The difference between 5-card poker and 7-card poker is action. 5-card games are mainly draw games where a pair of aces is usually good. The pots in these games don’t get as big as in the 7-card games. 5-card games limit the size of the hands, and it’s rare that two players have a monster. 7-card games can crank the action up when multiple players have outs or a big hand simultaneously.

The 7-card games are also better for gaining information. Draw games of five cards keep everything hidden, with only the amount of cards drawn as a hint as to what an opponent may be holding. The 7-card games display cards for everyone to see, giving you lots of information to consider before you make your decisions. Often you can find the outs you need on the table, making getting off a hand a lot easier.