of Double Flop Texas Hold’em require players to adapt their strategies, as they must simultaneously analyze two sets of potential winning combinations.

Razz Poker

Razz poker is a lowball variant of Seven-Card Stud, where the objective is to create the lowest possible hand using five out of the seven cards dealt. The ace is considered the lowest card, making “the wheel” (ace-2-3-4-5) the best hand in Razz poker. The absence of community cards in this variant of poker heightens the importance of memorizing folded cards to calculate the odds of improving one’s hand. With a focus on low hands, Razz poker requires players to adopt a distinct set of strategic principles. Bluffing and semi-bluffing become less effective, emphasizing the importance of patience and careful observation of opponents’ exposed cards.

Open Face Chinese Poker

Open Face Chinese (OFC) Poker has gained immense popularity among poker enthusiasts due to its unique gameplay and social appeal. Each player is dealt 13 cards and they must arrange them into three separate hands: a five-card hand (the “back” hand,) another five-card hand (the “middle” hand) and a three-card hand (the “front” hand.)

Strategic decisions in OFC revolve around the balance between strong hands in the back and middle while maintaining a “legal” hand in the front. The game is played without betting rounds, adding a refreshing twist to traditional poker dynamics. Moreover, the social aspect of OFC, where players openly arrange their cards for opponents to see, fosters an engaging and interactive atmosphere.

The Appeal of Lesser-Known Poker Variants

Lesser-known poker versions offer poker players opportunities to expand their horizons and challenge their skills beyond conventional Texas Hold’em. The appeal lies in the novelty and complexity of these games, providing a refreshing experience for seasoned players seeking new challenges and casual players looking to broaden their poker repertoire.

By exploring new poker variants, players can enhance their adaptability, improve their overall poker skills and gain a deeper understanding of various poker concepts. Furthermore, the strategic diversity of these variants fosters an inclusive poker community, where players with distinct strengths can thrive in different game formats.

Try Your Hand at Popular Poker Variants at BetMGM

When you want to get back into the most popular poker variants online, you can find them at BetMGM. BetMGM’s online poker site has the beloved Texas Hold’em, as well as the popular Seven Card Stud and Omaha variants for you to enjoy. These poker variants are playable as cash games for those who just want a quick and fun game, as well as daily and weekly online poker tournaments for those who want to try their luck in a more competitive poker space.

No matter which variant or style of poker game you prefer, you can enjoy it all when you register at BetMGM.