In poker, a variant is a different version of the game with its own rules, structure, and style of play. While the core idea—betting on hand strength—stays the same, variants change how cards are dealt, how betting works, or how you build your hand.
Some variants use community cards (like Texas Hold’em), while others rely on draws, discards, or face-up cards (like 5 Card Draw or Seven Card Stud). Each variant creates its own strategy and pace.
There are dozens of poker variants, but some are far more popular or widely played than others.
Understanding the variant you’re playing is crucial to making good decisions—because even small rule changes can totally shift the game.
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