There are literally 50 different variations on standard online casino poker. Generally, "standard" poker refers to five-card draw poker in which no cards are wild and each player may take up to three new cards (four if an ace is present). Once you understand the basics of hand rankings, it's a cinch to learn any of these several dozen permutations, even the most complicated variants.
The game of the moment is undoubtedly Texas Holdem poker, which is the game played in the annual World Series of Poker aired on ESPN. Here, each player is in the game for him or herself, unlike games in which individual players square off against the dealer. Everyone is dealt two cards in addition to five shared "table" cards, three of which are revealed at once. Each player must come up with the best possible hand based on his or her two cards and three of the five table cards. There are as many as four betting rounds in this style of play.
Other Variations of Online Casino Poker
Another popular turn on online casino poker is Pai Gow. Here, each player is dealt seven cards and must come up with two hands, one of five cards, the other with two. Each player then matches his two hands against those of the dealer. If the player wins both, he or she earns the amount that's been "staked." If dealer and player split, this is called a "push," and no one wins. If the dealer wins both, he or she takes the stake.
There are so many other variations of online poker that it's impossible to track them all. Some of the more popular include Caribbean poker, Follow the Queen, Guts, Baseball, and Omaha. As with any game, be absolutely sure you understand all the finer points before playing your first round, even if this means playing a few free rounds to get acquainted.