One of the best ways to get together and have fun is with a gold old-fashioned card game. A fun, house-rules poker night is one of my favorite ways to waste an evening with friends, and really all that is needed is a deck of cards. That being said, there is some etiquette, there are plenty of rules, and of course, you should know the rankings.
The best thing about poker is that there are several ways to play, depending on your personal preference and style. You’ve got the traditional draw games, stud games, and community games (of which Texas Hold ‘Em is a part of). Each type has its many variants and hybrids, which makes for a fun night. In particular, dealer’s choice nights are particularly fun, since you never know what game will be called.
Draw Games
In draw poker players are dealt cards and allowed to draw new cards to replace cards from the original deal. In most draw games, the cards are placed face down and stay face down. Bluffing is more effective and harder to read.
Stud Poker
In stud poker the player gets an initial deal of down cards and then a series of up cards that can be seen by other players. Usually, the last card is dealt down. Many variations exist, and a range of 5 to 8 cards may be dealt (although only the best 5 are played).
Community Poker
Community poker is similar to stud poker, but players receive an initial down deal, followed then by a series of up cards that can be played by all players. The most commonly known version of community poker is Texas Hold’Em. This type of poker game allows for large groups of players, since many of the cards are shared by players.
Getting Started
Getting started requires a little introduction to terminology and how the basics work. We’ll first hit on terminology, then we’ll look at a basic game. For a more formal set of instructions and definitions, see the Robert’s Rules of Poker.
Game Terminology
Action/term
Definition
All-in
When a player is down to his last chips. The player bets all remaining chips and announces “all-in”. Note that house rules may only allow this at certain times.
Ante
The pot builder. This is a pre-set amount that is placed into the pot prior to the deal by all players; usually it is a portion of minimum bet.
Bet
The wager, or the chips/money used by a player to bet, call, or raise
Blind
A required bet made before any cards are dealt. This is different than the ante, as in a blind game only the blind and big blind must be placed prior to dealing.
Big blind
A slightly larger blind, usually double the blind amount.
Burn card
Taking the top card of the deck and putting it in the discard pile prior to dealing the next round (normally done to prevent cheating).
Call
To match the most recent bet made; the player must place the difference between their last bet and the current bet in the pot. Once the player has called, they cannot raise until the round comes to them again.
Check
To wave the right to initiate betting in the betting round, but still retain the right to act if another player initiates betting. Note that you cannot check after a bet has been placed.
Cut
Dividing the deck into two sections to change the order of the cards. This is customarily done by the person to the right of the dealer prior to the deal.
Downcard
A card played facedown in a stud game
Fold
The player removes himself from the current game and tosses the cards facedown. Do NOT show the cards you fold!
Holecards
The players facedown cards
Kicker
The highest unpaired card that helps determine the value of a five-card hand
Lowball
A draw game where the lowest hand wins
Pass
Decline to bet; importantly in a pass-and-out game (Jacks or Better for example), a pass must fold.
Pat (or stand-pat)
Sticking with the cards you’ve got in a draw game
Progressive
Pots that increase in value when no winner is determined at the end of the game, or the pot is rolled into the next game.
Raise
To increase the amount of a previous wager. Depending on the game and site rules, a limit may be placed on the number and amount of raises.
Rolling Showdown
Cards are revealed one at a time by the player until the beat the previous high hand. In other words, if Player A rolls 3, 4, 4, then Player B must roll (one at a time) cards until he can beat Player A’s hand. If Player B cannot beat Player A, a betting round commences, followed by Player C rolling his cards.
Wild Card
A card that is declared by the dealer to be equal to either a) any other card in the deck (the card can be anything) or b) is equal to another card (i.e. deuces are also able to be played as 7’s)
Basic Gameplay
While many variations exist, a basic game will have the deal, the ante, the betting round, and the showdown. In general, betting commences clockwise with the person to the left of the dealer and continues until the raise limit is reached or the current bet has been called by all players. At that point, the showdown reveals the winning hand, and the next game is played.
Etiquette Note
If only one person remains at the end of a round (everyone else has folded), that person is not required to reveal his hand! It is extremely bad etiquette, and grounds from immediate removal in professional casinos, to even suggest revealing the cards of that player’s hand!
Game Etiquette
Part of poker is learning the etiquette. There are things you can do, and things that are absolute no-nos. The following is a short list of the don’ts:
Asking the last remaining player to show their hole cards or hand. They don’t have to. Don’t ask.
Betting out of turn. Don’t do it. Betting always progresses sequentially and betting out of order can really mess with other player’s strategies.
Splashing chips into the pot is a no-no and bad form.
Revealing the contents of a live hand before the betting is complete.
Revealing the contents of a folded hand.
Flinging cards.
Not allowing the previous dealer to cut the deck prior to dealing.
To contrast, the following are considered good etiquette:
Wait your turn to fold, check, bet, or raise.
Don’t play with your chips.
When folding, place your cards face down, either in the muck (discard) pile, or in front of you.
Table talk is fine and adds to the game (nothing like flipping a deuce to an otherwise perfect straight flush in 7-card stud and announcing “there’s go’s that straight), but no trash talk.
It goes without saying that folding is permanent. You can’t change your mind.
Hand Rankings
The showdown determines the winner of the round, and the winner is the player with the best five cards (either their own or a combination of theirs and the community cards in some community games). Rankings are as follows, high to low, and they are inclusive of wild card games.
Hand
Cards
Five of a kind
Five cards of the same rank (this is only achievable in wild card games)
Royal Flush
A-K-Q-J-10 of the same suit
Straight Flush
Five consecutively ranked cards of the same suit
Four of a kind
Four cards of the same rank
Full House
Three cards of one rank and two of another. For example: 4-4, 9-9-9 (or 9’s over 4’s)
Flush
Any five cards of the same suit
Straight
Five consecutively ranked cards of any suit. I.e., 2-3-4-5-6 or 8-9-10-J-Q of mixed suits
Three of a kind
Three cards of the same rank
Two pair
Two cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. For example, a hand of 8, 8, 2, 2, J would be expressed as 8’s over 2’s with a Jack kicker
One pair
Two cards of the same rank
High card
The highest card in the players hand when no other combination is possible.
In the event of ties, or wild card introductions, there are also rules to determine which hand is higher.
Straight Flush tie (with wilds)
Determined by house rules, but in games played here if a straight flush is tied in a wild card game, the straight flush without wild cards (the “natural” flush) wins. If both hands have a wild card or multiple wild cards, the hand that played the least number of wild cards wins. Finally, in the case of both hands playing a singular wild card, the hand with the lowest placement of the wild card wins.
Royal Flush ties
In the case of a tie with a royal flush, in our house rules a Spade Royal Flush wins, otherwise, the tie remains, and the pot is split.
Straight flushes, Straights, or Flushes
The highest card that is part of the hand is the winning hand. If the tie remains, the next highest card determines the winner for flushes.
Full House
The highest three of a kind is the winning hand. If wild cards are present and the three of a kinds are tied, then the two of a kind is used to decide the winning hand.
Five of a kind, four of a kind, three of a kind
The highest ranking “kind” is the winner. If using wilds and the “kind” is the same, the next highest card in the player’s hand determines the winner.
Two pair
The highest pair is the winning hand. If a tie remains, then the higher of the of the lower pairs is the winner. If a tie still remains, the highest kicker card decides the winner.
One Pair
The highest pair is the winning hand. If a tie exists, the highest remaining card in the player’s hand determines the winner.
Game Variants
Draw Poker Variants
In draw poker players are dealt cards and then given the opportunity to draw and replace a set number of cards in their hand. In these games there are no community cards, and you have no idea what your opponents are holding (with the exception of some passing games).
Rule Note
Unless otherwise specified in the specific game rules, you cannot discard more than 3 cards in a 5-card hand unless you have an Ace. You will have to prove the Ace to receive 4 cards. There are some game variants that specifically allow the exchange of more than 3 cards, but in general you’ll have to hold on to at least 2 cards.
Five Card Draw
Max Players: 7 Game Play: Deal 5 cards down to each player. Bet. One at a time, after the first betting round, players may exchange up to 3 cards in their hands (4 if the player holds an Ace). Bet again. Showdown.
Variant: Double Draw 5 Card Draw. In this case a 2nd draw round is added before the showdown.
Low Ball
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: Low hand Game Play: Play as five card draw, but the low hand wins.
Acey-Deucey
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: High Hand Game Play: Play as five card draw, but all Aces and Twos are wild.
Fives & Dimes
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: High Hand Game Play: Play as five card draw, but all Fives and Tens are wild.
Heinz 57
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: High Hand Game Play: Play as five card draw, but all Fives and Sevens are wild.
Threes
Max Players: 5 Winning Hand: High Hand Game Play: Play as five card draw, but there are 3 drawing and betting rounds.
Snowmen and Hockey Sticks
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: High Hand Game Play: Play as five card draw, but all Sevens and Eights are wild
Jacks to Open, Trips to Win
A fun progressive game that can go on for a while.
Also known as Jacks or Better, Trips to Win. Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: High Hand
Game Play: Play as five card draw, but note 1) to open bidding, the player must have a pair of Jacks or better (if nobody can open, everyone re-antes and hands are dealt again), once the bet is placed anybody can raise, and 2) once the last round of betting takes places, everyone with three of a kind or better reveals their hands. Highest hand wins (must be three of a kind or better). If nobody reveals, then the cards are redealt to any remaining players who have not folded, and the process begins again. Note that folding at any time means that player is out of the game and will not be dealt a new hand if a winning hand is not revealed.
All for One, One for All
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: High Hand Game Play: Deal 5 cards down to each player. Bet. Each player can now draw 1 or 5 cards (but not 2, 3, or 4 cards). Bet. Showdown.
Kings & Little Ones
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: High Hand Wild Cards: Kings and each player’s lowest card (along with any cards of the same rank)
Game Play: Same as 5 card draw, with some changes. First, there is no betting after the draw; players declare if they are “in” or “out”. If only the dealer remains in (the dealer must remain in by default), other players have an opportunity to declare again. Second, the showdown. All players show their hands; losers pay the amount of the pot to the winner, and the pot stays in the middle. The deal rotates. If only one player stays in, that player wins the pot and the game ends.
In other words, gameplay looks like: deal 5 cards down to each player. Bet. Declare. Showdown and payout to the winner. Rotate deal and deal 5 cards down to each player. Bet (to the pot in the middle). Declare. Showdown and payout to the winner (payout to the winner equals the amount of the pot in the middle). Play continues until only 1 player declares “in”.
Shotgun
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: High Hand
Game Play: 1: Deal 3 cards down to each player. Bet 2: Deal 1 card down to each player. Bet. 3: Deal 1 card down to each player. Bet. 4: Deal 1 card down to each player. Bet. 5: One at a time, players may exchange up to 3 cards in their hand. Bet. 6: Showdown.
Trees
Max Players: 10 Winning Hand: High Hand
Game Play: 1: Deal 5 cards down to each player. Bet. 2: Every player may trade any number of cards with one other player for an equal number of cards in return. When no more trades can be made, hands, are frozen. Bet. 3. Showdown.
Note: You have no idea what cards you’re getting.
Assassins
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: High Hand
Game Play: Play as 5 card draw. If a player is discarding a Jack during the draw, they may eliminate one other player of their choosing. Note that if a player being eliminated also has a Jack, they may “kill” the player eliminating them!
Psycho
Max Players: 5 Winning Hand: High and Low Hands Split Pot
Game Play: 1: Deal 5 cards down to each player. Bet. 2: Each player rolls 3 cards. Bet. 3: Each player receives 1 card face up from the dealer. Bet. 4: Each remaining player receives 1 card down from the dealer. Bet. 5: Declare high, low, or both. Bet. Showdown.
Note: Players in the final round must declare if they are going for the high hand, low hand, or both hands.
6 Back to 5
Max Players: 5 Winning Hand: High Hand
Game Play: 1: Deal 6 cards down to each player. Bet. 2: Players draw cards, discarding 1 more card than they wish to receive. Bet. 3: Showdown.
Note: Players can draw up to 3 cards while discarding 4.
Pass the Trash
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: High Hand
Game Play: 1: Deal 7 cards down to each player. Bet. 2: Each player passes 3 cards to the left. Bet. 3: Each player passes 2 cards to the left. Bet. 4: Each player passes 1 card to the left. Bet. 5: Each player discards 2 cards and stacks the remaining 5 in front of him. 6: Rolling showdown with bets after each roll. Highest roll wins.
5-card Stud Poker
In 5-card stud poker calculating odds is possible, since you’ll know the community cards. In 5-card stud games cards are dealt in a series of down, then up, then possibly another down, with betting rounds in between.
Five Card Stud
Max Players: 10 Winning Hand: High Hand
Game Play: 1: Deal each player 1 card down and 1 card up. Bet. 2: Deal each player 1 card up. Bet. 3: Deal each player 1 card up. Bet. 4: Deal each player 1 card up. Bet. 5: Showdown.
Note: A more common way to play is to deal the last card down instead of up, giving each player 2 hole cards.
Auction
Max Players: 10 Winning Hand: High and low hand splits pot
Game Play: 1: Deal 1 down card and 1 up card to each player. Bet. 2: Dealer places up cards on the table, equal to the number of players. Each player secretly puts an amount in his hand he wishes to bet (must be equal to or greater than the minimum bet, or the player must fold). Simultaneously, players reveal their bets. The player with the highest bet chooses any one of the cards on the table to add to his hand and places his bet in the pot. Selection continues in order of highest bid until all cards are selected, with each player placing his bet in the pot. In the event of a tie, the player to the dealer’s left and working around clockwise select first. 3. Repeat step 2. 4. Deal each player 1 down card. Bet. 5. Showdown.
Mexican Stud
Max Players: 10 Winning Hand: High hand
Game Play: 1: Deal 2 cards down to each player. 2: Each player rolls 1 of his 2 cards. Bet. 3: Deal 1 card down to each player. 4: Each player rolls 1 of his 2 cards. Bet. 5: Continue until all players have 4 cards up and 1 card down. 6: Showdown.
Note: Another way to play this game has the down card (and all cards of the same rank) as a wild card for that player (hole card wild).
Kings
Max Players: 10 Winning Hand: High hand and low hand splits pot Wild Card: Kings
Game Play: 1: Deal each player 1 down card. 2: Flip the top card of the deck up. If it is a King, the first player must take it. Otherwise, the player accepts or rejects it. If it is rejected, the next player can accept or reject. If accepted, the next top card is offered to the next player, and the process repeats until all players have had a chance to accept or reject a card. Once all players have had the option, the dealer deals the players that rejected cards 1 card face up and they must accept it. Bet. 3: Repeat step two until all players have 5 cards, betting after each round. 4: Players declare high or low. Bet. 5: Showdown.
Turbo 5 Card Stud
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: High hand
Game Play: 1: Deal each player 4 down cards and 1 up card. Bet. 2: Deal each player 1 down card. Each player then turns up 1 down card and discards 1 down card. Bet. 3: Repeat step two until players are left with 4 up cards and 1 down card. Bet. 4: Showdown.
Take it or leave it
Max Players: 9 Winning Hand: High hand
Game Play: 1: Deal each player 1 down card and 1 up card. Bet. 2: Starting with the first player, the dealer shows the top card of the deck to the player. The player may take the card or pass. If the player takes the card, the next player is offered the top card from the deck. If the player passes, he is given the very next card from the deck and the passed card is offered to the next player. If the card is passed by the last player, that card is buried. Bet. 3: Repeat step 2, then go to step 4. 4. Deal each player 1 down card. Bet. 5: Showdown.
Cold hands
Max Players: 10 Winning Hand: High hand
Game Play: 1: All players ante. 2: Deal all players 5 cards up. There is no betting round. 3: Showdown.
Notes: Commonly used to determine the first dealer of the night, or as a closing game to decide a pot at the end of the night.
6-card Stud Poker
The main difference between 5-card and 6-card (or more) poker is that, of course, the player has more than 5 cards at the showdown. In these games, you only play your best 5 cards. Up cards must always be played (unless otherwise stated in the game rules).
Wallaby
Max Players: 8 Winning Hand: High Hand
Game Play: 1: Deal each player 2 down cards. Bet. 2: Deal each player 2 up cards. Bet. 3: Deal each player 1 up card. Bet. 4: Deal each player 1 up card. Bet. 5: Showdown.
Game play note: only 1 of your two hole-cards can be played.
Alligator stud
Max Players: 8 Winning Hand: High Hand
Game Play: 1: Deal 1 down card and 1 up card to each player. Bet. 2: Deal 2 up cards to each player. Bet. 3: Deal 1 up card to each player. Bet. 4: Deal 1 up card to each player. Bet. 5: Showdown.
Crocodile stud
Max Players: 8 Winning Hand: High Hand
Game Play: 1: Deal 2 down cards and 1 up card to each player. Bet. 2: Deal 1 up card to each player. Bet. 3: Deal 1 up card to each player. Bet. 4: Deal 1 up card to each player. Bet. 5: Showdown.
Game play note: You must eliminate 1 down card.
7-card Stud Poker
7-card stud poker contains some of the most popular game variations. I personally find 7-card stud variants to be my favorite way to play, since some of these variations can add serious twists and surprises to a game. Variations and game types can be combined (i.e. adding a “Rainout” or “Black Widow” to Baseball where a Queen of Spades turned up kills the game and the hand is re-dealt).
7 card stud
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: High Hand
Game Play: 1: Deal each player 2 down cards and 1 up card. Bet. 2: Deal each player 1 up card. Bet. 3: Deal each player 1 up card. Bet. 4: Deal each player 1 up card. Bet. 5: Deal each player 1 down card. Bet. 6: Showdown.
Kankakee
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: High Hand Wild cards: Each player’s first up card (and any other cards of the same rank in his hand)
Game Play: Play as 7 card stud.
Second Hand High
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: Second highest hand, or the remaining hand if only one player stays in
Game Play: Play as 7 card stud.
Sequence
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: High Hand Wild card: If, during the up deal, a 2 is dealt, all 2s become wild. If, after the 2 is dealt, a 3 is dealt, all 3s become wild and 2s are no longer wild. Continue in sequence (4, 5, 6, etc.) until play is complete.
Game Play: Play as 7 card stud.
Royal Twins
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: Any player with both the Queen of Diamonds and Queen of Hearts in his hand automatically wins, otherwise high hand wins
Game Play: Play as 7 card stud.
7s Take All
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: Any player with a pair of 7s, otherwise high hand wins. In the event of a tie (two players have a pair of 7s), the pot is split.
Game Play: Play as 7 card stud.
Note: Cards speak. If you have three 7s, you cannot declare a “pair of 7s”. In this case, high hand wins. In wild card variations, wild cards cannot be used as 7s, except in a straight.
Shipwreck
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: High Hand Wild card(s): Every player’s lowest hole card (and every card of that rank) is wild for that player. Aces in the hole are always high.
Game Play: Play as 7 card stud.
Chicago
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: High Hand and High Spade in the hole split the pot
Game Play: Play as 7 card stud.
Game variation: Low hole spade can split the pot (instead of high hole spade).
Royal Chicago
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: To win, the player must have 2 of the 3: High Hand, High Spade in the Hole, Low Spade in the Hole. Rotating Deal: If nobody wins, the pot stays, and the hand is re-dealt. The deal can continue with the original deal, or the deal can progress clockwise until a winner is declared.
Game Play: Play as 7 card stud.
Dirty Schultz
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: High Hand Wild card(s): If a natural pair is dealt up to any player, the next card turned up is wild (along with all cards of the same rank) for all players. If a second pair is dealt to any player up, a new wild card replaces the old wild card. If the last card up completes a pair, nothing is wild.
Game Play: Play as 7 card stud.
Blind 7
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: High Hand
Game Play: Players may not look at their cards! 1: Deal all players 7 cards face down. Turn over the top card of the deck as the “high” card to beat. 2: The player to the left of the dealer begins rolling cards until he beats the top card from the deck. Bet. Leave the remaining cards in a stack as is. 3: The next player begins rolling cards until he beats the highest revealed hand. Bet. 4: Continue step 3, rotating around the table until all cards are played. If a player rolls all of his cards and cannot beat the highest hand revealed, he is out and a betting round ensues before the next roll. 5: Once all cards are revealed, high hand wins.
Baseball
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: High Hand Wild card(s): 3s and 9s are wild
Game Play: Play as 7 card stud. If a player is dealt a 4 face up, the player may buy another card (using a preset amount) from the deck, face down. The buy amount is added to the pot.
Midnight Baseball
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: High Hand Wild card(s): 3s and 9s are wild
Game Play: Play as Blind 7.
Game play note: A player may buy an additional card if a 4 is rolled.
English Stud
Max Players: 6 Winning Hand: High Hand
Game Play: 1: Deal 2 cards down and 1 card up to each player. Bet. 2: Deal 1 card up to each player. Bet. 3: Deal 1 card up to each player. Bet. 4: Each player may exchange 1 card in his hand for a new card. If the card exchanged is an up card, the new card is dealt up. If the card exchanged is a down card, the new card is dealt down. The player may choose not to exchange. Bet. 5: Deal 1 card up to each player. Bet. 6: Players may make another exchange. Bet. 7: Deal 1 card up to each player. Bet. 8: Players may make another exchange. 9: Showdown.
Game play note: You may elect to make players pay to exchange.
Follow the Queen
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: High Hand Wild card(s): All queens are always wild. When a queen is dealt up, the very next card dealt up (and all cards of the same rank) are also wild. If a second queen is dealt up, the wild card changes.
Game Play: Play as 7 card stud.
Game play note: The “Black Widow” can be added, which kills the game when the Queen of Spades is dealt up. The pot remains and the hand is dealt.
Follow the Cowboy
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: High Hand Wild card(s): Same as Follow the Queen, but Kings replace Queens.
Game Play: Play as 7 card stud.
Cowpie
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: Highest 5-card hand and highest 2-card hand split the pot
Game Play: Play as 7 card stud. After betting and before the showdown, each player breaks his hand into two hands, a 5-card hand and a 2-card hand. The 2-card hand must include a down card, and the 5-card hand must be higher than the 2-card hand.
Harem
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: The player with 3 Queens, or high hand Wild Card(s): Jacks and Kings are wild. If a player has a Queen, that player’s Jacks and Kings are no longer wild. If a player has 3 Queens, that player has a harem, and wins automatically!
Game Play: Play as 7 card stud.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: High Hand
Game Play: 1: Deal 2 cards down and 1 card up to each player. Bet. 2: Deal 1 card up to each player. Bet. 3: Deal 3 cards face down in the middle of the table. These are the Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. 4: The Good: Roll over the first card on the table. It is wild along with all other cards of the same rank. Bet. 5: The Bad: Roll over the second card on the table. This card is discarded along with all other cards of the same rank held by any player (and yes, it can be the “Good” card). Bet. 6: The Ugly: Roll over the third card on the table. Anyone holding a card of the same rank must fold. Bet. 7: Showdown.
Dakota
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: High Hand and Low Hand split pot Wild Card: When playing for the high hand, each player’s lowest hole card (and all other cards of the same rank) is wild. For the low hand, nothing is wild.
Game Play: 1: Deal each player 3 cards down. 2: Each player chooses 1 of his cards to roll and receives a new card down. Bet. 3: Repeat step 2 until all players have 7 cards. 4: After all players have 7 cards, each player has a choice to buy an optional 8th card at the price of the maximum bet. If the player declines, nothing changes. If the player buys the option, he must discard one of his 3 down cards in exchange for the new card down. Bet. 5: Declare high or low. Bet. Showdown.
10s & Adders
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: High Hand Wild Card: If a player has 2 cards that add up to 10, they can be used as 1 wild card (Adder). If a player has an Adder, then all 10s in his hand also become wild. If a player does not have an Adder, then his 10s are not wild.
Game Play: Play as seven card stud.
Six Kick
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: High Hand and Low Hand split pot Wild Card: If a player has 2 cards that add up to 10, they can be used as 1 wild card (Adder). If a player has an Adder, then all 10s in his hand also become wild. If a player does not have an Adder, then his 10s are not wild.
Game Play: 1: Deal 2 cards face down and 1 card up to each player. Bet. 2: Deal 1 up card to each player. Bet. 3: Deal 1 up card to each player. Bet. 4: Deal 1 up card to each player. Bet. 5: After all players have 6 cards, each player has the option of either replacing a down card or replacing an up card. It costs a minimum bet to replace an up card and twice the minimum bet to replace a down card. 6: Repeat step 5, then proceed to step 7. 7: Declare high or low. Bet. Showdown.
Have A Heart
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: High Hand
Game Play: Play as seven card stud.
Game play notes: If a player is dealt a heart face up, he may take a card from any other player. The player whose card was taken does not get a replacement card. The card taken can be either face up or down.
Wall Street
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: High Hand and Low Hand split pot
Game Play: 1: Deal each player 2 cards down and 1 card up. 2: Deal 4 cards up in the center of the table (Wall Street). The card on the extreme left of the dealer costs 1 betting unit, the next card 2 betting units, and so forth. 3: Players may elect to purchase a card on the table or take an up card from the top of the deck. Cards taken from the top of the deck are free. If a player purchases a card from Wall Street, it is replaced by the top card from the deck. Bet. 4: Repeat until all players have 4 up cards. 5: Deal each player 1 down card. Bet. 6: Declare high or low. Bet. Showdown.
Want it? Want it? Got it!
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: High Hand and Low Hand split pot
Game Play: 1: Deal each player 2 cards down and 1 card up. 2: Dealer rolls top card from the deck and offers to the first player. That player may accept or pass to the next player. The next player may either accept the card or pass. If the second player passes, the third player automatically gets the card. Once a card is accepted or forced on a player, the next player who has not received a card that round has the first option on the next card. This continues until all players have a second card up. Bet. 3: Rotate lead while repeating step 2 until all players have 4 up cards, betting each round. 4: Deal one card down to each player. Bet. 5: Declare high or low. Bet. Showdown.
8-card Stud Poker
8-card stud
Max Players: 6 Winning Hand: High Hand
Game Play: 1: Deal each player 2 down cards and 1 up card. Bet. 2: Deal each player 1 up card. Bet. 3: Deal each player 1 up card. Bet. 4: Deal each player 1 up card. Bet. 5: Deal each player 1 up card. Bet. 6: Deal each player 1 down card. Bet. 5: Showdown.
Game play note: You could also deal 2 down, 4 up, and 2 down to reduce betting rounds.
4-4-4
Max Players: 6 Winning Hand: High Hand Wild card(s): Fours
Game Play: 1: Deal 4 cards down and 1 card up to each player. Bet. 2: Deal 1 up card to each player. Bet. 3: Deal 1 up card to each player. Bet. 4: Deal 1 up card to each player. Bet. 5: Showdown.
Community Poker
In community poker, the cards in the center are playable by everyone! If a card is helping you, it’s just as likely it’s also helping someone else! In community poker, players use the best 5 cards to make the best 5-card hand.
Spit in the Ocean
Max Players: 7 Winning Hand: High Hand Wild card(s): The card in the middle is wild (plus all cards of the same rank)
Game Play: 1: Deal all players 4 cards face down. Deal 1 card face up in the middle of the table. 2: One at a time, players may exchange up to 3 cards in their hands. Bet. 3: Showdown.
The Spoiler
Max Players: 9 Winning Hand: High Hand
Game play: 1: Deal each player 5 cards. Bet. 2: 5 cards are dealt face down on the table. 3: Dealer rolls any 1 of the 5 cards. Bet. 4: Dealer rolls a second card. Bet. 5: Each player discards a card from his hand. 6: Dealer rolls a third card. Bet. 7: Each player discards a card from his hand. 8: Dealer rolls a 4th card. Bet. 9: Each player discards a card from his hand. 10: Dealer rolls the 5th card. Bet. 11: Showdown.
Bingo
Max Players: 10 Winning Hand: High Hand
Game play: 1: Deal 4 cards down to each player. Bet. 2: 9 community cards are dealt face down in a 3 by 3 square in the center of the table. 3: Each round, a community card is rolled at the dealer’s choice. Bet. Continue step 3 until all community cards are rolled, betting after each roll. 4: Showdown.
Note: Players use their 4 cards in conjunction with any row of 3 cards on the table (across, down, or diagonal) to make a 5-card hand. Note they must be in a row (no corners).
No Holds Barred
Max Players: 10 Winning Hand: High Hand
Game play: 1: Deal 4 cards down to each player. Bet. 2: Eight community cards are dealt face down on the table in a 3 x 3 square. 3: Each round, a community card is rolled at the dealer’s choice. Bet. Continue step 3 until all community cards are rolled, betting after each roll. 4: Showdown.
Note: Players use their 4 cards in conjunction with any 3 adjacent community cards to make the best 5-card hand. Corners are allowed, the cards just must be adjacent to each other.
Pyramid
Max Players: 10 Winning Hand: High Hand
Game play: 1: Deal 4 cards down to each player. Bet. 2: 6 cards are dealt face down in the center in a pyramid (3, 2, 1). 3: Each round, a community card is rolled at the dealer’s choice. Bet. Continue step 3 until all community cards are rolled, betting after each roll. 4: Showdown.
Note: Players make their best 5-card hand using their 4 down cards, the peak card, one of the 2 middle cards, and one of the 3 bottom cards.
Twin Beds
Max Players: 10 Winning Hand: High Hand
Game play: 1: Deal 4 cards down to each player. Bet. 2: 10 community cards are dealt to the middle in 2 rows of 5. Cards 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 are on top. 3: Dealer rolls cards 1 and 2. Bet. 4: Dealer rolls cards 3 and 4. Bet. 5: Dealer rolls cards 5 and 6. Bet. 6: Dealer rolls cards 7 and 8. Bet. 7: Dealer rolls cards 9 and 10. Bet. 8: Showdown.
Note: Players make their best 5-card hand using their 4 down cards in combination with cards from one row or the other (in other words, all even numbered cards, or all odd numbered cards).
Iron Cross
Max Players: 10 Winning Hand: High Hand
Game play: 1: Deal 4 cards down to each player. Bet. 2: 5 community cards are dealt face down in the shape of a cross. 3: Dealer rolls the top card. Bet. 4: Going counterclockwise around the cross, dealer rolls one card at a time, betting after each round. 5: Roll the center card. Bet. 6: Showdown.
Note: Players make their best 5-card hand using their 4 down cards in combination the 3 cards across or 3 cards down of the cross.
H Bomb
Max Players: 10 Winning Hand: High Hand
Game play: 1: Deal 4 cards down to each player. 2: Seven cards are dealt facedown in the shape of an “H”. 3: Dealer rolls any one of the 7 community cards. Bet. Continue until all are rolled. 6: Showdown.
Note: Players make their best 5-card hand using their 4 down cards in combination with any of the 5 rows of 3 cards created by the H (down, across, or diagonal).
Cincinnati
Max Players: 9 Winning Hand: High Hand
Game play: 1: Each player is dealt 5 down cards. Bet. 2: Four down cards are laid out on the table. 3: The dealer rolls one of the 4 down cards. Bet. Repeat step 3 until all 4 cards on the table are rolled. 4: Showdown.
Players use the 5 cards dealt to the with the 4 on the table to create the best 5-card hand.
Ohio
Max Players: 9 Winning Hand: High Hand Wild Cards: After the 4 community cards are rolled, the lowest ranking community card is wild.
Game play: Play as Cincinnati.
Texas Hold’em
Max Players: 23 Winning Hand: High Hand
Game play: 1: Pre-flop: The first player makes the small blind bet, the second player makes the large blind bet. 2: Deal two cards face down to each player. Bet. Betting starts with the third player as the first two players have already bet. These two players only have to pay in the difference between their blind and the current bet on the first betting round. 3: Flop: Burn 1 card. Roll the top 3 cards to the center of the table. Bet. 4: Turn: Burn 1 card. Roll the top 2 cards to the center of the table. Bet. 5: River: Burn 1 card. Roll the top card to the center of the table. Bet. 6: Showdown.
Omaha Hold’em
Max Players: 11 Winning Hand: High Hand
Game play: 1: Pre-flop: The first player makes the small blind bet, the second player makes the large blind bet. 2: Deal four cards face down to each player. Bet. Betting starts with the third player as the first two players have already bet. These two players only have to pay in the difference between their blind and the current bet on the first betting round. 3: Flop: Burn 1 card. Roll the top 3 cards to the center of the table. Bet. 4: Turn: Burn 1 card. Roll the top 2 cards to the center of the table. Bet. 5: River: Burn 1 card. Roll the top card to the center of the table. Bet. 6: Showdown.
Players must use 3 community cards with 2 of their down cards.
Irish Hold’em
Max Players: 11 Winning Hand: High Hand
Game play: Play as Omaha Hold’em
Game play note: After the flop, all players must discard 2 of their hole cards before the turn.
Super 8
Max Players: 15 Winning Hand: High Hand
Game play: Play as Texas Hold’em
Game play note: All players are dealt 3 down cards at the beginning, instead of 2.
Tahoe
Max Players: 15 Winning Hand: High Hand
Game play: Play as Super 8.
Game play note: Players may only use 2 of their down cards in the final hand.
Pineapple
Max Players: 15 Winning Hand: High Hand
Game play: Play as Super 8 (3 cards down at the beginning).
Game play note: Players must discard 1 down card prior to the flop.
Crazy Pineapple
Max Players: 15 Winning Hand: High Hand
Game play: Play as Super 8 (3 cards down at the beginning).
Game play note: Players must discard 1 down card after the flop.
Other Games
Screw your neighbor (Pass the Trash)
Max Players: 50 Winning Hand: Last remaining player
Game Play: 1: Each player places 4 equal bets in front of him. 2: Deal each player 1 card face down. 3: Each player in turn may keep his card or exchange it with the player on the left. If the player to the left has a King, he may stop the exchange by revealing his King. The last player may keep his card, or exchange it with the top card of the deck. 4: Showdown. Lowest card or lowest cards of equal rank lose, and each losing player tosses 1 of their bets in the pot. When a player is out of bets, he is out of the game. Dealer determines if Aces are high or low.
Game play note: Deal rotates while playing. In the event of a tie on the very last elimination, all players place 1 more bet in front of them and play continues until all but one are eliminated.
Tournaments
A fun way to spend a night is with a tournament-style game. The easiest way to do this is with a poker chip set, but a lot of home games will also simply do nickel-dime-quarter poker. There’s no wrong way. Couple of things to consider when working up a tournament.
How long will your tournament last?
No wrong answer here. However, you should set the expectation at the beginning of the night that the game will play until a certain time, or until all players but one are out.
What’s the minimum bet?
Prior to starting, set a minimum bet. This is typically determined, in a blind game, by the small blind. In the case of dealer’s choice tournaments, the minimum bet is set by house rules. Typically, for our home it is a nickel (in NDQ games) or $5 (1 red chip).
What’s the maximum bet?
Likewise, set a maximum bet and, if applicable, when you can go “all-in”. Typically this would be only when down to the last two players, but can be determined ahead of time to be allowed at a certain time near the end of the night.
For example, we typically only allow a nickel-dime raise until the final betting round. During the final round in NDQ, we allow quarter raises. Again, this may translate differently to chips, but you get the idea.
Dealer’s choice, or set tournament?
Is your tournament dealer’s choice (dealer calls the game), or is it only a specific type of game (Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hold’em, etc.).
Blind Determination
Another key item to determine prior to starting a hold’em style tournament is the blind distribution. In general, your chips need to match your blinds, and plan on a set of at least 300 chips for 6 players. In my set, I have chip values of 1, 5, 10, 25, 100, 500, and 1000. The blinds would typically be 1 and 2 to start, and you want the buy-in to be 40-100 times the big blind.
Determine if your blinds are progressive, or in other words, do the blinds increase? Usually, it’s a good idea to have progressive blinds as the high-value chips start accumulating with one or two players. Not progressing the blinds will usually result in very long night.
So, for my chipset, a reasonable blind progression would be 1/2, 2/4, 5/10, 10/20, 20/40, etc. In general, blinds double at each step, and the blind either doubles on a schedule, or after each deal around the table.
Chip Distribution
Chip distribution is the next fun part of the set. How many chips to make it fun, but not boring, and not frustrating. The answer is that it depends on the number of players, then blinds, and personal preference. Typically, plan on 30-40 chips per player. So, using my chip set, I’ve got 1/2 blinds to start, so the buy-in amount to start is ~$200. You can tweak this up as needed, but generally don’t go lower.
You’ll also need to take into account the number of players to figure out if you’ve got enough chips to handle the tournament. So, for 6 players, a 1/2 blind at 100 times the big blind, you’ll need to plan on $1200 in chips in play. Add some cushion for rebuys if allowed.
Some other things to consider:
You want an even chip distribution for players. Having too many low-value chips makes players want to bet blindly, while having too many high-value chips makes players more likely to fold so they can hold onto those chips.
Plan on a set of at least 4 to 5 colors at minimum to allow flexibility.
Plan on “coloring up” later in the game as the low-value chips become obsolete in a progressive blind game.
In general, plan on a 4:3:2:1 distribution. You can tweak this more (4-2-2-1-1, or 5-3-1-1) to increase the number of colors in play, or to increase the number of chips in play. For help, you can use the calculator on this site to help figure out chips in play, number to dole out, and chips remaining.
