Lowball

In this particular variation of the game, the lowest possible hand at the table wins the entire pot. Apparently, the perfect potential lowest hand varies with house rules so that particular aspect of the game is different depending on where you are playing at. Some tables play that Straights and Flushes count against you (with the logic that a Straight or a Flush is a good regular poker hand, and therefore, a bad Lowball hand), other tables play that Aces cannot be low, while still other tables play that Straights and Flushes do not count against you, and Aces can be low. This would need to be established before the deal, either by the dealer or prevalent House Rule. If Straights do not count against you, then the perfect low would be a A-2-3-4-5. If Straights do count against you and Aces can be low, then the perfect low would be an A-2-3-4-6. If Straights do count against you and Aces cannot be low, then you’re playing a game called Kansas City Lowball, and the perfect low would be a 2-3-4-5-7. It is found that the most common form of Lowball involves the A-2-3-4-6 as the best low hand.

New York Stud

With this particular variation, an outside straight always beats a pair no matter what. However, an outside straight will always lose when put up against two pairs. This stipulation adds a new rank to the what-beats-what table. If, through the course of the game, a player has the outside straight showing face-up, that player bets over one who only has a pair showing.

Canadian Stud

This variation plays just like New York Stud, on top of which a fourflush beats an outside straight. A fourflush being four of a player’s cards of the same suit, or four cards to a flush, this stipulation adds two new ranks to the what-beats-what table. The outside straight beats a Pair, the fourflush beats an outside straight, but Two Pair beats a fourflush. A player with a fourflush showing bets over a player with an outside straight showing, who bets over a player with a Pair showing. Note: four cards to a Straight Flush is no better than a fourflush; in fact, it is nothing more than a fourflush.

Spanish Stud

This variation can also be added to any Stud game. To play Spanish poker, all of the Twos, Threes, Fours, Fives, and Sixes are removed from the deck. This is a total of 20 cards removed, leaving 32 cards that are played. Spanish five-card stud poker could be played at six people, but Spanish seven-card stud poker could be played by no more than four players, if only one deck is used.

Bet or Drop

This variation is also somewhat popular in stud poker and can be added to any stud poker game. The stipulation that it adds is that the player who opens the betting round by having the best hand showing, must open with at least the table’s minimum bet or fold. The option to ‘check’ or ‘pass’ is removed, as that player is required to open with at least a minimum bet. Typically, the dealer will announce a slight increase in the table’s minimum bet for purposes of this variation.

Cold Hands

Also called Showdown, a less popular variation where ante is significantly higher, as there are no betting rounds.
This particular type of variation is a little less popular. It is also called showdown. In this variation, ante is a lot higher due to the fact that there are absolutely no actual betting rounds. All cards are dealt face-up in sequence. The best hand wins. Typically, this variation is used, on top of winning a set pot, to determine the first dealer of the night, or as a final quick game.