Irish poker
Irish poker[1] is a variation of Texas Hold 'em. Each player is dealt four cards before the flop. After the betting round on the flop is completed each player must discard two cards. Then the turn and river are dealt. Each player uses both hole cards along with the board to construct a hand, like in Texas hold 'em.
Full Tilt Poker, one of the world's biggest online poker rooms, recently added Irish Poker to their repertoire.[2]
A variation, also known as Irish Hold 'Em or Three-Card Irish,[3] is played with three hole cards, where one is discarded after the flop is dealt. In another, called Irish Seven, each of a maximum of six players receive seven hole cards, with cards discarded after each of the last three betting rounds: three before the turn, one before the river, and one is turned face down at showdown.
A key innovation in the Irish game is the Ace used as a link card between picture cards and low cards for a straight. A second innovation is the single color flush (5 red or 5 black cards of any suit), ranked above a high card and below a single pair.