Community cards: what are they used for in each poker game?

Community cards are the cards that allow us to give dynamism to the game and that belong to all players. They give us the opportunity to carry out one strategy or another and, of course, to shape our projects in one way or another. The number of community cards that are dealt varies depending on the type of game, although the most common is that these are a total of 5. However, depending on the version, all of them can be used to consolidate the hands or, on the contrary, only a few - as in Omaha Poker -. This is the main reason why one type of poker differs from the other. 

In this article we want to explain everything you need to know about community cards in poker. We'll show you how to learn how to play community cards in the main forms of this exciting, world-famous card game. Read on for more information!

What are community cards?

Community cards, or community cards, are those cards that are dealt face up when a game of poker is played. These cards belong to all players, which is why they are called community cards. The community cards are dealt to the players who remain in the game and are revealed as the streets (preflop, flop, turn and river) progress.

How to learn to draw community cards

To learn how to draw community cards, the most important thing is to know what the rules of poker are in each case. This will be very useful for you to be able to shape your strategy depending on your situation and to work on your personal plan during the game, the one that has the best chances of winning. This will guarantee you a high percentage of success. Pay attention to the following indications!

Texas Hold'Em poker community cards

Texas Hold'Em allows you to use community cards and private cards - the latter are the cards that are dealt to each player exclusively. The rules state that at the showdown in poker each player must make up a total of 5 cards, combining the 5 community cards that are dealt with the 2 private cards. This gives the possibility to make up the following strategies:

1. 2 private cards + 3 community cards.

2. 1 private card + 4 community cards.

3. 0 hole cards + 5 community cards.

Community cards in Texas Hold'Em are dealt as follows. The first three cards are dealt at the end of the preflop betting, i.e. at the start of the flop. Then a community card is added on the turn, and finally another community card is added on the river.

Community cards in Omaha Poker

When answering how to learn to draw community cards, it is also important to know what the rules are in Omaha Poker. In this case, you should know the following. In this form of poker you play with a total of 4 hole cards and 5 community cards that are dealt during the game. The play is made up of a total of 2 private cards and 3 community cards. In other words, we are obliged to use 2 of the four private cards in combination with 3 of the 5 community cards. There is therefore no other possible combination - unlike in Texas Hold'Em, as we have just seen. This has a considerable influence on the strategy to be developed and, as you may have noticed, the options to have a good plan are more reduced. 

Popular forms of poker without community cards

Some popular forms of poker such as Stud, specifically Seven Card Stud, as well as Five Card Draw, Chinese Poker and Caribbean Poker do not use community cards to play the games or tournaments. This means that only private cards are used. However, in order to give clues and information to the opponents, one or more of these private cards are shown to the other players at certain times during the game - although this is not always the case. We look at this in more detail.

Common cards in Stud Poker

In the case of Seven Card Stud, each player receives a total of 7 private cards, although he can only use a total of 5 cards to make up his draft. The only difference, however, is that some of these cards are visible to all players, even if they are not community cards.

Community card in Five Card Draw

In Five Card Draw, each player receives a total of 5 private cards that can be used or exchanged in their entirety through the discards. This type of poker, known in Spain as Póker Tapado, is different from the rest because none of the cards are shown or revealed until the showdown, if it happens.

Community cards Caribbean poker

To play Caribbean poker, the player receives a total of 5 cards, as does the dealer. Remember that in this type of poker the game is played directly against the machine. From all these cards, one of the dealer's hand is revealed to give some information to the player. However, in order to receive the cards, it is necessary to place an initial bet - this is known as Ante.

Common cards in Chinese Poker

Finally, when talking about community cards in Chinese Poker, we find the following. In this type of game, each player receives a large number of private cards, a total of 13 cards. The cards are only turned over when the players reach the showdown, but they have to be grouped into several groups of cards. Then, the points scored by each player are tallied up. Although there are no community cards, the dealer must show one of his private cards to give the other players an advantage. The cards, in this case, are dealt in a staggered manner. That is, a total of 5 cards at the start, and then one card per round until there are 13 cards.