PLAYING TIPS for ROCK-LEIGH POKER
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HOW TO PLAY ROCK-LEIGH Poker (or Rock-Lee Poker):
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. A A B B C C D D |
SUMMARY of ACTION
Deal 4 hole cards to each player. Arrange board cards. Bet Reveal 2 cards of 1st set (AA). Bet Reveal 2 cards of 2nd set (BB). Bet Reveal 2 cards of 3rd set (CC). Bet Reveal 2 cards of 4th set (DD). Bet High only or Hi-Lo Cards Speak: Showdown High-Low Declaration: Declare Bet Showdown |
PLAYING TIPS for ROCK-LEIGH POKER
Your hand in Rock-Leigh poker is taken from just 6 cards: the 4 hole cards dealt to you plus one of the pairs of board cards. This means that you must have at least 3 and preferably 4 well-coordinated hole cards to play. It also means that while it is always preferable to hold cards that have multiple ways of winning, it will be more difficult to accomplish in this game.
Your hand in Rock-Leigh poker is taken from just 6 cards: the 4 hole cards dealt to you plus one of the pairs of board cards. This means that you must have at least 3 and preferably 4 well-coordinated hole cards to play. It also means that while it is always preferable to hold cards that have multiple ways of winning, it will be more difficult to accomplish in this game.
STARTING HAND SELECTION
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 possibility, vulnerable though it is. Having 3 low card suited cards that include the ace gives additional possibilities.
As already noted, Rock-Leigh is a game where you must have at least 3 coordinated cards to play. Unfortunately, you will often be dealt 4 unpaired cards consisting of 2 high cards and 2 low cards. Unless all 4 are suited, these are worthless hands and should be folded right away.
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 possibility, vulnerable though it is. Having 3 low card suited cards that include the ace gives additional possibilities.
As already noted, Rock-Leigh is a game where you must have at least 3 coordinated cards to play. Unfortunately, you will often be dealt 4 unpaired cards consisting of 2 high cards and 2 low cards. Unless all 4 are suited, these are worthless hands and should be folded right away.