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If you're new to poker, you probably know about Texas Hold'em, which is the most popular type seen in movies and at events like the World Series. However, there are many other great variations, both in-person and online, worth exploring.

Let's explore different poker games like Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hi, 7-Card Stud, and more to help you have an unforgettable poker experience when playing in online casinos in Sri Lanka.

Texas Hold’em

Texas Hold'em is the king of poker games these days. You'll find it everywhere, from online casinos to your local card room. There are tons of tables to pick from, with different styles and buy-ins to fit any player.

To start a hand, the two people next to the dealer have to put in small bets called blinds. These blinds move around the table each hand so everyone gets a turn to start the pot with a little money. Then, everyone gets two cards dealt face down (these are your hole cards, keep them secret!).

Betting starts with the person to the left of the big blind and goes around the table. You can either call (match the bet), raise (bet more), or fold (give up your hand). After the first round of betting, three cards are flipped face up in the middle of the table. These are called community cards, and everyone can use them to make their best hand.

There's more betting after that, then one more face-up card is dealt in the middle, called the turn. More betting! Finally, one last card is dealt face up, called the river. One more round of betting, and then it's showdown time!

Everyone left in the hand shows their cards. You can use any combination of your two hole cards and the five community cards to make your best five-card hand. The person with the strongest hand wins the pot!

Omaha Hi

Omaha Hi, often just called Omaha, is another popular poker game. Here, the player with the strongest hand wins the whole pot at the end (showdown). There's usually a betting limit in Omaha Hi games.

The basic gameplay is similar to Texas Hold'em, with one key difference. Instead of two hole cards, each player gets four. To make their best five-card hand, players use exactly two of their hole cards and three of the five community cards revealed in the center. With more cards in play, forming a strong hand becomes more likely in Omaha Hi compared to Hold'em.

7-Card Stud

Before Texas Hold'em took over, 7-Card Stud was the king of poker. Unlike other poker games, Stud uses a mix of face-up and face-down cards dealt to each player, not shared cards.

To play, everyone throws in a small bet (ante) to start. Then, each player gets two cards face down and one face up. The player with the weakest face-up card starts the betting, either by making a small opening bet or going all in. Betting goes around the table one by one.

After the first round, players who haven't folded get another face-up card. This time, the player with the strongest showing hand bets first, using a smaller bet size. The game continues with two more rounds of face-up cards, with the highest current hand acting first and using a bigger bet size.

Finally, everyone gets one last face-down card. Players use any combination of their seven cards to build their best five-card hand. After a final round of betting, everyone shows their cards, and the strongest hand wins the pot!

5-Card Draw

In a 5-Card Draw, all you need is the best five-card hand to win. Just like Hold'em, it starts with blinds before cards are dealt. Everyone gets five cards dealt face down (yours to keep secret!).

Betting starts with the player to the left of the big blind. You can either fold (give up), call (match the bet), or raise (bet more). Here's the twist: players can then ditch some cards (up to five!) and get new ones to improve their hand. After one final round of betting, everyone shows their cards, and the strongest hand wins the pot!

Final Words

Online poker in Sri Lanka caters to all preferences. Whether you're a seasoned player or just starting out, there's a game waiting for you. With a vast array of variations like Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hi, 7-Card Stud, and 5-Card Draw, online casinos in Sri Lanka offer a whole new level of variety and accessibility.