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More Dealer's Choice Poker Games
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Our large collection of dealer's choice poker game variations keeps on growing. The games described on this page are based on stud poker and draw poker. Home Poker Edge.com has "table tested" all of these poker games and we think you will find them interesting, challenging and fun additions to your home poker game. Our descriptions and instructions assume you already know how to play the basic poker games. But, if you ever have questions or want to know more about them, please let us know via our Contact Us page. Got a favorite dealer's choice poker game that's not included here? Let us know and we can add it.
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7 Card Stud High-Low, 8 or better
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Played exactly like 7 card stud. The variation is that it is played high-low split. The "8 or better" refers to the low hand, which must be 5 unmatched cards each of rank 8 or below. If no one has a qualifying low hand the entire pot goes to the high hand.
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Tip!
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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.
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Razz
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Razz is 7 card stud played for low only. Best hand is 5432A. Straights or flushes do not disqualify a hand. The low hand on the board begins each betting round.
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High Chicago/Low Chicago
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Played exactly like 7 card stud. In high Chicago the highest spade that is one of a player's hole cards (not exposed card) splits the pot with the highest hand. Low Chicago is similar, but it is the lowest spade hole card that splits the pot with the highest poker hand. If no one has a spade as a hole card, the highest hand wins the whole pot.
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7 Card Stud, No Peek
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Each player is initially dealt 7 cards. NO player is allowed to look at any of their cards, they must only place them face down in a pile in front of them. The player to the dealer's left turns over one card. There is a round of betting. The next player turns over his cards one by one until he has a higher hand. This is followed by another betting round. This continues with every player turning over his cards until he either runs out of cards or has the highest hand exposed on the board.
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Draft Stud
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7 card stud. The first 3 cards (2 down, 1 up) are dealt in the usual manner. The variation occurs on 4th, 5th and 6th streets. For each of these the same number of cards as there are remaining players are dealt face up on the table. The player with the lowest hand at that time is first to select his card from among those cards. Players select in order from lowest/worst to highest/best hand. 7th street is dealt as a down card in the usual manner.
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Pineapple Stud
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7 card stud. To start the game deal 4 cards face down to each player. From these 4 cards each player selects 1 card as their first up card, 2 as hole cards, 1 card to discard. Play then procedes as usual for 7 card stud.
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The "Pineapple Principle" can be applied to just about any version of stud. Just make the obvious modifications to fit the game. For example, to use it with 5 card stud make an initial deal of 3 down cards. 1 is kept as the hole card, 1 as the first up card and 1 is discarded.
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6 Card Stud
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Deal first card down, next 4 cards up and last card down.
May be played high or high-low split.
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5 Card Stud with Replacement
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Played exactly like 5 card stud. However, after all the cards have been dealt each player has an option to exchange or replace one of his cards for a pre-set fee. (You can set the fee at any price you wish, but don't make it too cheap or too expensive. About 5-10 times the ante seems right.)
If an exposed (up) card is exchanged, the replacement card is dealt exposed. If a hole (down) card is exchanged, the replacement is dealt face down. Replacement options are offered 1 player at a time starting from the left of the dealer. If the replacement option is originally declined it can not be taken later. Replacement is an option, not a requirement.
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Ace to Five Lowball
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Draw poker played as low only. The best hand is 5432A. Only the ranks of the cards are important as straights and flushes are ignored.
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Fifty-Two Draw
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A variation of draw poker which includes some common board cards. Each player is dealt 5 hole cards. Two cards are placed face down on the table. After a round of betting 1 of the cards is turned face up, another betting round and the second is turned up. Players may discard and draw up to 3 cards to their hole cards. Players must use all 5 hole cards OR 3 hole cards and both board cards to make their hand. (4 and 1 is not permitted.) May be played high-low split. Not recommended for more than 7 players since you will often run out of cards. (If that happens, collect and re-shuffle discards and use them.)
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Tip!
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New "52-draw" players (and occasionally experienced ones) may misplay their hand by forgetting that they may not use 4 hole cards and 1 board card.
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Forty-Two Draw
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A variation that can be used with 8 players. Each is dealt 4 hole cards. Two board cards as in "52-draw". Players may discard and draw up to 2 cards. Players may use any 5 cards to make their hand. May be played high-low split.
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Tip!
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The dealer has a significant advantage in "52-draw" and "42-draw" since he will know how many cards his opponents draw before he makes his own draw.
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3 Card Drop, long version
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A three card poker game. Each player is dealt 3 down cards. There is an initial ante, but no further betting. There is no draw; there are no common cards. Best 3 card hand wins with this ranking: high card, pair, flush, straight, trips, straight flush (why is straight ranked higher than flush? see the probabilities of 3 card poker) After receiving and looking at cards each player must decide if they wish to drop out or stay in game. This is done by all players simultaneously declaring in or drop by means of chips: no chip in hand = drop. One chip in hand = play. Here is what happens after declaration:
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If all players drop there is no winner. All players ante again and the game is replayed.
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If more than 1 player stays in game there is a showdown. The highest hand wins the pot. However, the game does not end. Each loser must fund a new pot by paying in an amount of chips equal to the pot that was just won. Additionally, each player must re-ante. A new hand is dealt to compete for this new pot.
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When only one player declares "in" that player wins the pot and the game ends.
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The key elements to 3 card drop is that the game does not end until only one player declares "in" and that the game keeps repeating and the pot keeps increasing until that happens. There is the potential to create huge pots, win or lose large sums and create a lot of tension and ill-will between players. This is not a game for the faint of heart. You can try to limit the pots by reducing the additional antes to a fraction of the initial ante, stoping re-antes altogether after a few rounds and by exempting a loser from also having to make a re-ante. You may also wish to place a maximum cap on the amount losers must pay.
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Tip!
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When there is a lot of money in the pot it may occur to you that the other players will be afraid to remain in the game and that you will be able to steal the pot with any hand just by having the nerve to declare "in". Find out if that is a good idea and get more tips for playing 3 card drop. by clicking this link.
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3 Card Drop, short version
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This version of 3 card drop will result in a quicker game, smaller pots and reduced likelihood that it will cost the loser(s) a lot of money. As in the long version, when only 1 player declares "in" they win the entire pot and when no one declares in the players re-ante and play again. However, when more than 1 player declares in the winner takes the pot plus each loser must match the pot and pay it to the winner. The game then ends
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3 Card Lowball with Triple Draw
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This game is played as low only. Lowest hand being 32A.
Deal 3 cards to each player. There are 3 opportunities to draw cards with a betting round between each. Players may discard and draw up to 3 cards in each round. Re-shuffle and use discards if necessary.
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5 Card Lowball with Triple Draw
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As the 3 card version this is played low only with lowest hand being 5432A. Three opportunities for each player to discard and draw up to 4 cards in each. Betting rounds between each draw. Re-shuffle discards and use if necessary.
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