The object of In Between is exactly what it says. One designated dealer for this game, who deals out two cards to the first player. The first player has to then decide whether he has enough room to take the next card from the deck and have it land “in between” their two cards. For example: If you are dealt a 6 and a 10 , there would only be room for three cards to land In Between, a 7,8, or 9. So at this point you would have two choices, either take a chance at getting a card in between or simply just passing so that it goes to the next player.
If you have seven players, the pot will start with $3.50. If you take a chance of getting a card in between, simply state how much you would like to bet and ask for a card. If you do not wish to take a card, simply say “Pass” and play will continue with the next player. The next player will be dealt his two cards and have his chance to play or pass. The first time around the table you can limit the maximum bet from each player to half the pot to ensure that everyone has a turn.
If the third card you receive from the deck lands in between your first two, you retrieve from the pot however much you bet. Obviously you cannot bet more than what is in the pot. If your third card lands outside the two cards you have, you would pay into the pot however much you bet. If your third card matches one of the two cards you have in your hand, you would pay double the amount into the pot that you bet.
If you go through the entire deck and you still have a pot, simply reshuffle all of the cards and continue to play. This game will either go very quickly or else grow to be a real wallet buster.
If you wish to put a limit to the amount you can lose or bet on this it could keep the game easier on the wallet, or you might go no limit if you want to raise the stakes!
Poker Table Games
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Players are dealt a hand of seven cards to start the game. At this point they will need to decide what they want to keep in their hand, because it is time to Pass the Junk. Players pass three cards to the player on their left. Then, starting with the player to the left of the dealer, betting will proceed.
After the first round of betting, it is time to Pass the Junk again. This time players will pass two cards to the player on their left. Again, betting will start with the player seated to the left of the dealer.
After betting, the final round of passing cards will start. This time players will pass one card to the player on your left. This will be the final card players will pass, making it their final poker hand. Now you will make your final bet in hopes of winning.
Remember, each time a player passes cards, he will be receiving cards as well, so he will always have seven cards in his hand. The player to win the pot will have the best poker hand out of five cards at the end of Passing the Junk.
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Game: 7-27
Initial Ante: 25 Cents
Number of Players: 7 Max
Game: Chicago
Initial Ante: 25 Cents
Number of Players: 7 Max
Game: Pass the Junk
Initial Ante: 50 Cents
Number of Players: 7 Max
Follow the Queen can be played several different ways. However I will lay out the directions for how I play the game. By the end of the game players should be dealt a total of seven cards, three facing down and four facing up. To start the game, players are dealt two cards face down. Then they are dealt one card face up. At this point the players will start betting, starting with the person with the highest cards facing up. After betting, players are dealt an additional three cards face up. Betting occurs between each round respectively, starting with the person with the best poker hand facing up. Then players are dealt a seventh card facing down and the hands are complete. One final round of betting round is done. There should be a total of five rounds of betting, again starting with the person with the best poker hand facing up. Players are than to make the best poker hand available to them with five cards. The player with the best hand takes the pot.
Wild Cards: Why is the game called Follow the Queen? Because in this game any queen you receive in your hand is wild. Also, if a queen is dealt face up, the card following the queen is considered wild also. So, if a three of spades is dealt after a queen, then all threes are wild.
If a queen is dealt face up, then a three of spades follows, then queens and threes are wild. However, if later an additional queen is dealt face up and a five of diamonds follows, then queens and fives would be wild, voiding the previous threes. In other words, there are only two possible wilds in this game at the same time.
If no queens are dealt face up, than only queens are wild in this game. Players can choose to fold at any point in the game or can choose to ride it out with chances of winning the big pot.
This is a game of simple addition that allows for one winner of the pot or a split pot. Let me start by citing an important fact, that is the value of each card. Aces are valued at either one point or eleven points, your choice. Face cards-J,Q,K- are worth ½ a point. The rest of the cards are face value. If you have a 4 it is worth four points; a 7 is worth seven points. Got it?
The object of the game is to score as close or equal to 7 or 27 points without going over. Players are dealt two cards, one card facing down and the other card facing up. At that point you can choose to try to score the closest or equal to 7 or 27. If your card facing up is higher than 7 then obviously you will need to go for closest to 27. If your card facing up is less than 7 you could go for closest to 7 or 27, however, you must add your card facing up and your card facing down to see whether you have that option.
At this point if you would like to get closer to either 7 or 27 you ask for a card from the deck. This can be given either face up or down. After going around the table once asking players if they would like a card, there is a round of betting. After that play will continue, asking each player again if they would like to take another card. Again, you may take a card or pass, thus ending each round with a bet. You may skip one round and not take a card, and then in the following round, decide to take one. This is permitted. After two full rounds of no one taking a card, play ends with players revealing their cards.
Players who go over 27 total points must announce this and fold their hands. Ideally there will be two winners in this game: the player closest to 7 without going over, and the player closest to 27 without going over. However, sometimes no player will be under 7 and there will be one winner, the player closest to 27.
Ideally, if a player is dealt a 6 facing up and an ace facing down, that would put him at 7 points, a dead lock to win closest or equal to 7. So he would simply stay and continue to bet until the game ends.
There are several different poker games named Chicago. However, this one is slightly different from others. This game could also be named “High Spade in the hole; Low hole card is wild.” Cards are dealt in the same fashion as Follow the Queen. Players are dealt a total of seven cards, three facing down and four facing up. To start the game, players are dealt two cards face down. Then they are dealt one card facing up. At this point the players will start betting, starting with the person with the highest poker hand facing up. After betting, players are dealt an additional three cards face up. Betting occurs in between each round respectively, starting with the person with the best poker hand facing up. Then players are dealt a seventh card facing down and the hands are complete. One final round of betting round is done, again starting with the person with the highest poker hand facing up. This makes a total of five rounds of betting.
What makes the game interesting is that each player’s lowest card in their hand facing down is wild. So if their lowest card facing down is a 3, that card is wild. Also if they have a 3 facing up that would also be wild. So every player has his own wild card. Players then make the best poker hand available to them with five of their seven cards. The player with the best hand takes half the pot. The other half of the pot goes to the player who has the highest spade facing down.
One final twist can be added to the game if you choose. However, this could draw out the game and make a very large pot. This is to insert the queen of spades rule. If at any point the queen of spades is dealt face up during the four rounds of up cards, the game is over. The pot would remain, everyone re-antes into the existing pot and starts over.
Obviously if a player is dealt the ace of spades facing down to start the game he is going to want to bet as much as possible; however players may want to limit the amount of betting per round. Inserting the queen of spades rule might also limit the amount of betting per round.
When it was Ginnie’s turn to deal we knew we were going to play Night Baseball. In this game each player is dealt seven cards facing down, so players have all of their cards to start the game. Players are not permitted to look at their cards. They must remain in front of them until it is their turn to play. Play starts with the person to the left of the dealer. The first player turns over his first card, then will have a chance to bet. Play continues with the second player turning over as many cards needed to beat the first player’s hand. For example if the first player turns over an ace to start, the second player turns over enough cards to have a pair or better to beat the first player and stop playing, and bet again. Likewise, if the second player has a pair of 10’s, the third player must turn over enough cards to beat a pair of 10’s.
Play will continue to go around the table, stopping each time a player beats the previous player to allow for betting. Then the next player continues. A player who runs out of cards and does not beat the highest hand is out of the game. The winner of the pot is the person who scores the highest poker hand.
Now, here is the twist. In Night Baseball any 3 or 9 that is turned over is wild. However, a player who turns one over must put 50 cents into the pot. Also, if a player turns over a 4, he will receive an extra card from the deck. He must place $1 into the pot for the extra card. He can choose to take that extra card face up and play or the card can be dealt face down to be used later. If you do not wish to receive the extra card, you will keep your $1. Any player can also choose to fold at any time.
Game: In-Between (Acey-Deucy)
Initial Ante: 50 Cents
Number of Players: 7 Max
Game: Follow the Queen
Initial Ante: 25 Cents
Number of Players: 7 Max
Game: Night Baseball
Initial Ante: 25 Cents
Number of Players: 7 Max
To start the game, in Round One all players are dealt three cards. In Round One 3’s are wild and you will have to make the best poker hand out of the three cards. Straights and flushes don’t count. Play starts with the player to the left of the dealer who states whether he would like to play by saying “In” or not play by saying “Out.”
If he states “In” then he is waiting for a challenger. Play moves to the next player on the left to decide whether he would like to challenge by saying “In” or pass by saying “Out.” The next person to say “In” challenges the first player by passing each other their hands to see who has the higher hand. The winner will collect the pot and the loser will match the pot. It is important to only show your cards to the person you are challenging since this is only the first round of play. There can be more than one challenge per round as well. If two people say “In” they play against each other. If another person states “In” during the round he challenges the winner of the first challenge. If only one person says “In” once it passes around the table, the other players will have a chance to reconsider and challenge that person. If they do not wish to challenge him then the player will not take the pot but will receive a “leg.” The player will put a coin in front of him symbolizing he has won a round without a challenge.
After Round One, two more cards are dealt for a total of five. In Round Two only 5’s are wild and you will make the best poker hand out of five cards. Play again starts to the left of the dealer with the first player stating “In” or “Out.” Play continues with the same format as Round One, with players challenging each other. If the challenger wins he takes the pot. If the challenger loses he matches the pot. If only one person stays in, he will receive a “leg.” The player will put a coin in front of him symbolizing he has won a round without a challenge.
After Round Two, players are dealt two more cards for a total of seven. In Round Three only 7’s are wild and you make the best poker hand out of five cards. Play again starts to the left of the dealer with the first player stating “In” or “Out.” Play continues with the same format as Rounds One and Two, with players challenging each other. If the challenger wins he takes the pot. If the challenger loses he matches the pot. If only one person stays in, he will receive a “leg.” The player will put a coin in front of him symbolizing he has won a round without a challenge.
The winner of the game is the player who collects three “legs.” After a player stays in three times without being challenged, he will collect the pot and the game is over. Remember you only get a leg when you stay “In” during a round without a challenge. Any challenge during a round and no players receive a “leg.”
After the first three rounds there should still be a pot. Players will usually ante an additional 10 cents. The cards are shuffled and play is resumed with Round One again. This game will usually grow to a bigger pot, as after each of three rounds players ante additional money. Remember when you stay “In” and challenge a player you are taking the risk of matching the pot.
Game: 3-5-7
Initial Ante: 25 Cents
Number of Players: 7 Max
7
Each player will start with three one dollar bills or three one dollar stacks of coins in front of them.
This game uses a rotating deal, so after each round the deal moves to the left. The first round begins with the dealer giving each person at the table one card face down. Play starts with the person to the left of the dealer. The object is not to have the lowest card at the end of the round. Whoever has the lowest card will have to put one of their stacks, or one of their dollars bills into the pot. If there is a tie for the lowest, both will put into the pot. After each round, the cards are shuffled. The dealer moves to the left and again each player is given one card face up to start the next round.
In this particular game, a king is the highest card on the table. If you are dealt a king, turn the card over facing up so the table can see it, as no one can beat this card. Aces are the lowest card with a value of 1. All other cards are in an ascending value, 2 up to the queen.
Play starts with the first person deciding to either keep his current card, or if he feels he has a low scoring card he can switch his card with the person to his left, not allowing anyone else at the table to see what cards he has just passed. Players hope for a higher card; however, often they get screwed by neighbors! The only time a player cannot switch his card is if that person to his left has a king. In this case a player is stuck with whatever card he has.
In order to make it fair to the dealers, since they are the last person in the chain, dealers have no one to pass their card to, so they can either keep the card that has been passed to them or they can take a hit off of the top of the deck. Obviously if they decide they want to hit off the deck, they cannot go back and keep their original card. After the dealer has played, all players will turn over their cards facing up and the lowest card will ante one dollar into the pot.
With three stacks in front of them, players are able to lose three times. After one loses a third stack or third dollar bill, he is out of the game. The winner of the pot is the last player to have any stacks or dollars bills remaining in front of him.
Game: Screw Your Neighbor
Initial Ante: 3 One Dollar Bills or Stacks of Coins
Number of Players: 7 Max
8
The object of 31 is either to try to get 31 points or not to have the lowest point hand at the table. Players will start with three one dollar bills or three one dollar stacks of coins in front of them.
It is a rotating deal in this game, so after each round the deal moves to the left. Play starts with each player at the table being dealt three cards face down. How you count your points is by collecting the same suit of cards -spades, clubs, hearts, or diamonds. In this particular game aces are worth 11 points, face cards are worth 10 points, and all others are face value. For example, if you have an ace of spades (11 points), an 8 of spades, and a 10 of hearts, your highest point count right now is 19 points in Spades. Here is another example: if you have a 7 of hearts, a 3 of diamonds and a 9 of hearts, your highest point total is 16 points in hearts. To get to 31 points you would need to have an ace plus two face cards or a 10, all in the same suit.
Play starts with the person to the left of the dealer. After the dealer has dealt everyone three cards, he will than turn over the top card facing up from the deck placing it next to the remaining deck. This will serve as the place where you will draw cards to try to improve your hand. The first player can either take the card facing up if it will improve his hand, or take a card from the top of the deck. After choosing a card, you discard one from your hand onto the top of the pile of cards facing up. The next player can either choose the card you discarded or take a card from the top of the deck to improve their hand.
Those feeling confident of their hand can knock on the table when it is their turn, thus bypassing their turn. After a player knocks, each person will get one more turn to improve his hand. After everyone has had a turn, players will turn over their cards facing up so all can see. The lowest person in the round will put one of his dollars bills or stacks of coins into the pot. If there is a tie for the lowest, both players will put into the pot.
With three stacks in front of you, you are able to lose three times. After you lose your third stack or third dollar bill, you are out of the game. Play continues without you. Winner of the pot is the last player to have any stacks or dollars bills remaining in front of him.
Game: 31
Initial Ante: 3 One Dollar Bills or Three Stacks of Coings Each Equalling One Dollar
Number of Players: 7 Max
9
This is a relatively easy game to play that can leave you excited or on fire. Each person is dealt three cards facing down to start the game. In this particular game 7’s that you receive facing down are wild.
After each person has looked at his hand he must decide whether he wants to be “In” or “Out.” One way to determine this is for players to hold their hands in front of them, then on the count of three you either drop your cards on the table if you want to be “Out” or you hold onto your hand if you want to be “In.” Another way to decide if you are “In” or “Out” is the coin-in-hand option. All players who decide to stay “In” will put a coin in their hands. All players who decide to stay “Out” will not put a coin in their hands. You do not want anyone at the table to see whether you put a coin in your hand or not, so try to hide it. Than everyone puts their closed hand over the table, and on the count of three open your hands, revealing whether one is “In” or “Out.”
Those who decide to stay in will reveal their three cards. At this point each player will be dealt two more remaining cards facing up to make the best possible poker hand with the 5 cards. The killer is that if you are dealt a 7 facing up you “get burnt” and lose. Winner of the highest poker hand without getting burnt will take the pot, losers will match the pot, the cards will be reshuffled, and the game will continue.
The game ends when only one player stays in. However, if only one player stays in you must “beat the dealer.” So, if you are the only person to stay in, you will turn your three cards over, and receive two more facing up. If you receive a 7 facing up you are burnt and match the pot. If you don’t receive a 7 you will face off with a dealer hand. You will now deal out a dealer hand consisting of three cards as their opening hand, then two more cards to make a total of five for the dealer hand. A 7 on the first three cards for the dealer is wild. A 7 in the remaining two would “burn” the dealer hand, the same rules as the players use.
If no one is “burnt” then the best poker hand wins. If the dealer hand beats the only player, the player will match the pot, the cards are reshuffled and the game continues! If the player beats the dealer hand, then he takes the pot and the game is over.
Game: Sevens
Initial Ante: 25 Cents
Number of Players: 7 Max
10
In this game you are dealt four cards face down. All the 4’s, whores (queens), and men (jacks or kings) which possess a moustache are wild. Each player will look at his hand and decide whether to stay “In” or “Out.” One way to determine this is for players to hold their hands in front of them, than on the count of three you either drop your cards on the table if you want to be “Out” or you hold onto your hand if you want to be “In.” Another way to decide if you are “In” or “Out” is the coin-in-hand option. All players who decide to stay “In” will put a coin in their hands. All players who decide to stay “Out” will not put a coin in their hands. You do not want anyone at the table to see whether you put a coin in your hand or not, so try to hide it. Than everyone puts their closed hand over the table, and on the count of three opens his hand either revealing whether one is “In” or “Out.”
If you stay in you have the choice to discard up to two of your cards and take up to two cards from the top of the deck. All players who stayed in will then reveal their hands to see who has the highest hand. The best poker hand out of their four cards takes the pot, the losers of the hands will match the pot, the cards are reshuffled, and the game will continue. Since players only have four cards, straights and flushes would not count.
If only one person stays “In” that person must beat the dealer in order to take the pot and end the game. The player will choose to discard up to two cards or keep his current hand. A dealer hand will be dealt, which will only consists of four cards. If this beats the four card dealer hand then the player will receive the pot and the game will be over.
In the event of a tie, for example, suppose both players scored four queens? The win would go to the person containing the most natural queens in his hand. Natural cards would take precedence over wild cards.
Game: 4's, Whores, and Moustache Men
Initial Ante: 25 Cents
Number of Players: 7 Max
11
Good ole’ Western usually draws a nice pot and provides great entertainment. Players are dealt five cards total, one facing down to start, the four others face-up, betting after each round of the face-up cards. To start, each player is dealt one card facing down which is his own wild card. Then each player is dealt one card facing up. The person with the highest card facing up will start betting. After betting, players will then be dealt their next card facing up followed by another round of starting with the highest poker hand facing up. Betting will occur after every round.
The problem with Western is that as you start to receive your face-up cards, a player who catches a pair facing up is now faced with two choices. In order to stay in the game you must immediately match the pot or fold. This will immediately create three of a kind, as your card facing down is wild thus increasing your chances to win. If you catch a pair facing up early, matching the pot is probably not a big deal. But if you catch a pair on your fourth card facing up, the pot may have grown between betting every round and players having to match the pot earlier. So the choice of staying in or folding could be a tough decision to make.
The winner of the game will have the highest poker hand of the five cards dealt.
Game: Western
Initial Ante: 25 Cents
Number of Players: 7 Max
12
To start the game of Golf you are dealt four cards. Two of these cards face up and two of these cards face down. Place the two cards facing up closest to you. Than just above the face up cards, place your two cards facing down. It is very important that you are not allowed to look at your two face-down cards.
Just like in the real game of Golf, the object of this game is that you are trying to score the lowest round possible.
The values for the cards in a game of Golf are as follows:
§ Aces = 1
§ Numeric cards = face values
§ Queen and Jack = 10
§ King = 0
§ Joker = -1
Play starts with the person to the left of the dealer. After dealing, the dealer will turn one card over from the deck, creating a discard pile and giving the first player a choice of either taking one from the pile or from the top of the deck.
Once the player takes a card from the pile or deck, he will than swap it out with a current card in order to try to decrease his current score. Obviously, with his two cards facing up he will know what scores they are. However, since his two cards are facing down, he is unaware of what those scores could be. Once he replaces a card that is facing down with a new card, this card will remain face up, thus allowing him and others to see what his score is.
When someone feels confident with his hand he can knock on the table to bypass his turn when that turn occurs. After a person knocks, each player will get one more turn to improve his hand. After all have had their turn, players will turn over any remaining face-down cards, so that everyone can see their scores. The winner of the game and pot will have the lowest score for the round.
If players wish to play more than one round of golf they may do so. For example, if they want to play six rounds of golf, scorekeepers would write down the scores of each player after every round. At the end of the six rounds the scorekeeper adds up the scores to see which player has the lowest total score of the six rounds. The lowest score would be the winner.
Game: Golf
Initial Ante: $1.00
Number of Players: 7 Max
13
Game: Guts
Initial Ante: 25 Cents
Number of Players: 7 Max
This game is merely a game of GUTS. It is one of the first games I learned, since it is simple yet fun. Each player is dealt three cards, and it is merely three-card poker. There are no straights and no flushes.
After three cards are dealt players must decide whether they want to stay “In” or “Out.” One way to determine this is for players to hold their hands in front of them, then on the count of three you either drop your cards on the table if you want to be “Out” or you hold onto your hand if you want to be “In.” Another way to decide if you are “In” or “Out” is the coin-in-hand option. All players who decide to stay “In” will put a coin in their hands. All players who decide to stay “Out” will not put a coin in their hands. You do not want anyone at the table to see whether you put a coin in your hand or not, so try to hide it. Then everyone puts their closed hand over the table, and on the count of three opens their hands either revealing whether one is “In” or “Out.”
Players will then reveal their hands in order to see who the winner is. The winner will take the pot, and the losers will match the pot. Cards will be reshuffled and the game will continue.
When only one player stays in, he must beat the dealer’s hand. He simply plays the top three cards off the deck. Losers will match the pot. Winners will take the pot and the game is over.
A Cold Hand is exactly what is sounds like. This game is usually played to wrap up the evening. After all of the crazy games have been played, an easy game of five-card stud is played.
You can play this with either five or seven cards. Best hand of five cards or seven cards—no wild cards, no betting.
All cards are dealt one at a time face up. If you have been getting beat all night, a simple pot at the end of the night helps to ease the pain.
Game: Cold Hand
Initial Ante: $1 - $5
Number of Players: 7 Max
15
Players are dealt a hand of ...........
Game: Your Game
Initial Ante: ??
Number of Players: ? Max
16
14
