Shared-Card Poker Variations
In these types of poker, players are dealt a small amount of cards individually, and then cards are placed in the center of the table that are common to all players.
Bush League
Number of Players: 3-10
The Deal: Same as Omaha Hold'Em except that the shared cards are dealt in a cross formation.
How to Play: Shared cards are exposed one at a time, with betting taking place before each card is flipped, as well as after the last card is flipped. Threes and nines are wild. If a four is exposed, everyone gets an extra card.
Pot Goes to: The high hand.
Variations: Have players pay the minimum bet every time a wild card is exposed.
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Church, a.k.a. Iron Cross
Number of Players: 3-9
The Deal: Five cards down to each player, five cards down to the table arranged in a cross.
How to Play: As in Cincinatti (below), with the table cards being revealed in a clockwise order, with the center card last. Players can use cards from only one arm of the cross to form a hand.
Pot Goes to: The high hand
Variations: 1. High/low split 2. Make the center card wild.
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Cincinnati
Number of Players: 3-9
The Deal: Five cards down to each player, five cards down to the table.
How to Play: One of the table cards is flipped up, followed by a round of betting. This is repeated until all five cards are flipped. A showdown then follows the last betting round, with each player making their best five card poker hand with their cards and the communal cards on the table.
Pot Goes to: The high hand
Variations: 1. High/Low split.
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Cool Hand Luke
Number of Players: 3-10
The Deal: Same as Texas Hold 'Em.
How to Play: Same as Texas Hold 'Em except that the lowest shared card is wild for all players.
Pot Goes to: The high Hand.
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Crazy Pineapple
Number of Players: 3-10
The Deal: Same as Texas Hold 'Em except three cards are dealt down to each player instead of two.
How to Play: Same as Texas Hold 'Em except each player must discard one card after the flop.
Pot Goes to: The high hand.
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Dianna's Game
Number of Players: 3-11
The Deal: Two cards down to each player, three cards down to the table.
How to Play: Cards are flipped from the table one at a time with a betting round after the deal and after each flip. The rank of the last table card flipped is wild.
Pot Goes to: The high hand.
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Elevator
Number of Players: 4-11
The Deal: Four cards to each player and seven down on the table, arranged in two columns of three (the shafts) with one in between (the elevator).
How to Play: Each player is dealt two cards down, two cards up, and then seven community cards are placed face down in the center of the table in the shape of an H. Three cards form one column, three cards form another, and one card is placed in the middle forming the horizontal bar across the H. These cards are revealed one by one, starting from the left column and going to the right, with the center card being revealed last. After each card is revealed there is a round of betting. Once all seven cards are revealed, players make their best seven card hand, using four hole cards in combination with three of the seven table cards. However, a player can only use the center car and a card from each column that form a straight line across – thus, figuratively sliding the center card up or down to form your three card row that can be used with your hand.
Pot Goes to: The high hand.
Variations: 1. High hand and low hand split. 2. The elevator card is wild. 3. Different rows can be used for high and low hands when going both ways.
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Lame Brain Pete
Number of Players: 3-20
The Deal: Three cards down to each player, five cards down to the table
How to Play: A round of betting is held after the deal, after which a table card is turne dup. Whatever rank this card is is now wild. Then, another round of betting happens, and another card is turned up, which replaces the previous wild card, but only if it is of a lower rank. This is repeated for all four table cards
Pot Goes to: The high hand
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Lincoln
Number of Players: 3-10
The Deal: Same as Omaha Hold'Em.
How to Play: Same as Omaha Hold'Em except that the lowest shared card is wild for all players.
Pot Goes to: The high hand.
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Omaha Hold'Em
Number of Players: 3-10
The Deal: Four cards down to each player and five cards down to the table.
How to Play: Same as Texas Hold 'Em, but a player’s final hand must include exactly two hole cards and three table cards.
Pot Goes to: The high hand.
Variations: High-Low Split Eight: High and low hands split the pot, but the low hand must have no card higher than an eight. It is possible for a player to win both high and low.
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Out At Home
Number of Players: 3-11
The Deal: Three cards down to each player, four cards down to the table in a diamond formation.
How to Play: Imagining the diamond as a baseball diamond, cards are flipped from the table one at a time starting with first base and ending at home, with a betting round after the deal and after each flip. If the last table card flipped is a face card, that hand is over, the remaining players re-ante and a new hand Is dealt. Threes and nines are wild. If a four is flipped on the table, each remaining player gets an extra card.
Pot Goes to: The high hand.
Variations: Wild card require a payment to the pot to make them wild.
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Pineapple
Number of Players: 3-10
The Deal: Same as Texas Hold 'Em, only three cards are dealt down to each player instead of two.
How to Play: Same as Texas Hold 'Em, but each player each player must discard one card before the flop.
Pot Goes to: The high hand.
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Spit in the Ocean
Number of Players: 3-12
The Deal: Four cards down to each player, one card is dealt face up to the table.
How to Play: The card in the middle is shared by all players and all cards of that rank are wild.
Pot Goes to: The high hand.
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Super Hold’Em
Number of Players: 3-10
The Deal: Same as Texas Hold 'Em, but three cards are dealt down to each player.
How to Play: Same as Texas Hold 'Em, but each player can use all three hole cards to make their hand.
Pot Goes to: The high hand.
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Tahoe
Number of Players: 3-10
The Deal: Same as Texas Hold 'Em, but three cards are dealt down to each player instead of the regular two.
How to Play: Same as Texas Hold 'Em, but each player can use only two of their hole cards to make their hand.
Pot Goes to: The high hand.
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Texas Two Step
Number of Players: 3-10
The Deal: Same as Texas Hold 'Em.
How to Play: Same as Texas Hold 'Em, only after the flop is dealt and the betting round is finished, each player pays the minimum bet for each card they wish to exchange for one from the deck. After the next card is flipped on the table and the betting round is finished, each player then pays twice the lowest stake for each card they want to exchange. Finally, after the last roll and betting round, each player pays three times the lowest stake for each card. The last draw is followed by a betting round and a showdown. If no cards were drawn in the last exchange, however there is no extra betting round.
Pot Goes to: The high hand.
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Texas Hold'em
Number of Players: 3-10
The Deal: Two cards down to each player, five cards down to the table.
How to Play: After the deal there is a round of betting, after which the three table cards are turned up. This is followed by another round of betting, and another table card is then flipped. Then, another round of betting, after which the final card is flipped and a final round of betting takes place. This is followed by the showdown.
Pot Goes to: The high hand.
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Texas League
Number of Players: 3-10
The Deal: Same as Texas Hold 'Em.
How to Play: Same as Texas Hold 'Em except threes and nines are wild and players pay low stake for each wild card. If a four is turned each player gets another card.
Pot Goes to: The high hand.
Variations: Deal a sixth table card and add an additional round of betting.
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Tic Tac Toe
Number of Players: Three or more
The Deal: Two cards down to each player. Nine cards are arranged on the table in a three by three grid.
How to Play: All players must place three blue chips in front of them (known as “posts”). Betting starts, beginning to the dealer’s left. At the showdown, players must announce their hand, which is made using their two cards as well as any vertical, diagonal or horizontal row of three cards on the table. If a hand is announced but a better hand is missed, this is too bad for the person who announced it. The high hand takes the pot and all other players toss one of their posts into a separate pot. All cards are discarded and a new hand is dealt without shuffling deck, unless there are not enough cards. Cards are only dealt to players who still have posts. Play continues until only one player has posts left – that player takes the post pot and the game is over.
Pot Goes to: The high hand gets the pot and the last player with posts gets the post pot.
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Triple-Flop Hold'Em
Number of Players: 3-10
The Deal: Same as Texas Hold'Em.
How to Play: Same as Texas Hold'Em, with the following variations: six community cards are dealt two at a time. Only three community cards can be used by each player to make their hand.
Pot Goes to: The high hand.
Variations: After the third flop, each player may buy, in turn, another down card at a predetermined price.
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Wild Kingdom
Number of Players: 3-10
The Deal: Same as Omaha Hold'Em.
How to Play: Same as Omaha Hold'Em except threes and nines are wild. If a wild card is turned up from the community cards, each player pays a predetermined amount into the pot. If a four is flipped on the table, each player gets another card.
Pot Goes to: The high hand.
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Z
Number of Players: 3-9
The Deal: Five cards down to each player, four cards down to the table arranged in a Z, like this: 1 2
3 4
How to Play: The game begins with a betting round. After each betting round a card is flipped on the table. Cards are flipped starting with the top left point of the Z, then the bottom right card, then the top right, then the bottom left. Once the last card is flipped there is one more round of betting and then a showdown. Players make a hand from their three hole cards and two cards that directly beside one another.
Pot Goes to: High and low hands split. The low hand must contain no cards higher than eight.
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