Played exactly like 7 card stud. The variation is that it is played high-low split. The "8 or better" refers to the low hand which must be 5 unmatched cards each of rank 8 or below. If no one has a qualifying low hand the entire pot goes to the high hand.

Played exactly like 7 card stud. In High Chicago the highest spade that is one of a player’s hole cards (not exposed card) splits the pot with the highest hand. Low Chicago is similar but it is the lowest spade hole card that splits the pot with the highest poker hand. If no one has a spade as a hole card the highest hand wins the entire pot.

Standard 7 card stud but to win the pot a player must have at least 2 of the following 3 qualifiers: 1. the highest spade in the hole. 2. the lowest spade in the hole. 3. the best poker hand. If no single player has 2 of the above qualifiers the game is played again.

7 card stud. The first 3 cards (2 down 1 up) are dealt in the usual manner. The variation occurs on 4th 5th and 6th streets. For each of these the same number of cards as there are remaining players are dealt face up on the table. The player with the lowest hand at that time is first to select his card from among those cards. Players select in order from lowest/worst to highest/best hand. 7th street is dealt as a down card in the usual manner. This variation should only be played for high hand not high-low. The reason for this is that the lowest card on 3rd street will get the first pick. All they will have to do from then on is pick the lowest card round after round and virtually guarantee themselves the winning low hand.

7 card stud. To start the game deal 4 cards face down to each player. From these 4 cards each player selects 1 card as their first up card 2 as hole cards 1 card to discard. Play then procedes as usual for 7 card stud.

The "Pineapple Principle" can be applied to just about any version of stud. Just make the obvious modifications to fit the game. For example to use it with 5 card stud make an initial deal of 3 down cards. 1 is kept as the hole card 1 as the first up card and 1 is discarded.

Each player is initially dealt 7 cards all of which are dealt down. NO player is allowed to look at any of their cards they must keep them face down in a pile in front of them. The player to the dealer’s left turns over one card. There is a round of betting. The next player turns over his cards one by one until he has a higher hand. This is followed by another betting round. This continues with every player turning over his cards until he either runs out of cards or has the highest hand exposed on the board.

Razz is 7 card stud played for low only. Best hand is 5432A. Straights or flushes do not disqualify a hand. The low hand on the board begins each betting round.

Deal first card down next 4 cards up and last card down. May be played high or high-low split.

Played exactly like 5 card stud. However after all the cards have been dealt each player has an option to exchange or replace one of his cards for a pre-set fee. (You can set the fee at any price you wish but don’t make it too cheap or too expensive. About 5-10 times the ante seems right.) If an exposed (up) card is exchanged the replacement card is dealt exposed. If a hole (down) card is exchanged the replacement is dealt face down. Replacement options are offered 1 player at a time starting from the left of the dealer. If the replacement option is originally declined it can not be taken later. Replacement is an option not a requirement. May be played high-low split.

Version of 5 card stud. Deal first card face down to each player as usual. For the next 4 up cards each player is given a choice. Start each round of cards by dealing 2 cards face up on table. The next player due to be dealt a card has the option of selecting 1 of those cards as his up card or he can receive the next unseen card from the top of the deck. If he selects one of the exposed cards another card is dealt face up on the table to replace it and the next player in rotation has the same options in chosing the card he/she wants. If a player passes on the exposed cards and takes his next card off the deck the 2 exposed cards remain for the following player to choose from. Once a complete round of cards has been selected the remaining exposed card(s) are mucked. Each round of card selection starts fresh. As usual betting occurs between each round of card selection. An alternate method is to provide a choice from only 1 exposed card rather than 2. Another option is to charge a fee whenever a player passes on the exposed card(s) and chooses the card from the deck. May be played high-low split.

A version of 5 card stud. Played as high-low split with hand qualifying requirements for both the high and low. The minimum hand needed to win high is a pair of jacks. The low hand must be 5 unpaired cards. Lowest hand is 5432A and staights and flushes do not disqualify the low hand. If there is a qualifying hand in one direction but not the other the single qualifying hand wins the entire pot. If no player has a qualifying hand the game is re-played but only with those players who stayed in the previous hand to the end.

Deal 2 cards face down to each player followed by a round of betting. Now deal piles with 3 cards in each pile on the table equal to the number of players plus one. Each pile is to have 2 cards face down and 1 card face up with the face up card on the top. Starting with the player to the dealer’s left each player selects 1 of the piles which now gives them a 5 card hand. The one remaining group of cards is mucked. After a round of betting each player may discard and draw up to 2 cards. May be played high-low split.

Deal each player 4 hole cards. The board cards consist of 6 cards arranged in the shape of a pyramid of 3 horizontal steps or rows. The bottom row has 3 cards the middle 2 cards and at the top is a single card. Players make their hand in one of 3 ways: Using all 3 cards in the bottom row plus 2 hole cards using the 2 cards in the middle row plus 3 hole cards or using the single card in the top row plus all 4 hole cards. Reveal the single top card first the middle two next and the bottom 3 last with a round of betting between. May be played high-low split.

"Hex" as in hexagonal. Each player is dealt 4 hole cards. Six cards are placed face down on the table in a hexagon shape. 2 cards are revealed at a time in this order (starting with 1 at the top): 1&3 4&6 2&5. Players make their hand by choosing from any 3 consecutive board cards (ie. 123 234 345 456 561 612) along with their 4 hole cards. May be played high-low split. Click here for playing tips for Hex poker.

Players are dealt 4 hole cards. Four sets of two board cards are placed face down on the table. One entire set is revealed after each round of betting. Players make their hands by using 3 or 4 hole cards PLUS 1 or both cards of one of the sets. May be played high-low split. Click here for playing tips for Rock-Leigh poker.