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For games in which the player receives only three cards, 50% of jackpot will be awarded for three 7s (no wild cards), or for 6-7-8 suited (no wild cards). This rule also applies to Blackjack and Acey-Deucey. However, this three-card rule does not apply to games like Buck 'em where the player initially is dealt three cards but can ultimately receive seven cards.
For 7-27, 50% of jackpot will be awarded to a player whose hand totals 7 and 27 (e.g., A-A-5, A-A-3-2, etc.).
If a player folds, he cannot win jackpot for that hand. If all players fold but one, that player can only win jackpot if he already has the winning jackpot hand (i.e., no additional cards will be dealt once everyone else has folded to "see if he'll win jackpot"). Also, in the case of a no-peeky game, the winning jackpot hand must be revealed before the other players have folded.
In the case of Pai-Gow Poker, a player does NOT win jackpot if he splits the otherwise jackpot-winning hand between his five-card and two-card hands. In other words, in order to win jackpot, all the cards of the jackpot-winning hand must be completely within the five-card hand.
In the case of Omaha and Crazy Pineapple, a player can only win the four-of-a-kind jackpot when two cards of the four-of-a-kind are in his hand, and the other two are on the board. In other words, he does NOT win jackpot if three of the four-of-a-kind are on the board and only one is in his hand.
Jackpot will be awarded to the player even if he did not win any of the standard pot in the game (e.g., he declared both ways in a high-low game and tied someone, or he lost to someone who had a higher jackpot-winning hand).
If two or more players win jackpot on the same hand, the amount each player receives is determined by dividing the total money in jackpot by the number of jackpot-winning players, then applying each player's qualifying jackpot percentage to his share. For example, Warren gets four-of-a-kind and Ike gets a straight flush, and there is $40.00 in jackpot. First we divide $40.00 by two (because there are two winning players) to get $20.00. Then, Warren gets 50% of $20.00 (which is $10.00) for his four-of-a-kind, and Ike gets 75% of $20.00 (which is $15.00) for his straight flush.
A single player can only win one jackpot per hand. If a player has more than one jackpot-qualifying hand, he only wins jackpot for the hand that pays the most. For example, if a player has both a four-of-a-kind and a straight flush on the same hand, he only wins the jackpot for his straight flush.
Wild cards can be used to make one-pair or two-pair flushes in these games, but cannot be used to make a three-of-a-kind flush. (For example, if a player has K♠-6♠-4♠-4♠ and a wild card, he doesn't have three 4s with a flush, he has a pair of kings and a pair of 4s with a flush.)
Even if a player does not contribute any chips to the showdown pot (and even if he left earlier in the evening), he stills participates in showdown. The next scheduled dealer deals a game of his choosing (all cards face-up; there is no betting), and the winner of that game wins the showdown pot. (The goal here is for everyone to have chips totaling an exact dollar amount so we don't have to mess with change.)
Note: Jackpot cannot be won during the showdown.
Players ante.
For each player (starting to the dealer's left and moving clockwise), the dealer will deal two cards face up. The player may then bet any amount (up to what's currently in the pot) that the rank of the next card in the deck will fall in between the first two cards dealt.
If he chooses to bet nothing, the next card is simply used as the first card for the next player.
If the player does bet, and the third card does fall between the first two cards, he takes the amount he bet out of the pot. If the third card falls outside the first two cards, he must pay to the pot what he bet. If the third card matches one of the first two cards, he must pay to the pot double what he bet.
Additional rules:
The game ends when a player wins the entire pot, and each player has had at least five opportunities to play.
A game where each player gets ten up-cards to make two five-card hands. The highest hand splits the pot with the lowest hand. (No more than five players may play.)
Players ante and are dealt two up-cards.
The dealer then deals a third up-card to the player on his left. That player must arrange his three up-cards into two poker hands. He may put all three cards in one hand and none in the other, or put two cards in one hand and one card in the other. (The idea is that the player has begun construction on his two five-card hands. And although the high hand on the table will split the pot with the low hand, at no time does the player have to declare either of his hands to be high or to be low.) Once the player has set his three cards, he may not switch them around at any time during the game.
The next player receives his third card and must also arrange them into two hands. This continues until all players have three cards.
A betting round begins with the player to the dealer's left.
As before, one at a time, each player receives an up-card and must place it in one of his two hands, never to be moved from that hand. Another betting round starts with the player to the left of the player that started the previous round.
Play continues in this fashion until all players have two five-card hands. There is no final betting round and no declaration for high or low because all cards are face-up.
The highest hand splits the pot with the lowest hand.
The dealer determines the betting limits as well as how much a player is charged for a 3 or a 4 (see below).
Players ante.
Dealing and betting is according to standard Seven-Card Stud rules. The game is high only.
If a 3 is dealt up to a player, that player has the option of paying a pre-determined fee to the pot to make that 3 wild. If he chooses not to pay the fee, the 3 is not wild; it's just a 3.
If a 3 is dealt down to a player, that 3 is automatically wild (at no additional cost to the player).
9s are wild for all players at no cost, whether dealt up or down.
If a 4 is dealt up to a player, that player has the option of paying a pre-determined fee to the pot to immediately receive an additional card dealt face down. If a 4 is dealt down to a player, that player may reveal the 4 anytime immediately prior to a betting round, pay the fee to the pot, and receive an additional card down. (In other words, when a 4 is dealt down to a player, he can sit on it until he wishes to reveal it; he does not have to reveal it as soon as it is dealt to him, unless of course it's his final down card.)
One player acts as dealer, paying 1 dollar to the jackpot. He may deal twice through the deck.
Players make their wager against the dealer before the hand is dealt. Betting maximum is determined by the dealer.
Each player and the dealer receive two cards (one of the dealer's cards is dealt face-up, the other face-down). The object of the player is to have a hand whose value is closer to 21 than the dealer's, without going over.
Aces count as 1 or 11, face cards count as 10, and all other cards are their face value.
Each player in turn has the option of:
If the player goes over 21 (busts), he automatically loses (even if the dealer ends up busting as well).
Once all players have played their hands, the dealer reveals his down-card. If the dealer's hand totals 17 or more, he stands (takes no additional cards). If the dealer's hand totals 16 or less, he hits until it is 17 or more.
If the dealer busts, all players who are still in the hand win.
If the dealer doesn't bust, he compares his hand with each player's hand. If the player's hand is higher than the dealer's, the player wins. If the dealer's hand is higher than the player's, the player loses. If the dealer's and player's hands total the same, it is a push (a tie), and no money is exchanged.
Additional rules:
The game is played high only, where the lowest card in each hand is wild for that hand.
Players ante.
Each player is dealt two five-card hands down. Beginning with the player to the dealer's left, each player looks at the first five-card hand dealt to him and decides if he'd like to play that hand for the entire pot. (He may NOT look at his second hand until he has made a decision on his first hand.) If he decides to play his first hand, he declares how many cards he will be drawing to that hand (from 0 to 5) and discards the cards he won't be playing. (Draw cards are NOT dealt at this point.) If he chooses not to play his first hand, he simply folds his cards into the discard pile.
Play continues clockwise around the table with each player making a decision to play or fold his first hand.
When play returns to the first player, he looks at his second hand and makes the decision whether or not to play that hand. Again, if he decides to play the hand, he declares how many cards he'll be drawing to that hand and discards appropriately. Depending on what decision he made about his first hand, he may now be playing no hand, one hand (either his first or second), or both hands. Play continues clockwise around the table.
As soon as all players have made decisions on both their hands, those hands still in the game are flipped face up. Any draw cards are now dealt in the order in which players declared they would be drawing.
Again, the lowest card in each hand and all of the same rank are wild for that hand. The player with the highest hand wins the pot, and all losing players must contribute the amount of the current pot to the next pot. Note: If a player plays both of his hands and both hands lose, he does not have to pay double the amount of the pot; he only has to pay the amount of the pot plus one dollar. If a player plays both of his hands and one of them wins, he wins the pot but must pay a dollar to the next pot.
Another hand is dealt, this time with action starting with the second player to the dealer's left.
The game continues with first action moving clockwise around the table with each hand dealt.
The game ends when a player (or players) wins the pot and there are no losing players. (Note: In the case where the winning player played two hands and he was the only player involved in the pot, he does not have to pay one dollar to the next pot. The game is simply over.)
Variation:
Players ante 50 cents. The game is played high only.
Each player is dealt five cards down. Beginning with the player to the dealer's left, each player looks at his hand and decides if he'd like to play that hand for the entire pot (7s are wild). If he decides to play his hand, he declares how many cards he will be drawing (from 0 to 5). (Draw cards are NOT dealt at this point.) If he chooses not to play his hand, he simply folds his cards into the discard pile.
Play continues clockwise around the table with each player making a decision to play or fold his hand.
As soon as all players have made decisions on their hands, those hands still in the game are flipped face up. Any draw cards are now dealt in the order in which players declared they would be drawing.
As mentioned before, any 7s that were initially dealt to a player are wild, and they remain wild till the end of the game. HOWEVER, any 7s that come up as DRAW cards automatically kill the hand that drew them. In other words, any player drawing a 7 automatically loses.
Once all draws are complete, the player with the best hand (who didn't draw a 7) wins the pot, and all losing players (including those who drew 7s) must contribute the amount of the current pot to the next pot.
(Note that it is possible for there to be no winner, either because nobody stayed in, or because everybody who did stay in drew a 7. In the latter case, all players who drew 7s are still losers, and each must contribute the amount of the current pot to the next pot, just as they would if there had been a winner.)
Another hand is dealt, this time with action starting with the second player to the dealer's left.
The game continues with first action moving clockwise around the table with each hand dealt.
The game ends when a player (or players) wins the pot and there are no losing players. (Note: If all players fold ahead of the final player to act, that final player must have a pair of aces or better BEFORE DRAWING to win the pot (wild cards can be used to make the pair of aces or better). If that final player does not have a pair of aces or better, he must fold, and the next hand is dealt.)
Note: A player can win jackpot even if he has been eliminated from the hand by drawing a 7.
Variation:
Players ante.
Round 1: Each player is dealt three cards down, only two of which will be played this round. Beginning with the player to the dealer's left, each player verbally declares one of the following:
You'll now be left with one of the following scenarios:
Round 2: Each player is dealt an additional two cards, bringing their total to five. Play continues just as in Round 1, only now all players are playing three of their five cards.
Round 3: Each player is dealt an additional two cards, bringing their total to seven. Play continues just as in Round 1, only now all players are playing five of their seven cards.
End of Deal: Each deal will end when one of the following occurs:
At the end of each deal, the losers pay off the winners the current amount of the pot for each loss. Then, if the game is not yet over:
End of Game: The game ends when a player gets two legs. That player wins the pot.
Note: For this game, straights and flushes only count for high in Round 3, when players are playing five cards out of seven. Also, a player can win jackpot if the deal ends on Round 2. (i.e., even though players are only playing three cards out of five on Round 2, if a player's five cards make a four-of-a-kind or a straight flush, he wins jackpot.)
Variations:
One player acts as dealer, paying 1 dollar to the jackpot. He may deal a maximum of five hands.
Each player antes (up to an amount chosen by the dealer) and is then dealt a five-card hand face down. The dealer is also dealt five cards with one of his cards dealt face up. The player now either folds, losing his ante, or bets an additional amount equal to exactly twice the ante. The dealer then reveals his remaining four cards.
If the dealer's hand is not ace-king or better, the player is paid even money on the ante and nothing (i.e., a push) on his bet.
If the dealer's hand is ace-king or better, he is said to "qualify" (for play against the player). In that case if the dealer's hand is better than the player's, the player's ante and bet are collected by the dealer. If the dealer's qualifying hand is worse than the player's hand, the player is paid even money on the ante and an amount on the bet according to the player's hand as follows:
Ace-King or One Pair | 1:1 |
Two Pairs | 2:1 |
Three of a Kind | 3:1 |
Straight | 4:1 |
Flush | 5:1 |
Full House | 7:1 |
Four of a Kind | 20:1 |
Straight Flush | 50:1 |
Royal Flush | 100:1 |
The game is typically played high-low declare.
Players ante.
Each player is dealt four cards down. Then ten cards are laid out on the
table like so:
The player to the dealer's left begins the betting round. Once the betting
round is complete, that same player flips over any two of the ten cards
on the table. Now the player to his left starts the next betting
round and flips over any two cards of his choosing when the betting round
is complete.
This continues until all ten cards on the table have been flipped up.
A player then makes his five-card poker hand using his down-cards and
any cards on the table that line up in one of the horizontal,
vertical, or diagonal lines as shown:
However, there is a catch. The player must use every card within a line to make his hand. He cannot pick and choose. (Note that each line contains anywhere from one to four cards. So, for example, if a player is playing a line that contains four cards, he must use every card in that line and only one card from his down-cards to make his hand. Similarly, if a player is playing a line that contains one card, he uses that card and all four of his down-cards.) Don't forget this rule!
This game plays like Texas Hold 'em, except that the players are initially dealt three cards, one of which will be discarded after the betting round on the flop.
DETAILS:
The game is played with four betting rounds. For the first two betting rounds, the bets and raises are exactly the "small bet". For the final two betting rounds, the bets and raises are exactly the "big bet". The big bet is exactly twice the small bet. (The dealer determines the value of the big bet.)
Before the cards are dealt, the player to the dealer's left makes a bet equal to half the small bet (the small blind), and the player second to the dealer's left makes bet equal to the small bet (the big blind). There is no ante.
Players are dealt three cards down. There is a betting round which starts to the left of the big blind. Each player may call the bet, raise exactly one small bet (no more, no less), or fold. Once the betting gets around to the small and big blinds, they also have the option to call, raise or fold.
A card from the deck is burned, and three community cards are dealt face up (the flop) in the center of the table. There is another betting round at the small-bet limit. (This and all subsequent betting rounds will begin with the player to the left of the dealer.) After this betting round, each remaining player must discard one of his cards, leaving him with only two.
Another card from the deck is burned, and one more community card is dealt face up (the turn). There is another betting round at the big-bet limit.
Another card from the deck is burned, and one more community card is dealt face up (the river). There is a final betting round at the big-bet limit.
Players make their best five-card poker hand using the two dealt down to them and the five community cards on the table. Winner takes all.
Note: If a player still in a hand fails to discard after the betting round on the flop, he is disqualified.
Variations:
Players ante.
Players are dealt four cards down. Five cards are dealt down in the middle of the table in the shape of a cross.
There is a betting round beginning with the player to the dealer's left. One-by-one the cards on the outside of the cross are turned over clockwise or counter-clockwise with a betting round after each (beginning with the player to the left of the player that began the previous betting round).
Then the middle card of the cross is revealed; that middle card is wild and all like it. There is another betting round (beginning with the player to the left of the player that began the previous betting round).
The players then set up their cards in the order in which they want to reveal them (once set, this order cannot change). One-by-one the players reveal three of their cards, with a betting round after each (beginning with the player showing the highest hand).
Players make their hands using their four cards and any three cards going straight across through the cross.
Game is usually played high-low declare.
The game is played with four betting rounds. For the first two betting rounds, the bets and raises are exactly the "small bet". For the final two betting rounds, the bets and raises are exactly the "big bet". The big bet is exactly twice the small bet. (The dealer determines the value of the big bet.)
This is a low-ball game where aces are high and straights and flushes do count (i.e., they're bad).
Before the cards are dealt, the player to the dealer's left makes a bet equal to half the small bet (the small blind), and the player second to the dealer's left makes bet equal to the small bet (the big blind). There is no ante.
Players are dealt five cards down. There is a betting round which starts to the left of the big blind. Each player may call the bet, raise exactly one small bet (no more, no less), or fold. Once the betting gets around to the small and big blinds, they also have the option to call, raise or fold.
Starting with the player to the dealer's left, each player tells the dealer how many cards (from 0 to 5) he would like to draw (i.e., discard for new cards), and the dealer immediately gives that player the number of cards he requested right off the top of the deck. There is another betting round at the small-bet limit. (This and all subsequent betting rounds will begin with the player to the left of the dealer.)
Again, starting with the player to the dealer's left, each player draws from 0 to 5 cards. There is another betting round at the big-bet limit.
For a final time, starting with the player to the dealer's left, each player draws from 0 to 5 cards. There is a final betting round at the big-bet limit.
The player with the worst poker hand wins the pot.
Additional rules:
Players ante 75 cents.
Players are dealt four cards down and one card up. Deuces are wild. The player(s) with the highest up-card is/are forced in. (For the purpose of this high card, a deuce is considered higher than an ace.)
Players not forced in look at their hands and decide if they want to stay in. (The player(s) forced in may also look at their cards, but they don't have to.) When all players are ready, each player not forced in takes one chip under the table. A player that wants to stay in brings his fist back up from under the table with the chip hidden in it. A player that doesn't want to stay in brings his fist back up with nothing in it. Once all not-forced-in players have brought their fists up, they all open them to reveal whether or not they're staying in.
The players who stayed in (including those forced) reveal their hands. Highest hand wins the pot. The players with the losing hands must contribute the amount of the current pot to the next pot, except for those forced in who only have to contribute a dollar.
The players who dropped out of the game must contribute 25 cents to the next pot. (Exception: If all the players dropped, the player with the highest dropped hand must pay a dollar, and the others pay 25 cents.)
The game repeats with the new pot.
The game ends when a single player forced in has at least a pair with no wild card or three-of-a-kind with a wild card. He wins the pot, plus any contribution to what would have been the next pot.
Note: If more than one player is forced in, and all the other players drop, one of the forced-in players can win if any forced-in player has at least a pair with no wild card or three-of-a-kind with a wild card. Otherwise all forced-in players must contribute a dollar to the next pot.
Players ante are dealt five cards down.
A betting round begins with the player to the dealer's left. After this initial betting round, all players still in the game (beginning with the player to the dealer's left) tell the dealer how many cards (from 0 to 5) he would like to draw (i.e., discard for new cards), and the dealer immediately gives that player the number of cards he requested right off the top of the deck.
Once all players have received their draw cards, the last player to bet or raise in the previous betting round (or, if everyone checked, the player to the dealer's left) is first to act in a new betting round.
Once the betting round is complete, players reveal their hands. Highest hand wins.
Variations:
If no player can open, all hands are discarded, the deck is reshuffled, and hands are re-dealt. An additional ante is contributed by each player, and another 50 cents is taken out for jackpot.
This continues until a player opens with a check or bet. After the betting round, players draw their cards as in regular Five-Card Draw.
Once all players have received their draw cards, the last player to bet or raise (or, if everyone checked, the player who opened) in the previous betting round is first to act in a new betting round.
Once the betting round is complete, players reveal their hands. If more than one player is still in the hand, the player with the highest hand wins only if his hand is three-of-a-kind or better. If no player has three-of-a-kind or better, those players that haven't folded ante again (50 cents goes to jackpot), and the game starts over. (However, if only one player is left after this betting round, he wins the pot even if he doesn't have three-of-a-kind or better.) Note that players that have folded do not continue to play.
Players ante.
Players are dealt one card down and one card up. The player with the highest hand showing starts the first betting round. (If more than one player has the same highest hand, the one closest to the dealer's left begins the betting.)
After the betting round, players are dealt another card up. Again, the player with the highest hand starts the next betting round.
This process of receiving an up-card and betting continues until all players have four up-cards followed by a final betting round.
Highest hand wins.
Variation:
Players ante.
Dealing and betting is according to standard Seven-Card Stud rules.
When a queen is dealt up to a player, the card dealt up to the next player becomes wild (as well as any other cards of the same rank).
Any time another queen is dealt up to a player, the card dealt up to the next player becomes wild, and the card that was previously wild now is no longer wild.
For example, say Warren receives a queen up. Paul, who is next to receive an up-card, gets a 7. Now 7s are wild for everyone. However, if later in the game Mary gets a queen dealt up, and the next person receives a 4 up, now 4s are wild, and 7s are no longer wild.
Highest hand wins.
Additional rules:
Variations:
Players ante.
Dealing and betting is according to standard Seven-Card Stud rules where each of
the queens in the deck has a special purpose:
The queen of hearts is wild. | |
The player with the queen of diamonds in his hand splits the pot with the player with the best hand. | |
The player with the queen of clubs in his hand gets an additional card dealt face down. If the queen of clubs is dealt up to the player, he immediately receives the additional card. If the queen of clubs is dealt down to the player, he may reveal it anytime immediately prior to a betting round and receive the additional card. (In other words, when the queen of clubs is dealt as one of the first two down-cards to a player, he can sit on it until he wishes to reveal it; he does not have to reveal it as soon as it is dealt to him.) | |
The player with the queen of spades in his hand (whether dealt up or down) may kill the game whenever action is on him (he does not need to do it as soon as the queen of spades is dealt to him). If he kills the game, all players who have not yet folded re-ante, the cards are shuffled, and the hand is dealt again from the beginning. (Those who have folded can no longer play.) Note: The player with the queen of spades does not have to kill the game; it is his choice. |
Players ante. The game is played high-low.
Each player is dealt four cards down. Beginning with the player to the dealer's left, each player looks at his hand and decides if he'd like to play that hand for the entire pot or fold.
As soon as all players have made decisions on their hands, those hands still in the game are flipped face up. Beginning with the player to the dealer's left, each player is dealt three additional cards face up.
Once all players have their seven cards, the pot is split between the player with the high hand and the player with the low hand. (Note: A player can win high and low without playing the same five cards.) All losing players must contribute the amount of the current pot to the next pot.
Another hand is dealt, this time with action starting with the second player to the dealer's left.
The game continues with first action moving clockwise around the table with each hand dealt.
The game ends when a player (or players) wins the pot and there are no losing players.
Players ante.
Each player is dealt five cards down, then five cards are dealt face down in the middle of the table. (The five cards in the middle of the table are NOT community cards.) The idea at the end of the game is to have the hand with the highest total or the hand with the lowest total. A hand's total is determined by adding up the value of all the cards. Card values are the same as in Blackjack. (e.g., face cards are worth 10, aces are worth 1 or 11, and all other cards are worth their ranks.)
Betting starts with the player to the dealer's left. After the betting round, one card in the middle of the table is turned up. All players with the same ranked card(s) in their hand as the card turned up in the middle must discard those cards.
There is another betting round starting with the next player clockwise around the table, then another card is turned up in the middle, and all players must discard cards of the same rank.
This continues until all five cards in the middle have been revealed. At this point, players may have between zero and five cards in their hands. There is a final betting round, then the players declare if they're going high, low, or both ways.
Note: If a player fails to discard any cards when he's supposed to, he is disqualified and cannot win.
Note: Despite the fact that this isn't technically a poker game, a player can still win jackpot. If a player is dealt a straight flush or royal flush, he turns over his hand immediately, receives his jackpot winnings, and folds. If a player is dealt four of a kind, he has the option of:
Variation:
Players ante.
Dealing and betting is according to standard Seven-Card Stud rules. The game is always played high.
Each player's lowest down-card and all others of the same rank are wild for him. (Aces are high.)
At showdown, the player with the highest hand splits the pot with the player who has the highest spade down. (Again, aces are high.)
One player acts as dealer, paying 1 dollar to the jackpot. He may deal a maximum of five hands.
Players make their wager against the dealer before the hand is dealt. Betting maximum is determined by the dealer.
Each player and the dealer receive four cards. They separate their cards into two two-card hands and place them face down on the table. (The higher of the two hands is placed behind the lower.)
Ranks of these two-card hands are not based on traditional poker rankings. Instead, a pair of aces is the best hand, then a pair of kings, etc., down to a pair of deuces. If the hand is not a pair, the values of the two cards are added together: aces have a value of one, face cards and 10s are zero, and the rest of the cards are worth their rank. If the total of the two cards is ten or greater, ten is subtracted from the total to determine the hand's value. (For example, 9-7 has a value of six. 4-2 also has a value of six. K-7 has a value of seven. Q-J has a value of zero.) So, the next best hand below a pair of deuces is a hand with a total of nine. Next is a hand with a total of eight, etc., down to a hand with a value of zero.
Once all players and the dealer have set their hands, all hands are turned up. If the player's high hand beats the dealer's high hand, and the player's low hand beats the dealer's low hand, the player wins (even money).
If the player's high hand loses to the dealer's high hand, and the player's low hand loses to the dealer's low hand, the player loses.
If the player beats the dealer on one hand, but loses on the other, it is a push.
Note: If the player and the dealer have the same total on the hands that are being compared, the rank of the cards determines the winner. For example, A-8 beats K-9 (because ace is higher than king). If the player and the dealer have exactly the same hand, the dealer's hand beats the player's.
One exception to the above rule: A player's zero cannot win. So, for example, if the player has K-Q and the dealer has 6-4, the dealer's hand beats the player's.
Players ante.
Players are dealt seven cards down. They are not allowed to look at their cards at this point.
The player to the dealer's left turns up one of his cards, after which that player starts a betting round.
Once the betting is over, the next player to the left turns over as many cards as necessary to beat the first player's card. There is another betting round.
Play continues clockwise with each player turning over as many cards as necessary to beat the previous player's exposed hand. Once the previous player's hand is beaten, there is a betting round. (If a player turns over all his cards but does not beat the previous player's hand, play continues to the next player without a betting round).
Highest hand wins.
Variations:
The game is played with four betting rounds. For the first two betting rounds, the bets and raises are exactly the "small bet". For the final two betting rounds, the bets and raises are exactly the "big bet". The big bet is exactly twice the small bet. (The dealer determines the value of the big bet.)
Before the cards are dealt, the player to the dealer's left makes a bet equal to half the small bet (the small blind), and the player second to the dealer's left makes bet equal to the small bet (the big blind). There is no ante.
Players are dealt four cards down. There is a betting round which starts to the left of the big blind. Each player may call the bet, raise exactly one small bet (no more, no less), or fold. Once the betting gets around to the small and big blinds, they also have the option to call, raise or fold.
A card from the deck is burned, and three community cards are dealt face up (the flop) in the center of the table. There is another betting round at the small-bet limit. (This and all subsequent betting rounds will begin with the player to the left of the dealer.)
Another card from the deck is burned, and one more community card is dealt face up (the turn). There is another betting round at the big-bet limit.
Another card from the deck is burned, and one more community card is dealt face up (the river). There is a final betting round at the big-bet limit.
Players make their best five-card poker hand using EXACTLY two of the cards dealt down to them and EXACTLY three of the community cards on the table. DON'T FORGET THIS RULE! EXACTLY two of the cards dealt down to them (no more, no less) and EXACTLY three of the community cards on the table (no more no, less).
Variations:
One player acts as dealer, paying 1 dollar to the jackpot. He may deal a maximum of five hands.
Players make their wager against the dealer before the hand is dealt. Betting maximum is determined by the dealer.
Each player and the dealer receive seven cards. They separate their cards into a five-card poker hand and a two-card poker hand, placing them face down on the table. (No straights or flushes are counted in the two-card hand.) Note: The five-card hand must be higher than the two-card hand, otherwise the player has fouled and the dealer automatically wins. (The dealer cannot foul. If he accidentally does so, he may reset his hand.)
Once all players and the dealer have set their hands, all hands are turned up. If the player's five-card hand beats the dealer's five-card hand, and the player's two-card hand beats the dealer's two-card hand, the player wins (even money).
If the player's five-card hand loses to the dealer's five-card hand, and the player's two-card hand loses to the dealer's two-card hand, the player loses.
If the player beats the dealer on one hand, but loses on the other, it is a push.
Note: If the player and dealer have the exact same five-card hand, the dealer wins the five-card hand. Similarly, if the player and dealer have the exact same two-card hand, the dealer wins the two-card hand.
Variations:
A Five-Card Stud game.
Players ante.
Each player is dealt one card down. A card is then dealt up to the player to the dealer's left. That player may choose to keep that card or pass it along to the player to his left. If he passes it along, he receives the next card off the deck (dealt up) and must keep that card.
The next player to the left then must also make the same choice: Keep his initial card (which either came from the previous player or off the top of the deck), or pass it along and receive the next card off the deck.
Each player makes the same choice in turn. When action gets around to the dealer, he may keep the card or pass it along to the discard pile (not to the player to his left) and receive a new one from the deck.
There is a betting round.
Using the same process, all players receive the remainder of their four up-cards.
Highest hand wins.
Variations:
Players ante.
Dealing and betting is according to standard Seven-Card Stud rules. The game is always played high.
If the queen of spades is dealt up to any player, the game immediately stops. All cards are mucked and re-shuffled and the game begins again with only the players who have not yet folded. (There is a re-ante for all remaining players.)
This continues until all players have received all their up-cards, and the queen of spades is not one of them.
At showdown, the player with the highest hand splits the pot with the player who has the queen of spades down. If no player has the queen of spades down, the entire pot goes to the player with the highest hand.
Variation:
Razz is just Seven-Card Stud low-ball.
When playing casino style, the bring-in is the highest card, and there is no "twice the normal bet" option on the second betting round when a pair is showing.
A Five-Card Stud game in which the player's down-card is wild.
Players ante.
Players are dealt two cards down. Each player looks at his two cards and decides which one will stay down and which one will be revealed. When all players are ready, they expose their up-cards. There is a betting round.
Players are dealt another card down. Each player looks at his two cards and decides which one will stay down and which one will be revealed. When all players are ready, they expose up-cards. There is a betting round.
This continues until each player has one down-card and four up-cards.
Highest hand wins.
Variations:
There is no ante. Instead, each player lays three two-dollar stacks in front of himself.
Each player is dealt one card down. Beginning with the player to the dealer's left, each player may choose to keep his card or exchange it with the card belonging to the player to his left. When action comes around to the dealer, he may keep his card or exchange it for the top card in the deck. Once action is complete, all players reveal their cards. The player(s) with the lowest card (aces are low) must throw one of his stacks into the pot.
This repeats with last action moving clockwise around the table. (In other words, the last person to act will be to the left of the person who acted last in the previous round.) Once a player has lost all his stacks, he's out of the game. The last player remaining wins the pot.
Note: One dollar will be contributed to jackpot.
Additional rule:
Players ante.
Players are dealt two cards down and one card up. The player with the highest hand showing starts the first betting round. (If more than one player has the same highest hand, the one closest to the dealer's left begins the betting.)
After the betting round, players are dealt another card up. Again, the player with the highest hand starts the next betting round.
This process of receiving an up-card and betting continues until all players have four up-cards followed by a betting round. Finally, each player is dealt a card down, and there is a final betting round.
Highest hand wins.
Variation:
Seven-card stud can also be played casino-style. In this case, the cards are dealt exactly the same. The only difference is in the betting. The game is played with five betting rounds. For the first two betting rounds, the bets and raises are exactly the "small bet". For the final three betting rounds, the bets and raises are exactly the "big bet". The big bet is exactly twice the small bet. (The dealer determines the value of the big bet.) The player on the button antes an amount equal to half the small bet. The first betting round (when all players have two down-cards and one up-card) is always started by the player showing the lowest up-card. That player MUST make a bet of half the small bet called the "bring-in"; he cannot fold. (If more than one player has the lowest card showing, the tie is broken by suit: spades are highest, then hearts, then diamonds, then clubs. So, the absolute lowest card is the 2 of clubs.) After the bring-in, players have the option of folding, calling, or "completing" the bet. (A completion of the bet is basically a raise to a total of the small bet.) Once the bet has been completed, subsequent players may now fold, call, or raise exactly the amount of the small bet (no more, no less). Note: The player responsible for the bring-in may, if he wishes, complete the bet himself by leading out with a small bet. All subsequent betting rounds are started by the player with the best hand showing. (If more than one player has the best hand, the one closest to the dealer's left begins the betting.) For the second betting round, players may bet or raise exactly the value of the small bet (no more, no less). Exception: If a player already shows a pair at this point, any player has the option of betting or raising the value of the small bet OR the value of the big bst. However, once a player has bet or raised to the big bet, all subsequent raises must be at the value of the big bet. For the final three betting rounds, players may bet or raise exactly the value of the big bet. |
Note: Although this game is similar to 7½-21½, many of the rules are significantly different. Please read carefully.
The goal is to get closest to 7 or 27 without going over. Aces are worth 1 or 11, face cards are worth ½, and all other cards are worth their ranks. A player's total is determined by adding up the worth of all his cards.
Players ante.
Players are dealt one card down and one card up. There is a betting round starting with the player to the dealer's left. Then, beginning with the player to the dealer's left, each player indicates whether he wants another card (in which case the dealer gives it to him face up) or wants to pass. There is a betting round starting with the player to the left of the one who started the previous betting round. Again, starting with the player to the dealer's left, each player indicates whether he wants another card or wants to pass. (If a player passes twice, he is "frozen" and cannot take any more cards for the rest of the game.) This continues until all remaining players have passed twice, after which there is a final betting round.
Players then declare which way they are going. (Low means they're shooting for closest to 7, high means closest to 27.)
For example, if Warren has 5-K (total 5½), and Ike has 4-2 (total 6), Ike wins.
However, if Warren has 5-K (total 5½) and Ike has 7-A (total 8), Warren wins.
Note: Although this game is similar to 7-27, many of the rules are significantly different. Please read carefully.
The goal is to get closest to 7½ or 21½. Aces are worth 1 or 11, face cards are worth ½, and all other cards are worth their ranks. A player's total is determined by adding up the worth of all his cards.
Players ante one dollar.
Players are dealt one card down and one card up. There is a betting round starting with the player with the lowest hand showing. All players may bet or raise any amount up to a total of one dollar. So, for example, if Paul bets 50 cents, and Mary raises another 50 cents, the total bet is one dollar and no more raising is allowed. For another example, say Paul bets one dollar outright; no more raising is allowed.
After the betting round, and beginning with the player to the dealer's left, each player indicates whether he wants another card (in which case the dealer gives it to him face up) or wants to pass. There is another betting round (again, with a maximum total bet of one dollar) starting with the player with the lowest hand showing.
Again, starting with the player to the dealer's left, each player indicates whether he wants another card or wants to pass.
This pattern of taking cards and betting continues until all remaining players pass, and there is a final betting round.
Players then declare which way they are going. (Low means they're shooting for closest to 7½, high means closest to 21½.)
Of all the players going low, the closest one to 7½ wins. In the case of a tie, a player under 7½ beats a player over 7½. (The same logic applies to those going high.)
For example, if Warren has 4-3 (total 7), and Ike has 5-3 (total 8), they're both ½ away from 7½, but Warren wins because he's "under".
However, if Warren has 5-K (total 5½) and Ike has 8-J (total 8½), Ike wins because he's closer to 7½.
Stud 8 is just Seven-Card Stud high-low split.
Players do not declare which way they're going. Instead, cards speak for themselves; the highest hand splits with the lowest hand. However, in order to win low, the low hand must be 8-high or lower. (Note: A player can win high and low without playing the same five cards.)
When playing casino style, the bring-in is the lowest card, just as in regular Seven-Card Stud. However, unlike Seven-Card Stud casino style, there is no double-sized bet allowed if a player is showing a pair as his first two up-cards.
The game is played with four betting rounds. For the first two betting rounds, the bets and raises are exactly the "small bet". For the final two betting rounds, the bets and raises are exactly the "big bet". The big bet is exactly twice the small bet. (The dealer determines the value of the big bet.)
Before the cards are dealt, the player to the dealer's left makes a bet equal to half the small bet (the small blind), and the player second to the dealer's left makes bet equal to the small bet (the big blind). There is no ante.
Players are dealt two cards down. There is a betting round which starts to the left of the big blind. Each player may call the bet, raise exactly one small bet (no more, no less), or fold. Once the betting gets around to the small and big blinds, they also have the option to call, raise or fold.
A card from the deck is burned, and three community cards are dealt face up (the flop) in the center of the table. There is another betting round at the small-bet limit. (This and all subsequent betting rounds will begin with the player to the left of the dealer.)
Another card from the deck is burned, and one more community card is dealt face up (the turn). There is another betting round at the big-bet limit.
Another card from the deck is burned, and one more community card is dealt face up (the river). There is a final betting round at the big-bet limit.
Players make their best five-card poker hand using the two dealt down to them and the five community cards on the table. Winner takes all.
Variations:
A Seven-Card Stud game, with the first two cards dealt down, and the remaining five dealt up.
Players ante.
Each player is dealt two cards down. A card is then dealt up to form a "buy pile". The player to the dealer's left may buy that card for 25 cents or pass. If he passes, another card is dealt up onto the buy pile, and the same player may buy that card for 50 cents or pass. If he passes again, he must buy the next card off the deck (unseen) for one dollar. (All moneys go into the pot.)
Once a player has bought a card, the next player has the option of buying the card that is already atop the buy pile for 25 cents or passing. (If the buy pile is empty, a card is dealt face up to create it.) As with the first player, if he passes, another card is dealt up onto the buy pile, and he may buy that card for 50 cents or pass. And, as before, if he passes again, he must buy the next card off the deck (unseen) for one dollar.
This continues until all remaining players have an up-card. (A player may fold without buying a card, but must do so before his 50-cent card is revealed.) Then there is a betting round starting with the player to the dealer's left, NOT the player with the highest hand showing. (All subsequent betting rounds will start with the player to the left of the player that started the previous round.)
After the betting round, all players buy their next card in the same fashion as before. (Note: The player to the dealer's left does NOT get a new card for atop the buy pile unless the buy pile is empty.)
Play continues until all players have seven cards. After the final betting round, highest hand wins.
Variation:
A game similar to Omaha High-Low, but with the following differences:
The specifics:
The game is played with four betting rounds. For the first two betting rounds, the bets and raises are exactly the "small bet". For the final two betting rounds, the bets and raises are exactly the "big bet". The big bet is exactly twice the small bet. (The dealer determines the value of the big bet.)
Before the cards are dealt, the player to the dealer's left makes a bet equal to half the small bet (the small blind), and the player second to the dealer's left makes bet equal to the small bet (the big blind). There is no ante.
Players are dealt four cards down. There is a betting round which starts to the left of the big blind. Each player may call the bet, raise exactly one small bet (no more, no less), or fold. Once the betting gets around to the small and big blinds, they also have the option to call, raise or fold.
A card from the deck is burned, and two community cards are dealt face up (the flop) in the center of the table. There is another betting round at the small-bet limit. (This and all subsequent betting rounds will begin with the player to the left of the dealer.)
Another card from the deck is burned, and one more community card is dealt face up (the turn). There is another betting round at the big-bet limit.
Another card from the deck is burned, and one more community card is dealt face up (the river). There is a final betting round at the big-bet limit.
Players make their best five-card poker hand using two or three of the cards dealt down to them and three or two of the community cards on the table.
The high hand splits the pot with the low hand. Players do not declare which way they're going; instead, cards speak for themselves. However, in order to win low, the low hand must be 7-high or lower. (Note: A player can win high and low without playing the same five cards.)
The game is played low only.
Players ante 50 cents.
Each player is dealt two three-card hands down. Beginning with the player to the dealer's left, each player looks at the first three-card hand dealt to him and decides if he'd like to play that hand for the entire pot. (He may NOT look at his second hand until he has made a decision on his first hand.) If he decides to play his first hand, he may declare that he will be drawing one (and only one) card, or declare that he will play the three cards dealt to him. (Draw cards are NOT dealt at this point.) If he chooses not to play his first hand, he simply folds his cards into the discard pile.
Play continues clockwise around the table with each player making a decision to play or fold his first hand.
When play returns to the first player, he looks at his second hand and makes the decision to play that hand as it is, draw one card, or fold it. Depending on what decision he made about his first hand, he may now be playing no hand, one hand (either his first or second), or both hands. Play continues clockwise around the table.
As soon as all players have made decisions on both their hands, those hands still in the game are flipped face up. Any draw cards are now dealt in the order in which players declared they would be drawing.
The player with the lowest three-card hand wins the pot, and all losing players must contribute the amount of the current pot to the next pot. Note: If a player plays both of his hands and both hands lose, he does not have to pay double the amount of the pot; he only has to pay the amount of the pot plus one dollar. If a player plays both of his hands and one of them wins, he wins the pot but must pay a dollar to the next pot.
Another hand is dealt, this time with action starting with the second player to the dealer's left.
The game continues with first action moving clockwise around the table with each hand dealt.
The game ends when a player (or players) wins the pot and there are no losing players. (Note: In the case where the winning player played two hands and he was the only player involved in the pot, he does not have to pay one dollar to the next pot. The game is simply over.)
Variations:
A game similar to Texas Hold 'em, but with the following differences:
The specifics:
The game is played with four betting rounds. For the first two betting rounds, the bets and raises are exactly the "small bet". For the final two betting rounds, the bets and raises are exactly the "big bet". The big bet is exactly twice the small bet. (The dealer determines the value of the big bet.)
Before the cards are dealt, the player to the dealer's left makes a bet equal to half the small bet (the small blind), and the player second to the dealer's left makes bet equal to the small bet (the big blind). There is no ante.
Players are dealt three cards down. There is a betting round which starts to the left of the big blind. Each player may call the bet, raise exactly one small bet (no more, no less), or fold. Once the betting gets around to the small and big blinds, they also have the option to call, raise or fold.
A card from the deck is burned, and two community cards are dealt face up (the flop) in the center of the table. There is another betting round at the small-bet limit. (This and all subsequent betting rounds will begin with the player to the left of the dealer.)
Another card from the deck is burned, and one more community card is dealt face up (the turn). There is another betting round at the big-bet limit.
Another card from the deck is burned, and one more community card is dealt face up (the river). There is a final betting round at the big-bet limit.
Players make their best five-card poker hand using the three dealt down to them and the four community cards on the table.
7s are wild. The high hand splits the pot with the highest three-of-a-kind hand. (The high hand might be three-of-a-kind, in which case the whole pot goes to the high hand.)
Note: When determing the highest three-of-a-kind hand, kickers do come into play.
Players ante.
Dealing and betting is according to standard Seven-Card Stud rules. The game is always played high-low declare.
At showdown, if a player goes high, his lowest down-card and all others of the same rank are wild for him. If he goes low, his highest down-card and all others of the same rank are wild for him.
Note: Aces are neither high nor low for the purpose of being wild cards. The only way aces can be wild for a player is if he has three aces down. For example:
More to come...