When it comes to poker games, most players think of the classic no-limit Texas Hold’em. However, there are a million different types of poker games that you can play. This is not the only variant of the game that you can play.

What Other Poker Game Variants Are Popular?

Although Texas Hold’em is the dominant force in poker rooms up and down the country and among those who play online poker, one only has to look at the attendances of the non-Hold’em events at each World Series of Poker (WSOP) to see there is a demand for the likes of Pot Limit Omaha, Seven-Card Stud (and their split pot game versions), 2-7 Triple Draw, and Chinese Poker.

Why Should You Learn Other Poker Games?

You may be wondering why poker players should take the time to learn poker variants other than Texas Hold’em and 22Bet. Surely, it is better to master one game than only know a little bit about several, especially if you are mastering the world’s most popular poker game.

That is true to some degree, but knowing how to play several poker games is worthwhile. First, you will develop skills in some poker games to carry over to another. For example, Stud players must remember many face-up cards (four of each player’s seven cards are face-up) to succeed. Those observation skills could be handy the next time you play Hold’em cash games online and have several tables open.

Second, knowing how to play different poker games gives you more freedom and flexibility in the poker world. Your friends may invite you to a poker night where they mix Texas Hold’em with Pot Limit Omaha or Crazy Pineapple. You do not want to sit out these poker games just because you have no idea about hand rankings or how many betting rounds there are.

Furthermore, you may love playing different poker variants and add them to your daily grind when playing online poker. Knowing several poker games and how they work stands you in good stead during major online poker festivals like PokerStars’ Spring Championship Of Online Poker (SCOOP) and World Championship Of Online Poker (WCOOP).

What Are Poker Cash Games?

Certain poker players believe that the purpose of playing cash games is to earn money, while tournament poker is played for prestige. Although not entirely accurate, a skilled player who is knowledgeable in the latest poker strategy will find it more achievable to consistently earn profits in cash games compared to multi-table tournaments.

Cash games are generally played with six or nine players. Although one-on-one heads-up games are commonly spread on real money poker sites. The rules are the same as the tournament variant of the game you are playing. So you still receive two face-down cards when playing Texas Hold’em, and the aim of the game is still to make the best five-card poker hand in most poker games.

However, there are a few key differences between cash games and tournaments. First, cash game players can leave a game whenever they wish if they are not involved in a hand. This gives cash game players more flexibility and allows them to remove themselves from a game where they feel outclassed.

Also, the blinds in cash games remain the same for the duration of the session. If you are playing $0.50/$1 Pot Limit Omaha Hi Lo, the big blind remains at $1 for as long as you play.

Third, cash games are usually played with deeper stacks than their tournament equivalent, mostly with each player having at least 100 big blinds at their disposal. Cash game players can add more chips to their stack when they are not in a hand and if their bankroll allows, to keep their stacks at or around 100 big blinds. A tournament player can only do this during rebuy tournaments, which are becoming more unpopular as time goes on.

The last main difference regards the rake. Poker rooms, whether online or live, charge rake for hosting the game. They provide dealers, to make a profit, etc. Cash game rake is removed from the pot every time the pot reaches a predetermined amount. This rake can be substantial over time. That rake usually turns into loyalty points that are used to release a site’s deposit bonus or climb up the VIP program’s ladder.