Poker games and their rules

Every game Home Game deals, with how a hand plays, who wins and the betting. Pick one for your next home game, or use one as the starting point for your own.

5 and Dime

stud · buy a card · declare

One down and one up, then three more up cards. One like-for-like exchange (declare Up/Down, then pick the card), then a simultaneous high-low declare. Both must win both ways.

No-Limit Hold'em

hold'em · no limit

Two hole cards, five community cards.

Short Deck Hold'em

hold'em · 36 cards

Hold'em with sixes and up. A flush beats a full house; A-6-7-8-9 is a straight.

Pot-Limit Omaha

Omaha · pot limit

Four hole cards; use exactly two with three from the board.

Omaha Hi-Lo

Omaha · hi-lo

Pot-limit Omaha, high and 8-or-better low split. Cards speak.

Seven Card Stud

stud · high

Two down, four up, one down. Best five of seven.

Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo

stud · hi-lo

Stud, high and 8-or-better low split. Cards speak.

Stud Hi-Lo Declare

stud · hi-lo · declare

Stud, high-low split with a simultaneous declare. Both must win both ways.

Razz

stud · low

Seven card stud for the lowest hand, A-5. Highest card brings in.

Five Card Draw

draw · high

Five down, one draw of up to five cards.

Pineapple

hold'em · discard one

Three hole cards; discard one before the flop, then play Hold'em.

Crazy Pineapple

hold'em · discard after the flop

Three hole cards; discard one after the flop betting, then play Hold'em.

Hold'em Bomb Pot

bomb pot · hold'em

Everyone antes, there's no betting before the flop, then it's No-Limit Hold'em. Played for one hand when the dealer calls it.

Everyone antes and gets four cards; no betting before the flop. Two boards: every pot is split, half to the best hand on each board (exactly two hole cards and three from that board). Played for one hand when the dealer calls it.

5-Card PLO

Omaha · five cards

Pot-limit Omaha with five hole cards; use exactly two with three from the board.

Big O

5-card Omaha · hi-lo

Five-card Omaha Hi-Lo: five hole cards, use exactly two; high and 8-or-better low split.

Courchevel

5-card Omaha · early flop card

Five-card pot-limit Omaha; the first flop card is turned up before the first bet.

Courchevel Hi-Lo

Courchevel · hi-lo

Courchevel, high and 8-or-better low split: five hole cards, the first flop card up before the first bet.

Irish

Omaha start · hold'em finish

Four hole cards like Omaha; after the flop betting, discard two and play Hold'em.

Double-Board PLO

Omaha · two boards

Pot-limit Omaha with two boards: every pot is split, half to the best hand on each board.

2-7 Triple Draw

lowball · three draws

Deuce-to-seven lowball: five down, three draws, fixed limit. Aces are high; straights and flushes count against you; 7-5-4-3-2 is the nuts.

2-7 Single Draw

lowball · one draw

No-limit deuce-to-seven lowball: five down, one draw. 7-5-4-3-2 is the nuts.

A-5 Triple Draw

A-5 low · three draws

Ace-to-five lowball: five down, three draws, fixed limit. Straights and flushes don't count; A-2-3-4-5 is the nuts.

High Chicago

stud · spade in the hole

Seven card stud; half the pot to the best hand, half to the highest spade in the hole. No spade in the hole at showdown: the best hand takes it all.

Low Chicago

stud · low spade in the hole

Seven card stud; half the pot to the best hand, half to the lowest spade in the hole (the two is lowest, the ace high).

Johnny Wad

draw · spit card · declare

Five down, then one community card (the spit) everyone uses. Draw up to five, then a simultaneous high-low declare. Best five of your five plus the spit; A-5 low, no qualifier. Both must win both ways.