Dealer's Choice Poker Games

Dealer's choice poker games are the heart of most home poker games. Dealer's choice allows each player to select the poker game variation to be played whenever it is their turn to deal. By mixing in a variety of poker game variations dealer's choice poker keeps the game fresh and interesting. Home Poker Edge.com has assembled a collection of dozens of poker variations on 3 whole pages. Find variations of Texas holdem, Omaha and other common card poker games right on this page. 5 card stud, 7 card stud and draw poker variations are found on Dealer's Choice 2 page and wild card poker variations on the Wild Card Poker page. We've "table tested" each of these games and are sure you will find them realistic, challenging and fun to play. Our descriptions and instructions assume you already know how to play the basic poker games. Check them out and give them a try at your next home game.

Tip!
	Every poker game variation requires players to understand and adjust to new situations. When a new variation is introduced into your game those players who adjust quickly and correctly will have an advantage. Some of the things you need to think about are: proper selection of starting hands and the average likely winning hand.

Double Texas Holdem
	Played exactly like Texas hold'em except that there are two sets of board cards. The winner of each board split the pot. Expose the flop, turn and river cards of each set of board cards at the same time.

Super Texas Holdem
	Played exactly like Texas Hold'em except that each player is dealt 3 hole cards. Use 1, 2 or all 3 of the hole cards along with the cards on the board to make your hand.

Reverse Texas Holdem
	Play this game just like Texas Holdem, but reverse the order in which the board cards are revealed. The flop and turn will be one card each, with the river being the remaining 3 cards.

Pineapple
	Played similar to hold'em, however each player is dealt 3 hole cards instead of 2. One of those cards must be discarded prior to the flop. Play then continues exactly like hold'em.

Crazy Pineapple
	Just like Pineapple, each player is dealt 3 hole cards instead of 2, but it is not until after the flop that each player must discard one hole card. Play then continues exactly like hold'em.

Crazy Pinnapple with Replacement
	Played exactly like Crazy Pinnapple with this one exception: After the river card has been exposed each player has the option to replace one of his hole cards for a pre-determined fee. Suggested fee is 2-4 times the upper betting limit. The player must first discard a hole card and is then dealt the replacement from the deck. May be played high-low split or high-low eight or better.

Oklahoma
	The players in my home game named this Oklahoma since it is between Texas and Omaha. Played similar to Omaha, except players are dealt 3 hole cards instead of 4. As in Omaha you must use 2 hole cards and 3 board cards to make your hand. May be played high, high-low split or high-low split 8 or better.

Double Omaha
	Played exactly like Omaha except there are two sets of board cards. High hand on each board split the pot.

Double Omaha high-low
	As in "Double Omaha" there are two sets of board cards. Either set can be used for either the high or low. The best high hand and best low hand split the pot. May also be played with requirement that low is 8 or better.

Super Omaha
	Played exactly like Omaha, except that each player is dealt 5 hole cards. Like Omaha, each player's hand is made from exactly 2 of their hole cards plus 3 cards from the board. May be played high, high-low split or high-low split 8 or better.

Omaha-Five
	Played like Omaha with this twist: Deal 5 cards down to each player. Before any betting each player must discard one hole card face down in the middle of the table. These discarded cards are shuffled or mixed together. 5 of the discarded cards are drawn and are used for the flop, turn and river. Play continues exactly like Omaha. May be played high, high-low split, or high-low 8 or better.

Tip!
	Many high-low split games can be played "8 or better". Sometimes players forget this important qualification. Make sure the low hand is shown and meets this requirement. Read more playing tips for high-low split.

Turnpike (Route 23)
	Each player is dealt 5 hole cards. Four sets of 3 cards each are placed face down on the table. One entire set is revealed after each round of betting. Player must combine 2 of his hole cards with one entire 3 card set to make his hand. May be played high-low split. Click here for playing tips for Turnpike.

Turnpike (Route 32)
	Each player is dealt 5 hole cards. Four sets of 3 cards each are placed face down on the table. One entire set is revealed after each round of betting. Player must combine 3 of his hole cards with any 2 cards of one of the 3 card sets to make his hand. May be played high-low split. Click here for playing tips for Turnpike.

Rock-leigh
	Players are dealt 4 hole cards. Four sets of two board cards are placed face down on the table. One entire set is revealed after each round of betting. Players make their hands by using 3 or 4 hole cards PLUS 1 or both cards of one of the sets. May be played high-low split. Click here for playing tips for rock-leigh

Thirty-Two

There are 4 variations to Thirty-Two. In all versions each player is dealt 5 hole cards. Players always use 3 of their hole cards plus 2 of the board cards to make their hand. Each version arranges and uses the board cards differently. Board cards are turned over one at a time. There is a round of betting after dealing the 5 hole cards and after each board card is revealed. Each may be played high-low split.

Thirty-Two L
3 board cards are arranged in an "L" shape: Card A is placed on top. Card C is placed directly below A. Card B is placed to the right of card C. Cards are turned up one at a time in A, B, C order. Players may use either pair of adjoining cards. That is, pair AC or pair BC. They may not use pair AB.

Thirty-Two Z
4 board cards are placed in roughly the shape of a "Z": Card A is placed on top. Card D is placed to the right of A. Card C is placed directly below D. Card B is placed to the right of C. Cards are turned over in A, B, C, D order. Players may use any one of the 3 pairs of adjoining cards. That is: pair AD, pair DC, pair CB. They may not use AC, AB or DB.

Thirty-Two Squared
Place 4 cards face down in a square or box shape. Cards A & D next to one another. Card C is placed below A. Card B is place below card D. After each round of betting a down card is revealed in A, B, C, D order. Players must use any one of the 4 pair of cards consisting of 2 adjoining cards. That is pair AD, AC, CB or DB. Diagonal pairs (AB or CD) are not allowed.

Thirty-Two Straight
	4 board cards are placed face down in a straight line. Cards are revealed one at a time in any order. Players may use any two cards from the board.

Tip!
	Unlike games like hold'em or Omaha in which you can determine the highest possible hand based on the board cards, in "32" this is not possible for the high hand. Click here for more playing tips for thirty-two

Criss-cross

Place 5 cards face down on the table with 1 vertical row of 3 cards, and one card placed on either side of the middle card to form a horizontal row of 3 cards. Four cards are dealt to each player. Players select any 5 cards from their 4 hole cards plus the 3 cards in either the vertical row or the horizontal row to make their hand. Each down card is exposed after a round of betting, with the middle card exposed last. May be played high-low split.

Hex
"Hex" as in hexagonal. Each player is dealt 4 hole cards. Six cards are placed face down on the table in a hexagon shape. 2 cards are revealed at a time in this order (starting with 1 at the top): 1&3, 4&6, 2&5. Players make their hand by choosing from any 3 consecutive board cards (ie. 123, 234, 345, 456, 561, 612) along with their 4 hole cards. May be played high-low split.

More Dealer's Choice Poker Games on Dealer's Choice 2 page and Wild Card Poker.