PLAYING TIPS for ELEVATOR POKER
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HOW TO PLAY ELEVATOR Poker:
Each player is dealt 4 hole cards. The board cards consist of 2 vertical columns of 3 cards each. A single "elevator" card is placed between the 2 vertical columns. See diagram below. Reveal one entire column, then the other and finally the single elevator card, with betting rounds between. Players may use any 2 cards in a horizontal row, plus the elevator card (ie 3 cards in total from the board). That is: both top cards (AA), both middle cards (BB) or both bottom cards (CC), plus the elevator card (E). The elevator card "moves" up or down to whatever horizontal row you want. Vertical or diagonal cards may not be used. Hands are made from the best 5 of 7 cards. May be played high-low split. A ^ A
B E B C v C |
SUMMARY of ACTION
Deal 4 hole cards to each player. Arrange board cards. Bet Reveal all 3 cards from one vertical column (ABC). Bet Reveal all 3 cards from 2nd vertical column (ABC). Bet Reveal middle "elevator" card (E). Bet High only or Hi-Lo Cards Speak: Showdown High-Low Declaration: Declare Bet Showdown |
PLAYING TIPS for ELEVATOR POKER
Your hand in Elevator poker will be taken from 7 cards: the 4 hole cards dealt to you, plus 3 of board cards. You may use any combination of hole and board cards to make your hand (4 hole & 1 board; 3 hole & 2 board or 2 hole & 3 board).
STARTING HAND SELECTION
It is highly desirable to have at least 3 and preferably 4 well-coordinated hole cards to play. The best high starting hand you could hope for is 4 of a kind. You have what is almost assuredly the best hand right from the start. The board can neither improve nor counterfeit your quads but could (very rarely) give another player a bigger hand. But, that is such a far-off possibility that it should not concern you. Unfortunately, being dealt quads is about a 20,000 to 1 long shot. Another rare starting hand is 4 to a straight flush, including 1 gapper. With this type of hand, you will either draw a fabulous hand (straight flush), a decent hand (regular flush) or nothing (unless it consists of low cards). Excellent starting hands that occur more frequently are trips and two pair. These hands are just one board card away from becoming a huge hand. Four cards to a flush are also a decent starting hand, while four to a straight is typically not worth playing unless it can be played for low. With the exception of starting with trips, having just 3 cards to these hands will require the help of both cards from one of the board pairs and that is much more difficult. But if they include multiple possibilities like a pair or 3 low cards they may be worth playing.
Excellent starting hands for low are obvious: 4 cards of 6 or lower. Such a hand will also include straight possibilities, vulnerable though it is. Having 3 to a flush (including the ace) gives an additional possibility. Three low cards, all 4 or under, is a decent start, but will take help from 2 of 3 of the board cards. Unless you have other possibilities for high, having just A2 is not a reasonable low hand as it requires 3 nearly perfect board cards.
Your hand in Elevator poker will be taken from 7 cards: the 4 hole cards dealt to you, plus 3 of board cards. You may use any combination of hole and board cards to make your hand (4 hole & 1 board; 3 hole & 2 board or 2 hole & 3 board).
STARTING HAND SELECTION
It is highly desirable to have at least 3 and preferably 4 well-coordinated hole cards to play. The best high starting hand you could hope for is 4 of a kind. You have what is almost assuredly the best hand right from the start. The board can neither improve nor counterfeit your quads but could (very rarely) give another player a bigger hand. But, that is such a far-off possibility that it should not concern you. Unfortunately, being dealt quads is about a 20,000 to 1 long shot. Another rare starting hand is 4 to a straight flush, including 1 gapper. With this type of hand, you will either draw a fabulous hand (straight flush), a decent hand (regular flush) or nothing (unless it consists of low cards). Excellent starting hands that occur more frequently are trips and two pair. These hands are just one board card away from becoming a huge hand. Four cards to a flush are also a decent starting hand, while four to a straight is typically not worth playing unless it can be played for low. With the exception of starting with trips, having just 3 cards to these hands will require the help of both cards from one of the board pairs and that is much more difficult. But if they include multiple possibilities like a pair or 3 low cards they may be worth playing.
Excellent starting hands for low are obvious: 4 cards of 6 or lower. Such a hand will also include straight possibilities, vulnerable though it is. Having 3 to a flush (including the ace) gives an additional possibility. Three low cards, all 4 or under, is a decent start, but will take help from 2 of 3 of the board cards. Unless you have other possibilities for high, having just A2 is not a reasonable low hand as it requires 3 nearly perfect board cards.