How to Play Up & Down Escalators Poker

PLAYING TIPS for UP & DOWN ESCALATORS POKER

HOW TO PLAY UP & DOWN ESCALATORS Poker:
Each player is dealt 4 hole cards. The board cards consist of 3 vertical columns of 3 cards each. There are also 2 "escalator" cards. One is placed between the 1st and 2nd vertical columns. The other is placed between the 2nd and 3rd columns. Reveal the 1st entire column, then the 3rd column, then the 2nd column. Finally reveal both "escalator" cards at once. There are betting rounds between.
Players have 2 options to make their hand:
1. Using columns 1 and 2 they may choose any 2 cards that appear at the same horizontal level, plus the escalator card located between the columns (i.e. 3 cards in total from the board). That is: both top cards (AD), both middle cards (BF) or both bottom cards (CG), plus the escalator card (E1). (i.e.. the escalator card "moves" up or down to whichever horizontal level you wish.)
2. Using columns 2 and 3 they may choose any 2 cards that appear at the same horizontal level, plus the escalator card located between the columns (ie 3 cards in total from the board). That is: both top cards (DH), both middle card (FI) or both bottom cards (GJ), plus the escalator card (E2). (ie. the escalator card "moves" up or down to whichever horizontal level you wish.)
Hands are made from any combination of 5 cards from the 7 cards (4 hole and 3 on board) available. Vertical or diagonal cards may not be used. May be played high-low split.

  Column 1 Column 2 Column 3
A    ^ D ^ H
   B    E1 F    E2 I
   C v G    v    J

SUMMARY of ACTION
Deal 4 hole cards to each player. Arrange board cards.
Bet
Reveal all 3 cards from 1st vertical column (ABC).
Bet
Reveal all 3 cards from 3rd vertical column (GHI).
Bet
Reveal all 3 cards from 2nd vertical column DEF)
Bet
Reveal both "escalator" cards (E1 & E2).
Bet
High only or Hi-Lo Cards Speak: Showdown
High-Low Declaration: Declare
Bet
Showdown

PLAYING TIPS for UP & DOWN ESCALATORS POKER
Your hand in Up & Down Escalators 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). It is highly desirable to have at least 3 and preferably 4 well-coordinated hole cards to play.
Since Escalators poker allows the use of any 5 out of 7 cards, it should be considered to be a version of 7 Card Stud. Draw upon your experience with that game to decide on how strong a hand you will need to win.

STARTING HAND SELECTION
It is highly desirable to have at least 3 and preferably 4 well-coordinated hole cards to play. You are much less dependent on favorable board cards when this is the case. 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. It could give another player a bigger hand, but that is such a rare possibility that it should not be of concern. Unfortunately, being dealt quads in 4 cards 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), a not so good straight 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 2 low cards, even A2, is not a reasonable low hand as it requires 3 nearly perfect board cards.

PROBABILITY or ODDS TABLES
Probabilities and odds of being dealt hands with 4 cards. This information is useful in games in which you can use 4 hole cards (e.g. Escalator, Forty-Two, Criss-Cross, Hex). These are the probabilities of these hands being dealt as your 4 hole cards. Note that 4 card straights, flushes and straight flushes are not yet made hands. You must get help from the common board cards to complete those hands.

4 CARD HIGH HAND PROBABILITY or ODDS
Approximate chances of being dealt the following HIGH hands as your 4 hole cards.

4 CARD LOW HAND PROBABILITY or ODDS
Approximate chances of these LOW hands being dealt to you as your 4 hole cards.

4 Card High Hand
4 of a Kind
4 to Straight Flush*
3 of a Kind
Flush
Straight*
2 Pair
1 Pair

* Including 1 gapper

Probability/Odds
0.005% (20,000:1)
0.0148 (2082:1)
0.92% (107:1)
1.04% (96:1)
1.02% (97:1)
3.04% (32:1)
30.5% (2:1)

4 Card Low Hand
A2XX
A3XX or 23XX
---
A23X
Any 4-low (3 cards)
Any 5-low (3 cards)
Any 6-low (3 cards)
---
A234
Any 5-low (4 cards)
Any 6-low (4 cards)
Any 7-low (4 cards)

Probability/Odds
7.2% (13:1)
14.4% (6:1)
---
1.2% (82:1)
3.6% (27:1)
7.2% (13:1)
12% (7:1)
---
0.09% (1110:1)
0.36% (277:1)
0.9% (110:1)
1.8% (55:1)