Last updated: 10/17/2023

Index

1. House Rules
2. Games
   1. Baseball
   2. 5-Card Draw
   3. 7-card Stud
   4. 7-card Stud
   5. Indian Poker
   6. Lowball
   7. Shit on Your Neighbor
   8. Omaha – Hi-Lo
   9. Follow the Queen
   10. Jacks or Better
   11. Other Games

House Rules

1. It's each player's responsibility to know all the rules before each game.
2. Any player may refer to the rule book at any time.
3. Players must review the most recent copy of this rule book.
4. Rule changes may occur up to 1 hour before game start time.
5. Practice hands are available for unfamiliar games.
6. Players may sit out of any hand.
7. The dealer chooses the game unless specified otherwise.
8. Dealer antes one of the lowest chip denomination unless stated otherwise.
9. No game-rule changes after the first card is dealt.
10. Disputes are settled by vote or by the house if no consensus is reached.
11. No smoking inside; use the back porch/yard.
12. Drink responsibly (Earl) or you'll be told to leave.

Guests

1. Regular players are responsible for their guests.
2. Unruly guests will lead to banning of both guest and regular player.

Betting and Chip Play

1. Chips
   1. Buy chips before each game.
   2. Chips must be visible and on the table.
   3. Only cash purchases from the house bank.
   4. No borrowing or loaning of chips.
   5. Players who run out of chips are "all in" and play into a side pot.
2. Betting Limits
   1. Max bet: $3.00
   2. Max raise: $3.00
   3. Max raises per round: 3
3. Chip Values
   1. White - 25¢
   2. Red - 50¢
   3. Blue - $1.00
   4. Green - $5.00
4. Buy-in
   1. Initial buy-in is $20.00.
   2. All buy-ins must happen before the hand starts. No buy-ins are allowed while a hand is in play.

Calling of Hands

1. Ace can play as both high and low.
2. The "Wheel" is the lowest possible hand (A-2-3-4-5) .
3. Natural beats wild.

Miscellaneous

1. Unaddressed situations will be ruled by the house.
2. Earl Pinkston all of his descendants are banned for life.
3. All hail the mighty chicken.

House Games

The list of house games is a guide. Dealers can call any game or modify rules. If a game is on this list and no changes are called, then the House Rules and rules below apply.

Baseball (Split)

This is a high/low game.

1. Collect the ante from each player.
2. Deal three cards to each player - two face down and one face up. If a player receives a face-up 4, deal another card face down.
3. Conduct a round of betting. Note: 3's and 9's are wild cards.
4. Deal the fourth, fifth, and sixth cards face up, with a betting round after each. Apply the rule for face-up 4's.
5. Deal the seventh and final card face down.
6. Dealer calls for any face-down 4's, awarding an extra card for each one.
7. Conduct a final round of betting.
8. Determine the high and low hand winners.

5-card Draw

1. Collect the ante from each player.
2. Deal five cards face down to each player.
3. Conduct a round of betting.
4. Players can discard up to three cards (four if the last card is an ace or wild), drawing new cards for each discarded.
5. Conduct a final round of betting.
6. Reveal hands and determine the winner.

7-card Stud

A poker variation best for 3 to 5 players. This is my personal favorite type of poker.

1. Deal two cards face down and one card face up to each player.
2. The first betting round starts with the player showing the highest card or hand.
3. Deal another card face up, followed by a betting round. Repeat until four cards are face up.
4. Deal a final card face down, followed by a final betting round.
5. The hand rankings are standard poker. Use the best five cards from those dealt.

Variations: Wild cards and five-of-a-kind are allowed.

Chicago (Split)

A variation of 7-card Stud. The high spade in the hole splits the pot. I'm not too thrilled about this game.

1. Deal and betting are the same as 7-card Stud.
2. The player with the highest spade in the hole (face-down cards) splits the pot.
3. Hand rankings are standard poker, using the best five cards.

Variations: Wild cards and five-of-a-kind are allowed.

Indian Poker

Not really a poker variation but commonly called so. Suitable for 2-10 players. This is essentially a high card game.

1. Deal one card to each player. A fine (usually $1) is imposed if a player looks at their own card, and they are out of the game.
2. Players hold their cards up so everyone else can see them.
3. Betting starts with the player to the left of the dealer.
4. After betting, players look at their own cards and the winner takes the pot.
5. The deal rotates to the left and continues until the deck is exhausted.

High Card rules: King high, Ace low.

Lowball

A variation on poker for 3-7 players. The game is designed to break the monotony of regular poker.

1. Deal five cards to each player.
2. Gameplay is the same as 5-card draw except the goal is to get the lowest hand.
3. Hand rankings are the same as standard poker, but the lowest hand wins.

Shit on Your Neighbor

Object: To be the last person with chips by avoiding having the lowest card at the end of each round.

1. There is no ante.
2. King is the highest card, Ace is the lowest and plays as a 1.
3. Place 5 chips (of dealer-determined value) in front of each player.
4. Deal a single card to each player.
5. If you have a King, turn it face up immediately. You're safe and your card can't be traded.
6. Players decide whether to keep their card or trade with the player to their left. If the left player has a King, no trade can happen.
7. The dealer may either keep their card (turning it face up) or trade with the top card on the deck.
8. After the dealer reveals their card, other players reveal theirs.
9. The player with the lowest card moves a chip to the center. Ties require an additional chip from each tying player's private stash.

Game continues until only one player has chips remaining.

Omaha – Hi-Lo

The game is also known as Limit Omaha Hi-Lo. This is a variation of Omaha poker, allowing players to win the pot in two ways: either by having the strongest hand (High) or the weakest hand (Low). Players can even win both the High and Low pots.

• Objective: To have the best High and/or Low hand using four hole cards and five community cards.
• Type: Community card poker game, similar to Texas Hold'em.
• Betting Structure: Limit rules apply, the maximum bet is constrained by the pot size.

Key Points

1. High Hand: Standard poker hands apply for High hands, including pairs, two pairs, straights, flushes, etc.
2. Low Hand: Composed of cards with a value of 8 or lower. Flushes and straights are not counted. An Ace can serve as the highest or lowest card.
3. Community Cards: Players make their hands using their four private hole cards and the five community cards on the table.

Follow the Queen

This is a variation of 7-card stud poker that incorporates wild cards which can change throughout the game. The game is notable for its dynamic wild card rules based on the appearance of Queens.

• Objective: To have the best five-card poker hand at showdown.
• Type: Stud Poker Game.
• Ante: All players must ante before the game starts.

Gameplay

1. Initial Deal: Each player is dealt two cards face down and one card face up. The player with the highest face-up card starts the betting.
2. Subsequent Rounds: Each player receives additional face-up cards, one per round, until they have four face-up cards. Betting occurs after each round, led by the player with the best face-up two-card poker hand.
3. Seventh Card: Players choose whether they want their seventh card face-up or face-down. Generally, it's best to take it face-down.
4. Showdown: After the final round of betting, players reveal their hands. The player with the best five-card hand wins the pot.

Wild Cards - Follow the Queen Rules

Wild cards change based on the appearance of Queens:

• Queens dealt face-up are automatically wild.
• If a player receives a Queen face-up, any Queens dealt face-down to them also become wild.
• After a Queen is dealt face-up, the next card dealt becomes a wild card.
• If another Queen is dealt face-up, the previous wild card is nullified, and the card following this new Queen becomes the new wild card.
• In some variations, if no Queen appears among the face-up cards, the game restarts with new antes.

Jacks or Better

This is a variant of 5-card draw poker with a twist: Players must have at least a pair of Jacks to open betting. This restriction elevates the challenge and excitement of the game.

• Objective: To have the best five-card poker hand at showdown.
• Type: Draw Poker Game.
• Ante: Required from all players before the deal.

Gameplay

1. Initial Deal: Each player is dealt five cards face down. Players then check their cards to see if they can open the betting with a pair of Jacks or better.
2. Betting Requirements: The game starts with a pair of Jacks or better required to open. If nobody can open, new cards are dealt after new antes, and the opening requirement becomes Queens, then Kings, then Aces, and back to Jacks.
3. Opening: The player who can open may either bet or check. Subsequent players can call, raise, or fold.
4. Draw: Players can draw up to five new cards.
5. Final Betting and Showdown: After the draw, a final round of betting occurs. The remaining players reveal their hands, and the best five-card hand wins the pot.

Variations and Strategy

This game can be played in various ways:

• Legs: Require a player to win multiple rounds before claiming the pot. If legs are in play, manage your bets carefully, especially in early rounds.
• Lowball: If no one can open, the game converts to lowball poker where the lowest hand wins.

Tip

If a player is able to open betting, consider the potential of your hand improving before deciding to call. Drawing all five cards is generally a last-resort strategy when you're down to your last leg.

Other Games