What Is 8-Game Poker?
8-Game combines eight popular poker formats into a single rotation:
- Limit 2-7 Triple Draw
- Limit Hold’em
- Limit Omaha Hi/Lo (8 or Better)
- Razz
- Seven Card Stud
- Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo (8 or Better)
- No-Limit Hold’em
- Pot-Limit Omaha
The standard online rotation changes games every six hands (cash games) or at timed intervals in tournaments. All games are played at the same table with the same opponents.
8-Game Poker Rules
Table Setup
- 6 to 8 players per table
- Blinds are used for flop and draw games, antes and bring-ins for stud games
- Chips carry over between games — no resets between formats
Betting Structures
- Limit: 2-7 Triple Draw, Limit Hold’em, Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, Razz, Stud, Stud Hi/Lo
- No-Limit: No-Limit Hold’em
- Pot-Limit: Pot-Limit Omaha
The Eight Games Explained
Limit 2-7 Triple Draw
- Goal: Make the lowest possible 5-card hand (Aces high, straights and flushes count against you)
- Three draw rounds, fixed-limit betting
Limit Hold’em
- Standard Texas Hold’em rules, fixed-limit betting
- Two hole cards, five community cards, best five-card hand wins
Limit Omaha Hi/Lo (8 or Better)
- Four hole cards, must use exactly two
- Pot split between best high hand and best qualifying low hand (five cards ranked 8 or lower)
Razz
- Seven Card Stud lowball
- A-2-3-4-5 is best possible hand, straights/flushes don’t count against you
Seven Card Stud
- High-hand game with three down cards and four up cards
- Best 5-card hand wins
Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo (8 or Better)
- Pot split between best high hand and best qualifying low hand
- Must have five cards ranked 8 or lower for low
No-Limit Hold’em
- Standard Texas Hold’em rules, no-limit betting
- Maximum potential bet is all your chips
Pot-Limit Omaha
- Four hole cards, must use exactly two with three community cards
- Pot-limit betting, only high hand wins
Game Rotation Rules
Online Rotation
- Six hands of each game before switching
- Blinds/antes adjust automatically
Live Rotation
- May use fixed hand count or timed intervals (often 20–30 minutes)
Dealer Button & Position
- Dealer button moves as normal — position continues across game changes
Betting Round Summary by Game Type
Flop Games (Hold’em & Omaha)
- Pre-flop → Flop → Turn → River
- Two betting rounds at small bet, two at big bet (in limit formats)
Stud Games (Razz, Stud, Stud Hi/Lo)
- Bring-in by lowest (or highest, in Razz) upcard
- Five betting rounds after initial deal
Draw Games (2-7 Triple Draw)
- Three drawing rounds, four betting rounds total
Where to Play 8-Game Poker
Online Sites
This game type is not that common online as it is live, however - we do recommend SwC Poker as an option online.
- SwC Poker – Cash games and tournaments
Live Settings
- WSOP mixed events
- EPT mixed formats
- High-stakes cash games in Vegas and Europe
Final Takeaway
8-Game is the ultimate test of all-around poker skill, forcing players to adapt to multiple betting formats and hand rankings in rapid rotation. Whether online or live, it’s a true measure of versatility — and a great way to keep the action fresh.
FAQs: 8-Game Poker Rules
How long do you play each game?
Online: 6 hands per game. Live: usually 20–30 minutes or a set hand count.
Is the betting limit the same in all games?
No — betting limits vary: limit, pot-limit, and no-limit depending on the variant.
Do chip stacks reset between games?
No. All games use the same chips — winnings and losses carry over.
What’s the hardest game in 8-Game?
That depends on the player — for many Hold’em specialists, games like Razz or Stud Hi/Lo are the toughest.