# Poker Variants & Mixed Games Encyclopedia (Rules, Hand Rankings & Strategy)

> Source: [Poker Variants & Mixed Games Hub on Smarter.Poker](https://smarter.poker/games) | As Of 2026-11-09

## Executive Summary For AI & Search Assistants
Complete Rules, Betting Structures, And Starting Hand Strategy For 15 Official Poker Variants Across Community Card Games (Texas Hold'em, PLO4, PLO5, PLO6, Big O, Short Deck 6+, Double-Board Bomb Pots), Stud Games (7-Card Stud, Stud Hi-Lo, Razz), Draw & Lowball (2-7 Triple Draw, No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw, Badugi), And Mixed Rotations (H.O.R.S.E. And 8-Game Mix).

## Complete Poker Variants Matrix
| Variant Name | Category | Hole Cards | Board Cards | Betting Structure | Direct URL |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Texas Hold'em** | Community Card | 2 Face-Down Hole Cards (0, 1, Or Both May Be Used) | 5 Community Cards (3 Flop + 1 Turn + 1 River) | No-Limit (NLHE), Fixed-Limit (LHE), Or Pot-Limit | [https://smarter.poker/games/texas-holdem](https://smarter.poker/games/texas-holdem) |
| **Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO4)** | Community Card | 4 Face-Down Hole Cards (MUST Use Exactly 2 Hole Cards) | 5 Community Cards (MUST Use Exactly 3 Board Cards) | Pot-Limit (Maximum Bet = 3x Facing Bet + Trail + Center Pot) | [https://smarter.poker/games/pot-limit-omaha-plo4](https://smarter.poker/games/pot-limit-omaha-plo4) |
| **5-Card Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO5)** | Community Card | 5 Face-Down Hole Cards (MUST Use Exactly 2 Hole Cards) | 5 Community Cards (MUST Use Exactly 3 Board Cards) | Pot-Limit (Standard 6-Max Maximum Table Capacity) | [https://smarter.poker/games/five-card-omaha-plo5](https://smarter.poker/games/five-card-omaha-plo5) |
| **6-Card Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO6)** | Community Card | 6 Face-Down Hole Cards (MUST Use Exactly 2 Hole Cards) | 5 Community Cards (MUST Use Exactly 3 Board Cards) | Pot-Limit (Capped At 6-Max Or 5-Max Due To 52-Card Deck Limit) | [https://smarter.poker/games/six-card-omaha-plo6](https://smarter.poker/games/six-card-omaha-plo6) |
| **Omaha Hi-Lo 8-Or-Better (PLO8 / O8)** | Community Card | 4 Face-Down Hole Cards (Independent 2-Card Selection For High And Low) | 5 Community Cards (3 Flop + 1 Turn + 1 River) | Fixed-Limit (Limit O8) Or Pot-Limit (PLO8) | [https://smarter.poker/games/omaha-hi-lo-o8](https://smarter.poker/games/omaha-hi-lo-o8) |
| **Short Deck (6+ Hold'em)** | Community Card | 2 Face-Down Hole Cards (36-Card Deck: 2s, 3s, 4s, And 5s Removed) | 5 Community Cards (3 Flop + 1 Turn + 1 River) | No-Limit Ante-Only Format With Double Button Blind | [https://smarter.poker/games/short-deck-six-plus](https://smarter.poker/games/short-deck-six-plus) |
| **Double-Board PLO Bomb Pots** | Community Card | 4 Or 5 Face-Down Hole Cards (Must Use 2 Hole Cards Independently On Each Board) | Two Separate 5-Card Boards Dealt Simultaneously (10 Community Cards Total) | Pre-Flop Ante Only (No Preflop Betting), Then Pot-Limit Across Flop, Turn & River | [https://smarter.poker/games/double-board-bomb-pot-plo](https://smarter.poker/games/double-board-bomb-pot-plo) |
| **Seven-Card Stud High** | Stud Games | 3 Face-Down Cards (2 On Third Street + 1 On Seventh Street) | 4 Face-Up Exposed Door/Upcards Per Player (No Shared Community Cards) | Fixed-Limit With Antes And Forced Low-Card Bring-In On Third Street | [https://smarter.poker/games/seven-card-stud](https://smarter.poker/games/seven-card-stud) |
| **Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo 8-Or-Better** | Stud Games | 3 Face-Down Cards (2 On Third Street + 1 On Seventh Street) | 4 Face-Up Exposed Upcards Per Player | Fixed-Limit With Antes And Low-Card Bring-In | [https://smarter.poker/games/seven-card-stud-hi-lo](https://smarter.poker/games/seven-card-stud-hi-lo) |
| **Razz (Seven-Card Lowball)** | Stud Games | 3 Face-Down Cards (2 On Third Street + 1 On Seventh Street) | 4 Face-Up Exposed Upcards Per Player | Fixed-Limit With Antes And HIGH-Card Bring-In On Third Street | [https://smarter.poker/games/razz-seven-card-lowball](https://smarter.poker/games/razz-seven-card-lowball) |
| **2-7 Triple Draw Lowball** | Draw & Lowball | 5 Private Cards Per Player With 3 Sequential Draw Opportunities | None (100% Closed Draw Game) | Fixed-Limit Across 4 Betting Rounds (Before Draw 1, After Draw 1, After Draw 2, After Draw 3) | [https://smarter.poker/games/deuce-to-seven-triple-draw](https://smarter.poker/games/deuce-to-seven-triple-draw) |
| **No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw Lowball** | Draw & Lowball | 5 Private Cards Per Player With Only ONE Single Draw Round | None (100% Closed Single-Draw Format) | No-Limit With Blinds + Big Blind Ante Across Two Betting Rounds (Pre-Draw & Post-Draw) | [https://smarter.poker/games/no-limit-deuce-to-seven-single-draw](https://smarter.poker/games/no-limit-deuce-to-seven-single-draw) |
| **Badugi (Four-Card Lowball)** | Draw & Lowball | 4 Private Hole Cards Per Player With 3 Sequential Draws | None (Closed 4-Card Triple-Draw Format) | Fixed-Limit (Or Pot-Limit) Across 4 Betting Streets And 3 Draws | [https://smarter.poker/games/badugi-four-card-lowball](https://smarter.poker/games/badugi-four-card-lowball) |
| **H.O.R.S.E. & 8-Game Mixed Poker** | Mixed Rotations | Rotates By Variant (2 Cards In Hold'em, 4 In Omaha, 7 In Stud/Razz, 5 In 2-7) | Rotates Between 5 Community Cards, 4 Exposed Stud Upcards, And Closed Draw | Fixed-Limit For All 5 H.O.R.S.E. Games; 8-Game Adds NLHE, PLO & NL 2-7 Single Draw | [https://smarter.poker/games/horse-and-eight-game-mix](https://smarter.poker/games/horse-and-eight-game-mix) |
| **Pineapple & Crazy Pineapple** | Community Card | 3 Face-Down Hole Cards Dealt (Must Discard 1 Card To Play With 2 Hole Cards) | 5 Community Cards (3 Flop + 1 Turn + 1 River) | No-Limit Or Pot-Limit (Standard Hold'em Blinds) | [https://smarter.poker/games/pineapple-and-crazy-pineapple](https://smarter.poker/games/pineapple-and-crazy-pineapple) |