Wild Card Poker Games

WILD CARD POKER GAMES
Try some of our favorite wild card poker games at your next dealer's choice home poker game.

Some people love wild card poker games. Some players hate them. There are a lot of players who may feel somewhere in the middle. It is certainly true that there are some ridiculous wild card poker variations. But there are also many wild card games that can be challenging and enjoyable. We think our collection contains many of the best wild card poker games in both categories.

Before you play wild card poker games you will definitely want to read the numerous playing tips in our Wild Card Poker Guide. It has lots of valuable information about playing and winning wild card poker games including difficult to find wild card hand probabilities or odds charts.

Do you have your own favorite wild card poker game that's not included here? We are constantly on the lookout for new games, so send it in.

The Dealer's choice poker games on this page are wild card poker games and include a variety of games based on Draw poker, Omaha and Stud poker. There are also lots of other games on these other pages, too:

Draw Poker Games
Hold 'em Poker Games
Omaha Poker Games
Stud Poker Games
Other (non-poker) Games

Most of the games described throughout HomePokerEdge.com, including these wild card games, may be played as high-low split. Playing high-low split poker games introduces many additional factors that must be considered, so see our High-Low Poker Guide for playing tips, hand odds or probabilities and much more information you will need to play high-low split poker.

DRAW-BASED WILD CARD POKER GAMES

BUMMER DRAW POKER
Deal 5 hole cards to each player. Place 2 cards face down on the table. Bummer Draw Poker has a requirement that you MUST either bet (or raise) or fold. Checking is not allowed. The first board card is exposed after a round of betting. Players now have the opportunity to discard and draw up to 2 cards. A round of betting follows the draw. The second board card is revealed. This 2nd card and any like ranked cards is wild. (The first board card is not wild, unless it is of the same rank as the wild card.) Use any 5 of the 7 available cards to make your hand.
Playing Tips for Bummer Draw Poker. Includes detailed playing instructions and strategy, additional optional rules, starting hand selection, hand odds and more.

K2 DRAW POKER
A combination of 5 card draw and 5 card stud played as high-low split. Kings are wild only in low hands. Deuces are wild only in high hands. Kings and deuces may also be played at face value, that is, a deuce is a deuce, a king is a king. Start the game by dealing and playing 5 card draw in the normal manner. After the draw the game turns into a variation of 5 card stud. Each player arranges their cards in any order they wish and places them in a pile face down on the table in front of them. Once that is done, the order of the cards may not be changed. Each player initially reveals their first two cards, but thereafter cards 3, 4 and 5 are revealed one card at a time There is a round of betting between each reveal.
May be played as cards speak with no declaration. If declaration is used, it should be made prior to revealing the last card.
Playing tips for K2 Draw Poker. Includes detailed playing instructions and strategy, starting hand selection, hand odds and more.

ACE TO FIVE LOWBALL with JOKER
Draw poker played low only with the best hand being 5432A. One joker is added to the deck. The joker is wild and may be used as any card. Only the ranks of the cards are important as straights and flushes are ignored.

DRAW POKER with JOKER
5 card draw poker with 1 joker added to the deck. It is played high only. The joker serves as a wild card, but in a limited way. It may be used to complete straights, flushes or straight flushes and also as an ace, but not for any other purpose. The highest hand is 5 aces. Due to the limited use of the joker wild card no other 5 of a kind hands are possible.

DEUCES WILD
Classic draw poker or stud poker with all deuces being wild cards, thus there are a total of 4 wild cards. Typically played as high only.

ONE EYED JACKS WILD
Classic draw poker or stud poker played with 2 wild cards - the Jack of Spades and Jack of Hearts (each has only 1 eye visible). Typically played as high only but may also be played high-low split.

SPIT IN THE OCEAN (Wild Version)
5 Card Draw with a shared common wild card. Deal each player 4 down cards. Deal a single card up in the center of the table. This card (and the other cards of the same rank) is wild and is used as the 5th card in each players hand. After a round of betting each player may draw up to 3 cards to their hand.

DEUCES, JACKS, THE MAN WITH THE AX
5 card draw poker with all deuces, all jacks and the king of diamonds (i.e. the "man with the ax") wild. That's nine wild cards or over 17% of the deck. Go wild card nuts with this game! Typically played as high only.
Natural Sevens Option: Played with the very best hand being a natural pair of sevens which beat even 5 aces. Only a pair of natural sevens qualifies - not a seven and a wild card and not trip or quad sevens.

OMAHA-BASED WILD CARD POKER GAMES

WILD BUTTERFLY
Deal each player 4 hole cards. Eleven board cards are placed face down and are arranged as per the diagram. The X card is wild. Any other card of that rank that are held in a player's hand are also wild. But any card(s) of the same rank as X that are among the other 10 board cards are not wild.

To make their hand players must use exactly 2 of their hole cards plus either:
1. Any one card from column A, plus any one card from column B, plus card X
2. Any one card from column D, plus any one card from column C, plus card X
Reveal the board cards in this order:
1. All 3 cards of column A & all 3 cards of column D
2. Both cards of column B & both cards of column C
3. Wild Card X
A round of betting occurs after the hole cards are dealt and after each of the 3 reveals is made.

A D
B C
A X D
B C
A D

KING TUT
Deal each player 4 hole cards. The board consists of 6 cards arranged in the shape of a pyramid of 3 horizontal levels or rows. The bottom level has 3 cards, the middle 2 cards and at the top is a single card. The single card at the top and the 3 other of that rank are wild. Players must make their hand by using exactly 2 of their hole cards, plus just 1 card from each of the 3 horizontal levels (ie. 1 card of 3 from the bottom level, 1 of 2 cards from the middle level, plus the sole wild card at the top level.) Reveal each level starting with the bottom, then middle and finally the top, with a round of betting between.

KING TUT'S TOMB
Deal each player 4 hole cards. The board consists of 6 cards arranged in the shape of a pyramid of 3 horizontal levels or rows. The bottom level has 3 cards, the middle 2 cards and at the top is a single card. Finally, place a single card, face down, below the base of the pyramid. This card represents King Tut, buried beneath his pyramid and will be used to designate the wild card. Players must make their hand by using 2 of their hole cards, plus just 1 card from each of the 3 horizontal levels (ie. 1 card of 3 from the bottom level, 1 of 2 cards from the middle level, plus the sole card at the top level.) Reveal each level starting with the bottom, then middle and finally the top, with a round of betting between. Lastly, reveal the King Tut card and follow with another round of betting. The King Tut card is used only to designate the wild card, but it may not itself be used in a hand. Only the other 3 cards of that rank on the board or in a player's hand may be used as a wild card.

KING TUT'S REVENGE
Deal each player 4 hole cards. The board consists of 6 cards arranged in the shape of a pyramid of 3 horizontal levels or rows. The bottom level has 3 cards, the middle 2 cards and at the top is a single card. Finally, place a single card, face down, below the base of the pyramid. This card represents King Tut buried beneath his pyramid. As the game nears its end, he may (or may not) take his revenge. Players must make their hand by using 2 of their hole cards, plus just 1 card from each of the 3 horizontal levels (ie. 1 card of 3 from the bottom level, 1 of 2 cards from the middle level, plus the sole card at the top level.)
Reveal each level starting with the bottom, then middle and finally the top, with a round of betting between. Once revealed, the single top card (plus the 3 other of that rank) becomes the wild card - at least temporarily.
The final card to be revealed is the King Tut card. If the King Tut card is of a rank that is higher than the top card of the pyramid, the wild card is changed. Remove the original top wild card and replace it with the King Tut card. That card (and the 3 others of that rank) is now wild. Add another round of betting only if the original wild card is changed by the King Tut card.
If the King Tut card is of the same or lower rank than the original top wild card nothing changes.

TRINITY POKER
Deal each player 3 hole cards. Six cards are placed face down on the table in a hexagonal or roughly circular shape. A seventh card is place in the middle and it is a wild card. Additionally, any card of that same rank that appears on the board or is present in a players hole cards is also wild. 3 cards are revealed at a time followed by a round of betting. With 1 at the top, reveal cards 1, 2 & 3, then cards 4, 5 & 6. The middle wild card is revealed last. Players make their hand by choosing any one of the 3 card combinations that can be made by making a straight line passing through the wild card. There are 3 such 3 card combinations along with exactly 2 of their hole cards.
Playing tips for Trinity Poker. Includes detailed playing instructions and strategy, card arrangement diagrams, starting hand selection, hand odds and more.

SLOT MACHINE (Omaha Version)
Deal each player 4 hole cards. Place 9 cards, arranged in 3 columns of 3 cards each, face down on the board. Reveal 1 vertical column at a time starting with the left hand column. Players make their hand using exactly 2 of their 4 hole cards plus all 3 cards from any one of 5 "pay lines" of the board cards. Pay lines are: any of the 3 horizontal rows, or either of the 2 diagonal rows. All 7's are wild whether on the board or in your hand.

STUD-BASED WILD CARD POKER GAMES

7 CARD STUD - LOW HOLE CARD WILD
7 card stud with the lowest hole card (and like ranked cards) held by each player being wild. It is played exactly like the "regular" 7 card stud. There are also several optional rules that can be included as listed below.

Aces are never wild. An ace is played only as an ace, never as a wild card. Should you end up with all 3 of your hole cards being aces you have no wild cards.

Roll your own hole cards. Deal each of the first 3 cards down. Each player is the allowed to select the 2 cards to keep in the hole and the one card to expose. Deal remaining cards as normal.

Roll ALL your own. Deal all the cards face down. The player makes the decision of which card to expose on 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th street. This variation almost guarantees that a player is able to select and keep the most advantageous wild cards in the hole.

7th street option. In stud your 7th card is normally dealt as a down card. This raises the possibility of drawing a lower card that changes your wild card. The 7th street option allows you to elect to have your last card dealt exposed. You would then have 5 exposed cards (instead of 4) and only 2 hole cards. This option protects you from having your wild card suddenly changed, something you wouldn't want happening if you held a pair in the hole as wild cards and drew a card lower than that pair on 7th street. Playing with this option is highly recommended. It is also recommended that a fee be required for electing to take your last card up instead of down.

5 CARD STUD - HOLE CARD WILD
Played exactly like 5 card stud. Each player's hole card and any same ranked card they hold is wild.
Add options such as roll your own and/or aces are never wild if you wish.

U PICK 5 CARD STUD - HOLE CARD WILD
A version of 5 card stud in which each player's one hole card (and any other same ranked card they hold) is wild. Deal the first card face down to each player as usual. For the remaining 4 up cards each player is given the choice of 2 options. Start each round by dealing 2 cards face up on table. The next player due to be dealt a card has these options:

1. Select 1 of the 2 cards as his up card. Another card is dealt face up on the table to replace it and the next player in rotation has the same options in choosing the card he/she wants. If a player passes on the exposed cards and takes his next card from the deck, the 2 exposed cards remain for the following player to choose from.

2. Receive the next unseen card from the top of the deck. This card is dealt down. The player then selects which one of his current 2 down cards to expose. A fee should be charged whenever a player selects this option. Fee is suggested to be one large bet.

Once a complete round of cards has been selected the remaining exposed card(s) are mucked. Each round of card selection starts fresh. As usual, betting occurs between each round of card selection.

6 CARD STUD - LOW HOLE CARD WILD
6 card stud with the lowest hole card and any like ranked cards held by each player being wild. It is played exactly like the "regular" 6 card stud and
there are also several optional rules that can be added as described below.

1 down-4 up-1 down Dealing: Start by dealing each player 1 hole card and 1 up card. A round of betting follows. The 3rd, 4th and 5th cards are dealt up. The 6th card is dealt down.

2 down-4 up Dealing: Start by dealing each player 2 hole cards and 1 up card. A round of betting follows. The 4th, 5th and 6th cards are dealt up with a round of betting after each card. When dealing this way, the number of betting rounds is reduced from 5 to 4.

6th street option. If you play by dealing the first and last card as down cards ("1-4-1") you raise the possibility of your second hole card being lower ranked than your original hole card and changing your wild card. This option allows you to elect to have your last card dealt exposed. You would then have 5 exposed cards (instead of 4) and only 1 hole card. This option protects you from having your wild card suddenly changed. This option is highly recommended when playing as "1-4-1". It is recommended to charge a fee for electing to take your last card up instead of down. If you deal the first 2 cards as hole cards ("2-4") with the last card up this option is not applicable.

Roll your own hole cards. Deal each of the first 2 cards ("1-4-1") or 3 cards ("2-4") down. Each player is the allowed to select the 1 card to expose and card(s) to keep in the hole. Deal remaining cards as normal.

Roll ALL your own cards. Deal all cards face down. The player makes the decision of which card to expose on 3rd, 4th and 5th street. This variation almost guarantees that a player is able to select and keep the most advantageous wild cards in the hole.

Aces are never wild. An ace is played only as an ace, never as a wild card. Should you end up with both of your hole cards being aces you would have no wild cards.

7 CARD LOW for HIGH / HIGH for LOW
High-low split version of 7 card stud. A player's lowest hole card (and like ranked cards) is wild if the player declares for the high hand. A player's highest hole card (and like ranked cards) is wild if the player declares for the low hand. For wild card purposes the ace is considered the highest card. It is played exactly like the "regular" 7 card stud, but there are also several optional rules that can be employed as described below.

7th street option. In 7 card stud your last card is normally dealt as a down card. But, this raises the possibility of drawing a card that changes your wild card. The 7th street option allows you to elect to have your last card dealt exposed. You would then have 5 exposed cards (instead of 4) and only 2 hole cards. This option protects you from having your wild card suddenly changed, something you might not want happening if, for example, you are holding a pair in the hole. Playing with this option is highly recommended. It is recommended that a fee be required for electing to take your last card up instead of down.

Roll your own hole cards. Deal each of the first 3 cards down. Each player is then allowed to select the 2 cards to keep in the hole and the one card to expose. Deal remaining cards as normal.

Roll ALL your own cards. Deal all the cards face down. The player makes the decision of which card to expose on 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th street. This variation almost guarantees that a player is able to select and keep the most advantageous wild cards in the hole. Expect to see stronger hands with this option.

Aces are never wild. With this option an ace is played only as an ace, never as a wild card. Since an ace is already both the highest and lowest possible card little is lost by excluding aces from being wild. Though highly unlikely, should you end up with all 3 of your hole cards being aces you would have no wild cards.

6 CARD LOW for HIGH / HIGH for LOW
High-low split version of 6 card stud. A player's lowest hole card (and like ranked cards) is wild if the player declares for the high hand. A player's highest hole card (and like ranked cards) is wild if the player declares for the low hand. A pair in the hole may be wild for both the high and low hands. For wild card purposes the ace is considered the highest card. It is played exactly like the "regular" 6 card stud, but there are also several optional rules that can be added as described below.

1 down-4 up-1 down Dealing: Start by dealing each player 1 hole card and 1 up card. A round of betting follows. The 3rd, 4th and 5th cards are dealt up. The 6th card is dealt down.

2 down-4 up Dealing: Start by dealing each player 2 hole cards and 1 up card. A round of betting follows. The 4th, 5th and 6th cards are dealt up with a round of betting after each card. When dealing this way, the number of betting rounds is reduced from 5 to 4.

6th street option. If you play by dealing the first and last card as down cards ("1-4-1") you raise the possibility of your second hole card changing your wild card. The 6th street option allows you to elect to have your last card dealt exposed. You would then have 5 exposed cards (instead of 4) and only 1 hole card. Your single hole card may be wild for both the high and low hand. This option protects you from having your wild card suddenly changed. This option is highly recommended when playing as "1-4-1". It is recommended that a fee be required for electing to take your last card up instead of down.
If you choose to deal the first 2 cards as hole cards ("2-4") with the last card up this option is not applicable.

Roll your own hole cards. Deal each of the first 2 cards ("1-4-1") or 3 cards ("2-4") down. Each player is the allowed to select the 1 card to expose and card(s) to keep in the hole. Deal remaining cards as normal.

Roll ALL your own cards. Deal all cards face down. The player makes the decision of which card to expose on 3rd, 4th and 5th street. This variation almost guarantees that a player is able to select and keep the most advantageous wild cards in the hole.

Aces are never wild. With this option an ace is played only as an ace, never as a wild card. Since an ace is already both the highest and lowest possible card little is lost by excluding aces from being wild. Should you end up with both of your hole cards being aces you would have no wild cards.

WILD RAZZ-BERRY
Wild Razz-Berry is 7 card stud played for low only (i.e. Razz). Each players highest hole card and any card of the same rank is wild. Kings are considered the highest card. The low hand on the board begins each betting round. Best hand is 5432A. Straights or flushes do not disqualify a hand. Several optional rules can be employed as described below.

7th street option. In Wild Razz-Berry your 7th card is normally dealt as a down card. This raises the possibility of drawing a higher card that changes your wild card. The 7th street option allows you to elect to have your last card dealt exposed. You would then have 5 exposed cards (instead of 4) and only 2 hole cards. This option protects you from having your wild card suddenly changed, something you wouldn't want happening if you held a pair in the hole as wild cards and drew a card higher than that pair on 7th street. Usually, a fee is required for electing to take your last card up instead of down.

Roll your own hole cards. Deal each of the first 3 cards down. Each player is the allowed to select the 2 cards to keep in the hole and the one card to expose. Deal remaining cards as normal.

Roll all your own. Deal all the cards face down. The player makes the decision of which card to expose on 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th street. This variation almost guarantees that a player is able to select and keep the most advantageous wild cards in the hole.

RED RAZZ-BERRY / BLACK RAZZ-BERRY
Wild Razz-berry may also be played in 2 other versions: Red Razz-Berry & Black Razz-Berry. For Red Razz-Berry only the highest red card in the hole and the other red card of that rank is wild. Likewise, for Black Razz-Berry, it is the highest black card in the hole and the other black card of that rank. Thus, for these variations a single player may never have more than 2 wild cards. If a player does not have a hole card of the correct color, they have no wild cards. If you wish, add options such as 7th street option, roll your own and/or aces are never wild.

HOLD'EM STUD WITH JOKER
Hold Em Stud Poker with Joker combines elements of Texas Hold Em and stud pokers and adds a wild card. Like stud, every player's hand includes up cards and down cards that are used solely by that player. Like Hold Em there are common cards that may be used by all players. Use a deck of 53 cards which includes one joker. The joker serves as a wild card but in a very limited way. It may be used only as an ace, or to complete a straight, flush or straight flush.
Deal cards as follows and follow each with a round of betting:
2 down cards to each player.
1 up card to each player and 1 common board card.
1 up card to each player and 1 common board card.
1 down card to each player and 1 common board card.
Each player now has a total of 5 cards (3 down, 2 up) that may be used only by them. There are also 3 common board cards that may be used by all players. Should the joker be among the common cards, it too may be used by all active players. From these 3 common and 5 individual cards each player selects any 5 cards to make their hand.

COW PIE STUD WITH JOKER
A split pot version of 7 card stud. Use a deck of 53 cards which includes one joker. The joker is a wild card but in a limited way. It may be used only as an ace, or to complete a straight, flush or straight flush. Deal, play and bet exactly like 7 card stud. At the completion of 7th street betting, each player re-arranges their cards into 2 separate hands. One is a regulation 5 card poker hand. The other is a 2 card poker hand. Up cards must remain up and down cards must remain down. In arranging the 2 hands, these important requirements must be met: The 5 card hand must out rank the 2 card hand and each hand must include at least one down card. Once so arranged, there is a final round of betting. The hands are revealed, and the pot is split between the highest 5 card hand and the highest 2 card hand. The 2 card hands are ranked as high card(s) and pairs only. If a player misplays his hand by creating a 2 card hand that is better than his 5 card hand, both hands are disqualified.
Playing tips for Cow Pie Stud with Joker poker. Includes detailed playing instructions and strategy, starting hand selection, hand odds, hand arrangement options and more.

BUMMER POKER
Deal 5 hole cards to each player. Place 2 cards face down on the table. Bummer Poker has a requirement that you MUST either bet (or raise) or fold. Checking is not allowed. Board cards are exposed one at a time after rounds of betting. The second board card (and any like ranked cards) is wild. (The first board card is not wild, unless it is of the same rank as the wild card.) Use any 5 of the 7 available cards to make your hand.
Playing Tips for Bummer Poker. Includes detailed playing instructions and strategy, additional optional rules, starting hand selection, hand odds and more.

TRIPLE OPTION POKER
Deal each player 5 hole cards. Place a total of 6 cards face down on the table in a group of 3 cards, a group of 2 cards and a single card. Players may use these cards in this manner:
1. Three cards (Option 1). Use any 5 cards from the 5 dealt plus these 3 cards to make a hand. There are no wild cards if using this option.
2. Two cards (Option 2). Any cards among a players 5 dealt cards that matches the rank(s) of these 2 cards is wild. A player may use only the 5 cards dealt to them to make their hand with this option. The 2 board cards are indicators only. They do not play in the players hand. See our Wild Card Poker Guide for a full explanation of indicator wild cards - what they are and how they are used.
3. One card (Option 3). This card and any card of the same rank held in a players hand is wild. Use this wild card plus 4 of the 5 cards dealt to make a hand.
This Triple Option poker game is complicated, so review the Playing Tips for a more detailed explanation.
Playing tips for Triple Option Poker. Includes detailed playing instructions and strategy, card arrangement diagrams, starting hand selection, hand odds and more.

CRISS-CROSS WILD POKER
Deal each player 4 hole cards. Place 5 cards face down on the table with 1 vertical row of 3 cards, and one card placed on either side of the center card to form a horizontal row of 3 cards. The middle card and all like ranked cards are wild. The center wild card may be used by players, so each active player has at least 1 wild card. 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 board card is exposed after a round of betting, with the center wild card exposed last.
Playing tips for Criss-Cross Wild Poker. Includes detailed playing instructions and strategy, card arrangement diagrams, starting hand selection, hand odds and more.

EXPRESS ELEVATOR POKER
Deal each player 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. The elevator card is a shared common wild card that may be used by all players. Only the single elevator card and no other card(s) plays as a wild card. 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, both middle cards or both bottom cards, plus the elevator card. (ie. the elevator card "moves" up or down to what ever horizontal row you want.) Vertical or diagonal cards may not be used. Hands are made from the best 5 of 7 cards.
Playing tips for Express Elevator Poker. Includes detailed playing instructions and strategy, card arrangement diagrams, starting hand selection, hand odds and more.

SLOT MACHINE (Stud Version)
Deal each player 4 hole cards. Place 9 cards, arranged in 3 columns of 3 cards each, face down on the board. Reveal 1 vertical column at a time starting with the left-hand column. Players make their hand using any combination of 5 cards from among their 4 hole cards plus the 3 cards from any one of 5 designated "pay lines" of the board cards. Pay lines are: any of the 3 horizontal rows, or either of the 2 diagonal rows. All 7's are wild whether on the board or in your hand.

WILD HEX POKER
"Hex" as in hexagonal. Each player is dealt 4 hole cards. Six cards are placed face down on the table in a hexagon shape. A seventh card is place in the middle of the hexagon and it indicates or designates the wild card, but cannot itself be used in play. 2 cards are revealed at a time in this order (starting with 1 at the top): 1&3, 4&6, 2&5. The middle "wild" indicator card is revealed last. Any other cards of that rank that are held in a players hand are wild. Any cards of the same rank that are among the 6 board cards are not wild. Thus there are a maximum of 3 wild cards. 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.
Playing tips for Wild Hex Poker. Includes detailed playing instructions and strategy, card arrangement diagrams, starting hand selection, hand odds and more.

FILL YOUR CRACK
Deal 5 hole cards to each player followed by a round of betting. Place 2 cards face down in the center of the table. Reveal each of these cards one at a time with round of betting between. These are common cards and may be used by any player. Lastly, deal 1 card face up to each player. If this card falls between the ranks of the 2 common board cards it is wild for that player. Any other card of the same rank held in the player's hole cards is also wild for that player. If the up card matches or falls outside the range of the 2 common cards it is not wild but may be played at face value. For purposes of determining wild cards consider an ace to be the highest card; deuce to be the lowest card. Players use any 5 of the 8 available cards to make their hand.
Example: Consider the common board cards to be a Jack and Four. Any player whose single up card is a 5,6,7,8,9,10 plays that ranked card as wild. Any player whose up card is 2,3,4,J,Q,K,A has no wild card.
Note that the possibility exists that no player has a wild card. It could be that no one is lucky enough to receive a card that "fills their crack". If the 2 common cards are a pair or one rank apart (e.g. 78) it becomes impossible to draw a wild card. Additionally, deuces and aces will never be wild.
An ace as one of the two common cards is considered the highest card for determining wild cards, but, when played high-low split, an ace may be used as a low card in a low hand.

Optional Playing Rules: Add any combination of options to the game.
1. Four hole cards: Deal each player 4 hole cards instead of five.
2. Pay for wild cards: Require a fee to be paid to the pot whenever a player's up card qualifies as a wild card.
3. Forfeit a card: Require that any player whose up card is wild must discard one of their hole cards. They now have one fewer card from which to make their hand.
4. Replace a hole card: After all the cards have been dealt, each player is given the chance to discard one hole card and draw another. It is recommended to require a fee be paid to the pot to do so. This option is best used when playing with 6 or fewer players, or when playing with the four hole cards option.

WEST CINCINNATI
Wild card version of Cincinnati: Deal each player 5 hole cards and follow with a round of betting. Place 4 cards face down on board. Reveal one board card at a time followed by a round of betting. The lowest board card and any others of that rank are wild. Players may use any combination of 5 cards from their 5 hole cards and the 4 board cards to make their hand.

BASEBALL
7 card stud with all 3s and 9s wild. Any wild card that is dealt as an exposed card requires that player to either pay into the pot or to fold. The payment can be a pre-determined fixed amount, or it can be the total amount in the pot at that time. Additionally, any player who is dealt a 4 receives another card dealt as a hole card. A player may expose a hole card of 4 in order to receive another card. A less costly version will designate only one of the wild cards (ie. either 3s OR 9s) as requiring a payment to the pot.

YANKEY BASEBALL
A variation of 7 card stud. There are four potential wild card ranks: 3's, 5's, 7's and 9's (commemorating Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris). Whenever one of those ranks appear face up in any player's hand, that rank becomes wild. It remains wild until a different wild card is dealt. For example, if a 7 is dealt first, then all 7's are wild. If a 3 is dealt later, then all 3's are wild, and 7's are no longer wild. The last of these four ranks to appear face up in anyone's hand is the final wild card rank. Additional cards of the same rank (up or down) are also wild. If no 3, 5, 7 or 9 appears face up, nothing is wild. If you wish, add one or more of the optional rules detailed below.

1. A face up 4 buys an extra down card for the cost of one small bet, as long as the recipient says, in honor of Lou Gehrig, "I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth."
2. The Queen of Hearts Option: The Queen of Hearts represents Marilyn Monroe. If any player is dealt that card face up, all players with a 5 as an exposed card (DiMaggio) must pay the holder 2 small bets (as a symbolic payment for the roses DiMaggio placed on her grave).
3. Playing Yankey Baseball may be prohibited in MA, ME, NH and RI.

FOLLOW THE QUEEN
Played as 7 card stud. Whenever a queen is dealt as an up card, the very next up card dealt becomes a wild card (and the other 3 of the same rank). If subsequent queen(s) are dealt as up cards the next up card is wild and the previous wild card is no longer wild. If the very last up card is a queen or there are no queens dealt up there are no wild cards.

QUEENS & SUBJECTS
Played as 7 card stud and very similar to Follow the Queen but differs in that all queens are always wild, whether as a hole or up card. Additionally, whenever a queen is dealt as an up card, the very next up card dealt becomes a wild card (and the other 3 of the same rank). If subsequent queen(s) are dealt as up cards the next up card is wild and the previous wild card is no longer wild. If the very last up card is a queen the other wild cards are cancelled and only queens remain wild.

RETURN OF THE KING
Played as 7 card stud. At the start of the game all queens are wild cards. However, during the course of play the wild card can switch back and forth between queens and kings. The most recently dealt up card determines whether queens or kings are wild. Any time a king is dealt as an up card, the wild card shifts to kings. Any time a queen is dealt as an up card the game reverts to queens being wild.

KINGS & COMMONERS
A high-low split versions of either 5-card stud or 7-card stud. Kings may be used as a wild card only in low hands. "Commoners" are deuces which may be used as a wild card only in high hands. Either may also be used as face value without being wild (ie. a king is a king; a deuce is a deuce).

COUNT DOWN
Countdown is typically played as 7 card stud, although it could also be used for most poker games. In Countdown the wild card is variable and is not determined until the end of the game after all the cards have been dealt, but prior to the last round of betting. The wild card is the card rank equal to the number of players remaining in the hand at that point. For example, if played as 7 card stud if there are 4 players left at 7th street, then 4's are wild. If 3 players, 3's are wild, etc.

THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY
Deal and play exactly like seven card stud, but with these twists:
Place 3 cards face down in the center of the table. Reveal them as described in the following:
   After 4th street betting round, reveal 1 card. This card is the "Good”. Any player holding card(s) of that rank in their hand can use it as a wild card. The    "Good" card itself is only an indicator, it is not playable, thus there can be a maximum of 3 wild cards.
   After 5th street betting round reveal a second card. This card is the "Bad”. Any player holding this card in their hand (up or down) must discard it, even if    they receive it later (i.e. on 6th or 7th street). When the "Bad" card is of the same rank as the "Good" there can be no wild cards.
   After 6th street betting round reveal the final card. This card is the "Ugly”. It serves as a "kill card". Any hand showing the same ranked card as an up    card (not down card) is dead and out of the game.
At the showdown, should a player still possess a card that should have been discarded (i.e. rank of the "bad" card), their entire hand is declared dead.

MASTER BAITER
A version of 7 card stud. In this version, each player's lowest hole card is wild, but only if a card of that same rank appears among the up cards of the player on one's left who is still in the game at the showdown.
This game introduces a unique element of strategy. For example, say your lowest hole cards is a 3. The player to your immediate left does not show a 3 as an up card, but the 2nd player to your left does. Have you "mastered" the art of poker well enough to "bait" the first player to fold, but to keep the second player in the game?