Top 7 Poker Variants You've (Probably) Never Played - But Should

See details  on today’s best online poker bonuses and you’ll find they mostly highlight the big names - but that’s just scratching the surface. The real gems often live in the margins, where lesser-known variants reward bold play and fresh thinking. If you’re ready to explore beyond the basics, these seven are well worth your time.

1. Crazy Pineapple

Imagine Texas Hold’em — but with a twist that keeps you second-guessing. In Crazy Pineapple, players are dealt three hole cards instead of two. After the flop, one must be discarded before the turn. This small change creates big strategy shifts: you get more pre-flop options but tougher decisions later. It’s a wild ride for players who enjoy loose action and creative thinking. If standard Hold’em feels too solved, Crazy Pineapple adds just the right dose of chaos.

2. Badugi

Forget everything you know about traditional poker hands. In Badugi, the goal is to make the lowest possible four-card hand - with no pairs and no matching suits. That means A♠-2♦-3♣-4♥ is the dream. It’s a draw game with three drawing rounds and plenty of bluffing in between. You won’t find full houses or flushes here - just pure hand-reading and nerve. Badugi is perfect for analytical players who love   brain teaser games  and hate predictable showdowns.

3. Razz

If Badugi turns hand rankings upside down, Razz takes that rebellion even further. Here, the worst possible hand wins — literally. Played like Seven Card Stud but in reverse, straights and flushes don’t count against you, and the best hand is A-2-3-4-5. With upcards visible to everyone, Razz is all about reading boards, controlling pace, and grinding down opponents. It rewards patience and sharp memory more than luck. If you liked Badugi’s twist on tradition, Razz offers a whole new kind of edge.

4. 6+ Hold’em

Take Texas Hold’em, cut out the low cards (2s through 5s), and you’ve got 6+ Hold’em - a faster, punchier version of the classic. With only 36 cards in the deck, premium hands come more often, but so do monster showdowns. Hand rankings shift too: a flush beats a full house, and a set outranks a straight. The result? Wild swings and constant action. If you thrive on aggression, quick reads, and big pots, this variant was built for you.

5. 5-Card Draw with a Twist

Before Hold’em took over, this was the poker game everyone knew. 5-Card Draw is fast, simple, and wide open to house rules - wild cards, double draws, or even community cards for extra chaos. It’s the perfect format for casual play that still rewards sharp memory and bluffing. Much like bridge, game beloved by Bill Gates , it thrives on subtle reads and quiet confidence. If you’re after something classic with room for creativity, this modern take on a vintage game hits the mark.

6. Courchevel

Start with five hole cards instead of four, and reveal the first community card before  the first round of betting - that’s Courchevel. It’s like Omaha’s unpredictable cousin, where early information tempts big moves and traps are easy to walk into. You still have to use exactly two hole cards, but with one board card exposed early, strategy shifts instantly. A great pick for Omaha fans craving more action from the start.

7. 2-7 Triple Draw

This lowball variant flips everything upside down. The best hand isn’t a royal flush - it’s 7-5-4-3-2 with no flush, no straight. Players get three draw rounds to improve their five-card hand, and reading opponents becomes a game of nerves and subtle signals. Bluffs are common, mistakes are costly, and every decision counts. It’s slow-burn poker at its finest - brutal, brilliant, and deeply addictive. If precision is your quality, this might just be your favorite poker variant.