X-Poker Games and Rules

X-Poker is famous for Short Deck and Omaha, but the game selection is wider: No-Limit Hold’em, 4- and 5-card PLO (the app description also mentions 6-card, including Hi/Lo, Double Board and Bomb Pot), OFC, Sit & Go and tournaments. Which games are available is up to the club: the owner creates the tables and enables options such as Insurance and Run It Multi-Times.

X-Poker table settings: game, blinds, ante, action time
X-Poker table settings: game, blinds, ante, action time
GameDescription
NLHENo-Limit Hold’em — the easiest game to start with.
PLO / PLO54- and 5-card Pot-Limit Omaha; the app description also lists a 6-card version. More action and bigger pots.
Hi/Lo, Double Board, Bomb PotOmaha variants: the pot split between the high and low hand, two boards, and bomb pots where every player posts an ante.
Short DeckShort Deck: a deck without the twos through fives. X-Poker’s signature game — Short Deck rules.
OFCOpen-Face Chinese poker: hands set across three rows, points instead of bets — OFC rules.
SNG / MTTSit & Go and multi-table tournaments — separate tabs in the table settings and the MTT section on the home screen.

Short Deck in brief

In Short Deck the twos through fives are removed from the deck, leaving 36 cards. Hands are made more often, so the hand rankings change: a flush beats a full house, and the ace can complete the low straight A-6-7-8-9. Whether three of a kind beats a straight depends on the table rules — check the table info before your first hand. Instead of blinds, games are often played with antes and a button blind.

Screenshot neededX-Poker Short Deck table with hand-ranking rules info

Table options

PLO5 table info panel: Buy-in 5–40, blinds 0.05/0.10, Run It Multi-Times, EV Chop, Calltime 10 min, GPS & IP Restriction
PLO5 table info panel: Buy-in 5–40, blinds 0.05/0.10, Run It Multi-Times, EV Chop, Calltime 10 min, GPS & IP Restriction
The same table on the flop: opponents’ actions and the pot
The same table on the flop: opponents’ actions and the pot
Run It Multi-TimesWhen players are all-in, the board can be dealt several times and the pot split across the runs — less variance.
InsuranceAll-in insurance: the player who is ahead can insure against the opponent hitting their outs. As a rule, it’s a bet against the club, not free protection.
Auto-StraddleAn automatic straddle before the deal — bigger pots from preflop.
AnteAn ante in big blinds — more money in the pot and an incentive to play wider.
Action Time15, 20 or 30 seconds per action, plus a time bank at your seat.
Table SizeNumber of seats at the table — up to 9 in the settings screenshot.

Several tables at once

Tabs for open tables at the top of the screen: Hold’em and Omaha at the same time
Tabs for open tables at the top of the screen: Hold’em and Omaha at the same time

Open tables are shown as thumbnails at the top of the screen, with your cards on each one. Switching takes a single tap. How many tables you can run depends on the app version: usually 3–4 tables. Running several tables is easier on a big screen through an emulator — X-Poker on PC.

What kind of field to expect

Lots of limpersPlayers often enter pots by calling — isolation raises work better than against a regular field.
Multiway potsThree- and four-way pots are the norm. You need strong hands, not thin value.
Preflop all-insEspecially in Short Deck and PLO. Variance is high — play with a bankroll cushion.
Asian prime timeMost tables run in the evening Asian time; at other hours the choice of stakes is narrower.

How to choose a game

  • Beginners — low-stakes NLHE: simple rules, lower variance.
  • Action lovers — Short Deck and PLO, but be ready for big swings.
  • Tournament players — SNGs and MTTs from clubs and unions.
  • Those playing with friends — Friend Table and home games with a set table duration.
What stakes does X-Poker have?
Stakes are set by the club. Blinds and ante are adjusted with sliders when creating a table, so the range depends on the specific club and union.
What is Insurance in X-Poker?
All-in insurance: the player with the best hand can pay for protection against the opponent hitting their outs. It’s a separate bet, usually with math in the club’s favor — use it deliberately.
Does X-Poker have Short Deck?
Yes, it’s the app’s signature game. Whether tables run during your hours depends on the club.