- Stud Games (for example 7 card stud) - Draw Games (for example 5 card draw) - Shared Hand Games (for example Texas Holdem)

There are also some other obscure games that don't fit into these categories, some of more popular of which are high/low pig, bid poker and guts. In almost all types of poker game hand rankings are same, with a very few minor exceptions which have become more or less “home-made” rules.

Here are brief descriptions of some different poker games:

5 Card Draw Poker Played by 3 - 7 players. Each is dealt five cards and there is a round of betting based on hands. After betting players can now put up to three cards back in exchange for new ones. (There's one exception where a player can exchange four cards if he shows fifth to be an ace). There's a further round of betting and best hand wins. Draw poker was once standard way to play but it has of course been overtaken by Texas Holdem.

7 Card Stud Poker Played by 3 - 10 players. Players are dealt two cards face down and one face up and there is a round of betting. Cards 4, 5 and six are then dealt face up with betting on each round. The final card is dealt face down and there is another round of betting before showdown. 7 Card Stud Poker is still a popular game and is probably second at moment to Texas Holdem.

There are three distinct ways that you can play poker free online; play money poker, poker freerolls and bonuses. Here are a few pointers on each of ways to play free.

Play Money Poker Playing poker for play money is a great way to learn game and get yourself familiarized with poker table. Every online poker site has a section where you can play for play money before you risk any of your real cash. If you are a beginner this is a fantastic way to cut your teeth and find out ins and outs of actual table play. You might have seen it on TV before, but this is a giant step, playing your own hands, making your own decisions and all against other real players. One word of caution about play money tables however, standard of play there is very poor. You might even win on your first attempt so don’t get carried away and think you can transfer this success to real money tables immediately, you have another steep learning curve to overcome there too!