Nippon Poker

Poker Variants: Some Card Games

Poker is a game that has a number of variants that is as widespread and varied as its history. Here are just a few examples of how deep the game of poker can get.

Five card draw remains the most common and most well known former of poker around. Each player gets five cards for their opening hand, followed by a round of betting. Players can discard any number of their cards, perhaps even throwing everything away in this variant and they get dealt an equal number of cards. Afterwards, another round of betting ensues. Some variants of this variation of poker don't allow players to trade in all their cards. Some rule that you can only trade in four cards if you have an ace and of course, they ask you to reveal it. Some even check for jacks or better in their opening hand, considering it a misdeal if they don't have one.

Anaconda three-two-one hi-lo is a game variant that isn't known by many, but one that is certainly fun enough to consume an afternoon. Each player is dealt seven cards, face down, after which each player passes three to the left. After you pass your cards, pick up your new cards. This occurs again with two cards and then one card. This is then your poker hand - make the best five card combination you have and discard the remaining two. All players then roll their top card at the same time, with betting after each roll. Before the last card is rolled however, each player puts in zero, one or two coins in their hand and all declare high, low or both, with the wheel being the lowest hand. The trick in this game is winning both, as in this variant, it's the only way to win.

Spit in the ocean seems like a dirty game, but it's all in good clean fun. In this variant, each player is given four face down cards, one at a time, unless a player at the dealer's right says spit - then, immediately, a center community card is dealt face up. This community card and all the other cards with the same ranking become wildcards. Bounes betting interval occurs if spit is said, and never does if spit is not said.

The game of poker has a dizzying array of amazing and unique variants. Try out a few for yourself and perhaps you'll spend an afternoon of card fun laughing with your friends.