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	<title>Gambling Blog &#187; Draw poker</title>
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	<description>Gambling as a betting action</description>
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			<item>
		<title>Lowball</title>
		<link>http://www.gamblingweblog.com/2009/04/30/lowball/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gamblingweblog.com/2009/04/30/lowball/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:48:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Nicolae</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Draw poker]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[6-4 low]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[6-5 low]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[7-5 low]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ace-to-five low]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ace-to-six low]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Deuce-to-seven low]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[deuce-to-six low]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[low poker]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lowball]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[methods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Poker]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[poker hands]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wheel]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gamblingweblog.com/?p=1251</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Some forms of poker, often called lowball, sometimes called &#8220;low poker,&#8221; reward  poor poker hands (in the traditional sense). There are three common variations  on this idea, differing in whether aces are treated as high cards or low cards,  and whether or not straights and flushes are used. The methods are:

Ace-to-five low: [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Some forms of poker, often called lowball, sometimes called &#8220;low poker,&#8221; reward  poor poker hands (in the traditional sense). There are three common variations  on this idea, differing in whether aces are treated as high cards or low cards,  and whether or not straights and flushes are used. The methods are:</p>
<ul>
<li>Ace-to-five low: The lowest possible hand is <strong>5-4-3-2-A</strong>, called a  	wheel. Aces are low and straights and flushes are ignored. This is the most  	common method.</li>
<li>Ace-to-six low: Also called <em>6-4 low</em>, since the lowest possible  	hand is <strong>6-4-3-2-A</strong>. Aces are low and straights and flushes count as  	high hands.</li>
<li>Deuce-to-seven low: Also called <em>7-5 low</em>, since the lowest  	possible hand is <strong>7-5-4-3-2</strong>. Almost the direct inverse of traditional  	&#8220;high hand&#8221; poker. Aces are high and straights and flushes count as high  	hands. Since aces are high, <strong>A-5-4-3-2</strong> is not a straight, but just  	ace-high no pair.</li>
<li>Deuce-to-six low: The other, mostly unused, possibility would be <em>6-5  	low</em>. Aces are high, straights and flushes are ignored.</li>
</ul>
<p>Some games are played high-low split, where the player with the best  traditional poker hand (called the &#8220;high hand&#8221;) splits the pot with the best low  hand. The low hand is decided by one of the methods above. According to Official  Rules of Card Games by Albert Morehead<sup id="_ref-0" class="reference"><a href="#_note-0">[1]</a></sup>,  the low hand in high-low is generally the deuce-to-seven low, although many  on-line casinos use ace-to-five low, with a qualifier, e.g., no card higher than  an 8. Low hands tie more frequently than high hands, especially in community  card games, so it is not uncommon for such a hand to win a small fraction of a  poker pot. For example, if one player has the high hand on showdown, and two  other players tie for the best low hand, the high hand wins half of the pot and  each low hand wins only a quarter of the pot. Playing ace-to-five high-low  greatly increases the chances of the &#8220;scoop&#8221;&#8211;winning both hands&#8211;because a low  flush or straight may count for both high and low.</p>
<h2>References</h2>
<ol class="references">
<li id="_note-0"><strong><a href="#_ref-0">^</a></strong> <cite class="book" style="font-style: normal;">Albert H. Morehead (1996). <em> Official Rules of Card Games</em>. Ballantine Books. ISBN 0449911586.</cite></li>
</ol>
<p>This guide is licensed under the <a href="http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html">GNU Free Documentation License</a>.  It uses material from the <a href="http://www.wikipedia.org/">Wikipedia</a>.</p>
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		<title>Five-card draw</title>
		<link>http://www.gamblingweblog.com/2009/04/12/five-card-draw/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gamblingweblog.com/2009/04/12/five-card-draw/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 12 Apr 2009 14:18:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Nicolae</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Draw poker]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[betting structure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blinds]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Casino]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Casinos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[deal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[five-card draw]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[game play]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hand values]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[house]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lowball]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Poker]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[poker variants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rules]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tournaments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[variations]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gamblingweblog.com/?p=1207</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
Five-card draw is often the first poker variant learned by most  players, and is very common in home games although it is now rare in casino and  tournament play. The lowball variations make more interesting games and are more  commonly played in casinos. Two to eight players can play.
The descriptions below assume [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1208" title="draw-poker-table" src="http://www.gamblingweblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/draw-poker-table.png" alt="draw-poker-table" width="400" height="400" /></p>
<p><strong>Five-card draw</strong> is often the first poker variant learned by most  players, and is very common in home games although it is now rare in casino and  tournament play. The lowball variations make more interesting games and are more  commonly played in casinos. Two to eight players can play.</p>
<p>The descriptions below assume that you are familiar with the general game  play of poker, and with hand values. They also make no assumptions about what  betting structure is used. In casino play, it is common to use blinds; the first  betting round thus begins with the player to the left of the big blind, and  subsequent rounds begin with the player to the dealer&#8217;s left. In home games, it  is typical to use an ante; the first betting round begins with the player to the  dealer&#8217;s left, and the second round begins with the player who opened the first  round.</p>
<p>Play begins with each player being dealt five cards, one at a time, all face  down. The remaining deck stub is placed aside, often protected by placing a chip  or other marker on it. Players pick up the cards and hold them in their hands,  being careful to keep them concealed from the other players. The first &#8220;before  the draw&#8221; betting round occurs at this point, starting with the player to the  dealer&#8217;s left (or to the left of the big blind if blinds are used).</p>
<p>If more than one player remains after the first round, the &#8220;draw&#8221; phase  begins. Each player specifies how many of his cards he wishes to replace, and  discards that many from his hand. The deck stub is retrieved, and after a burn  card is dealt, each player in turn beginning at the dealer&#8217;s left is dealt from  the stub the same number of cards he discarded, so that each player again has  five cards. It is important that each player discards the cards he wishes to  replace before he takes any replacements, and that he take the same number of  replacements as he discarded.</p>
<p>A second &#8220;after the draw&#8221; betting round occurs after the draw phase,  beginning with the player to the dealers left or else beginning with the player  who opened the first round (the latter is common when antes are used instead of  blinds). This is followed by a showdown if more than one player remains, in  which the player with the best hand wins the pot.</p>
<p>A common &#8220;house rule&#8221; in some places is that a player may not replace more  than three cards, unless he draws four cards while keeping an ace (or wild  card). This rule is only needed for low-stakes social games where many players  will stay for the draw, and will help avoid depletion of the deck stub. In more  serious games such as those played in casinos it is unnecessary and generally  not used. A rule that <em>is</em> used by many casinos is that a player is not  allowed to draw five consecutive cards from the deck stub. In this case, if a  player wishes to replace all five of his cards, he is given four of them in  turn, the other players are given their draws, and then the dealer returns to  that player to give him his fifth replacement (if no later player drew, it is  necessary to deal a burn card first).</p>
<p>Another common house rule is that the bottom card of the deck is never given  as a replacement, to avoid the possibility of someone who might have seen it  during the deal using that information. If the deck stub is depleted during the  draw before all players have received their replacements, the last players can  receive cards chosen randomly from among those discarded by previous players.  For example, if the last player to draw wants three replacements but there are  only two cards remaining in the deck stub, the dealer gives the player the one  top card he can give, then shuffles together the bottom card of the deck, the  burn card, and the earlier players&#8217; discards (but not the player&#8217;s own  discards!), and finally deals two more replacements to the last player.</p>
<h2>Sample deal</h2>
<p>The sample deal below assumes that a game is being played by four players:  Alice, who is dealing in the examples; Bob, who is sitting to her left; Carol to  his left; and David to Carol&#8217;s left.</p>
<p>All four players ante $.25. Alice deals five cards to each player and places  the deck stub aside. Bob opens the betting round by betting $1. Carol folds,  David calls, and Alice calls, closing the betting round. Bob now declares that  he wishes to replace three of his cards, so he removes those three cards from  his hand and discards them. Alice retrieves the deck stub, deals a burn card,  then deals three cards directly to Bob, who puts them in his hand. David  discards one card, and Alice deals one card to him from the deck stub. Alice now  discards three of her own cards, and replaces them with three from the top of  the deck stub (Note: in a player-dealt casino game there is often a rule that  the dealer must discard before picking up the deck stub, but this is a home game  so we won&#8217;t worry about such details). Now a second betting round begins. Bob  checks, David bets $3, Alice calls, and Bob folds, ending the second betting  round. David shows a flush, and Alice shows two pair, so David takes the pot.</p>
<p>This guide is licensed under the <a href="http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html">GNU Free Documentation License</a>.  It uses material from the <a href="http://www.wikipedia.org/">Wikipedia</a>.</p>
<p>Need an webmaster? Click <a href="mailto:nicolae@sfetcu.com">HERE</a></p>
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		<title>Example of hand in badugi poker</title>
		<link>http://www.gamblingweblog.com/2009/04/02/example-of-hand-in-badugi-poker/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gamblingweblog.com/2009/04/02/example-of-hand-in-badugi-poker/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2009 09:18:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Nicolae</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Badugi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[betting round]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Compulsory bets]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[draw]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[example]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[First betting round]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[First draw]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hand]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Poker]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sample]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[showdown]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gamblingweblog.com/?p=1180</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ The blinds for this example hand
Here is a sample deal involving our four players. The players&#8217; individual  hands will not be revealed until the showdown, to give a better sense of what  happens during play:
Compulsory bets: Alice is the dealer. Bob, to Alice&#8217;s left, posts a  small blind of $1, and [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1181" title="example holdem" src="http://www.gamblingweblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/200px-example_holdem.png" alt="example holdem" width="200" height="180" /> <em>The blinds for this example hand</em></p>
<p>Here is a sample deal involving our four players. The players&#8217; individual  hands will not be revealed until the showdown, to give a better sense of what  happens during play:</p>
<p><strong>Compulsory bets:</strong> Alice is the dealer. Bob, to Alice&#8217;s left, posts a  small blind of $1, and Carol posts a big blind of $2.</p>
<p><strong>First betting round:</strong> Alice deals four cards face down to each player,  beginning with Bob and ending with herself. Ted must act first because he is the  first player after the big blind. He cannot check, since the $2 big blind plays  as a bet, so he folds. Alice calls the $2. Bob adds an additional $1 to his $1  small blind to call the $2 total. Carol&#8217;s blind is &#8220;live&#8221;, so she has the <em> option</em> to raise here, but she checks instead, ending the first betting  round. The pot now contains $6, $2 from each of three players.</p>
<p><strong>First draw:</strong> Each player may now opt to draw up to four cards in an  attempt to improve their hands. Bob, who is to the dealers immediate left, is  given the first chance to draw. Bob discards two cards and receives two  replacement cards from the top of the deck. Bob&#8217;s discarded cards are not added  to the deck, but removed from play. Carol now chooses to also draw two. Finally,  Alice chooses to draw one.</p>
<p><strong>Second betting round:</strong> Since there are no forced bets in later betting  rounds, Bob is now first to act. He chooses to check, remaining in the hand  without betting. Carol bets, adding $2 to the pot. Alice and Bob both call, each  adding $2 to the pot. The pot now contains $12.</p>
<p><strong>Second draw:</strong> Bob draws one. Carol opts not to draw any cards, keeping  the four she has (known as <em>standing pat</em>). Alice draws one.</p>
<p><strong>Third betting round:</strong> Bob checks again and Carol bets $4. Alice, this  round, raises making the total bet $8. Bob folds and Carol calls the additional  $4. The pot now contains $20.</p>
<p><strong>Third draw:</strong> Since Bob has folded Carol is now first to act, she opts  to draw one. Alice stands pat (does not draw).</p>
<p><strong>Last betting round:</strong> Carol checks and Alice bets $4. Carol calls.</p>
<p><strong>Showdown:</strong> Alice shows 2♠4♣<span style="color: red;">6♦9♥</span> for a  nine-high badugi (or four card hand). Carol has 3♠<span style="color: red;">5♦</span>7♣<span style="color: red;">8♥</span>,  an eight-high badugi. Carol wins the $28 pot.</p>
<p>This guide is licensed under the <a href="http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html">GNU Free Documentation License</a>.  It uses material from the <a href="http://www.wikipedia.org/">Wikipedia</a>.</p>
<p>Need an webmaster? Click <a href="mailto:nicolae@sfetcu.com">HERE</a></p>
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		<item>
		<title>Hand evaluation in badugi poker</title>
		<link>http://www.gamblingweblog.com/2009/03/21/hand-evaluation-in-badugi-poker/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gamblingweblog.com/2009/03/21/hand-evaluation-in-badugi-poker/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 21 Mar 2009 17:22:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Nicolae</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Badugi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[badugi hand]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hand evaluation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Poker]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ranking of hands]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rules]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gamblingweblog.com/?p=1139</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Badugi has a different ranking of hands than traditional poker. Although  every player has four cards to use, the rules of the game require that certain  cards be removed to construct a one, two, three or four card badugi hand.  At the showdown (after all betting has concluded), a player is forced [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Badugi has a different ranking of hands than traditional poker. Although  every player has four cards to use, the rules of the game require that certain  cards be removed to construct a one, two, three or four card <em>badugi hand</em>.  At the showdown (after all betting has concluded), a player is forced to remove  the higher of any two suited cards and any paired cards from the four. This  generates a badugi hand of one to four cards. Any four card badugi hand beats a  three card badugi hand, three card badugi hands beat a two card badugi hand, and  two card badugi hands beats a one card badugi hand. A four card badugi hand is  often referred to simply as a &#8220;badugi&#8221;.</p>
<p>Two badugi hands containing the same number of cards are evaluated by  comparing the highest card in each hand (where ace is low). As in lowball, the  hand with the lower card is superior. If there is a tie for the highest card,  the second highest card (if there is one) is compared. If the ranks of all the  cards in the badugi hand are the same the two hands tie. As with standard poker  games, suits are irrelevant in comparison of two hands.</p>
<p>Here are a few examples:</p>
<ul>
<li>2♠4♣<span style="color: red;">5♦6♥</span> beats A♠2♣<span style="color: red;">3♦7♥</span> (both are four card hands) since the highest card is compared first and the 	<span style="color: red;">6♥</span> is smaller than <span style="color: red;">7♥</span>.</li>
<li>4♠5♣<span style="color: red;">6♦K♥</span> beats 2♠3♠<span style="color: red;">4♦7♥</span> the former is a four card hand and the second is a three card hand (the 3♠  	must be discarded making the hand 2♠<span style="color: red;">4♦7♥</span>).</li>
<li>2♠3♠<span style="color: red;">4♦7♥</span> beats 4♠5♠<span style="color: red;">6♦K♥</span> both are three card hands, the highest in the first is the <span style="color: red;"> 7♥</span> while the highest in the second is the <span style="color: red;">K♥</span>.</li>
<li><span style="color: red;">5♦</span>7♣K♣<span style="color: red;">K♥</span> beats 2♠<span style="color: red;">3♦</span>K♠<span style="color: red;">K♦</span> the former is a three card hand (made by discarding the K♣) the later is a  	two card hand (made by discarding the two Kings).</li>
</ul>
<p>This guide is licensed under the <a href="http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html">GNU Free Documentation License</a>.  It uses material from the <a href="http://www.wikipedia.org/">Wikipedia</a>.</p>
<p>Need an webmaster? Click <a href="mailto:nicolae@sfetcu.com">HERE</a></p>
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		<item>
		<title>Badugi play of the hand</title>
		<link>http://www.gamblingweblog.com/2009/03/09/badugi-play-of-the-hand/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gamblingweblog.com/2009/03/09/badugi-play-of-the-hand/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:06:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Nicolae</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Badugi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[betting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hand]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[play]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gamblingweblog.com/?p=1096</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Play begins with each player being dealt four cards face down. Each player  may observe those four cards she is dealt, but not the cards dealt to other  players. The hand begins with a &#8220;pre-draw&#8221; betting round, beginning with the  player to the left of the big blind (or the player to [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Play begins with each player being dealt four cards face down. Each player  may observe those four cards she is dealt, but not the cards dealt to other  players. The hand begins with a &#8220;pre-draw&#8221; betting round, beginning with the  player to the left of the big blind (or the player to the left of the dealer, if  no blinds are used) and continuing clockwise. Each player must either call the  amount of the big blind (put in an amount equal to the big blind), fold  (relinquish any claim to the pot), or raise (put in more money than anyone else,  thus requiring others to do the same).</p>
<p>Once everyone has put the same amount of money in the pot or folded, play  proceeds to the draw. Beginning with the first player still in the pot to the  left of the dealer, each player may discard any number of cards and receive an  equal number of replacement cards (called the &#8220;draw&#8221;). Replacement cards are  dealt before the next player chooses the number of cards to draw. The discarded  cards are not readded to the deck but are discarded from the game.</p>
<p>The first draw is followed by a second betting round. Here players are free  to check (not put in any money, but also remain in the hand) until someone bets.  Again betting proceeds until all players have put in an equal amount of money or  folded. After the second betting round ends, there is another draw followed by a  third betting round. After that there is the final draw, followed by a fourth  betting round and the showdown, if necessary.</p>
<p>If at anytime all players but one have folded, the sole remaining player is  awarded the pot. If there are more than one player remaining at the conclusion  of the final betting round, the hands of those players are compared and the  player with the best badugi hand is awarded the pot.</p>
<p>This guide is licensed under the <a href="http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html">GNU Free Documentation License</a>.  It uses material from the <a href="http://www.wikipedia.org/">Wikipedia</a>.</p>
<p><em>Video: How to play Badugi &#8211; Part 2 of 4 (Poker Video)</em></p>
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		<item>
		<title>Badugi</title>
		<link>http://www.gamblingweblog.com/2009/02/20/badugi/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gamblingweblog.com/2009/02/20/badugi/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2009 01:10:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Nicolae</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Badugi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Badougi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[betting structure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[draw poker]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[four cards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hand]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Padooki]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Triple-draw]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[variant]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[winner]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gamblingweblog.com/?p=1042</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
The best hand in badugi, a four-high badugi.
Badugi (also known as Badougi or Padooki) is a draw  poker variant similar to triple draw, but with differing hand values than  traditional poker. The betting structure and overall play of the game is  identical to a standard poker game, but unlike traditional poker which [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1043" title="badugi_nuts" src="http://www.gamblingweblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/badugi_nuts.jpg" alt="badugi_nuts" width="450" height="565" /></p>
<p><em>The best hand in badugi, a four-high badugi.</em></p>
<p><strong>Badugi</strong> (also known as <strong>Badougi</strong> or <strong>Padooki</strong>) is a draw  poker variant similar to triple draw, but with differing hand values than  traditional poker. The betting structure and overall play of the game is  identical to a standard poker game, but unlike traditional poker which involves  a minimum of five cards, players&#8217; hands contain only four cards at any one time.  During each of three drawing rounds, players can trade zero to four cards from  their hands for new ones from the deck, in an attempt to form the best <em>badugi  hand</em> and win the pot. The object of Badugi is to win pots, the share of  money put in by oneself and one&#8217;s opponents during the hand. The winner of the  pot is the person, who has not folded, with the best badugi hand at the  conclusion of play (known as the showdown).</p>
<p>Originating in Asia, Badugi is becoming very popular in the United States.</p>
<p>This guide is licensed under the <a href="http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html">GNU Free Documentation License</a>.  It uses material from the <a href="http://www.wikipedia.org/">Wikipedia</a>.</p>
<p><em>Video: How To Play Badugi</em></p>
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		<title>Anaconda Poker</title>
		<link>http://www.gamblingweblog.com/2008/07/20/anaconda-poker/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gamblingweblog.com/2008/07/20/anaconda-poker/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:26:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Nicolae</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Draw poker]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Poker]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[3-2-1 Anaconda]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[3-2-1 Left]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Anaconda]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[betting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[card game]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pass The Trash Poker]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Simple Play]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[variations]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gamblingweblog.com/?p=249</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
Anaconda is a variety of the card game Poker, also called &#8220;Pass The Trash  Poker.&#8221;
Simple Play
This version of the game is also called &#8220;3-2-1 Anaconda&#8221; or &#8220;3-2-1 Left.&#8221;
Each player is dealt 6 cards. They then each select 3 cards to be passed to  the player on their left. These cards are simply set [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.gamblingweblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/poker.jpg" alt="http://www.gamblingweblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/poker.jpg" /></p>
<p><strong>Anaconda</strong> is a variety of the card game Poker, also called &#8220;Pass The Trash  Poker.&#8221;</p>
<h2>Simple Play</h2>
<p>This version of the game is also called &#8220;3-2-1 Anaconda&#8221; or &#8220;3-2-1 Left.&#8221;</p>
<p>Each player is dealt 6 cards. They then each select 3 cards to be passed to  the player on their left. These cards are simply set on the table near their  left-most opponent. No players get to see their new 3 cards until everyone has  made a pass. Afterward, the players repeat the process, only with 2 cards, then  again with 1 card. Players then discard 1 card to make their best 5-card Poker  hand.</p>
<p>In this version of the game, up to 8 people can play, passing out a total of  48 cards and having 4 left over. A 9th person can be added with the use of both  Jokers as Wild cards.</p>
<h3>Betting</h3>
<p>Betting can be included in the simple version of the game. Set up general  Poker staples such as the dealer button, blinds, and/or antes. Have a round of  betting occur before the first pass of 3 cards, then again after every card pass  is made, and ending with a showdown if necessary. If a player folds at anytime,  then they are no longer involved in card passing.</p>
<h2>Variations</h2>
<p>Anaconda can be changed in many possible ways, such as:</p>
<ul>
<li>Altering the amount of starting cards (7 cards is common).</li>
<li>Altering the amount of cards passed.</li>
<li>Altering who the cards are passed to, possibly per round.</li>
<li>Incorporating Joker cards.</li>
<li>Including only one betting round &amp; showdown after all passing rounds.</li>
<li>Removing all betting rounds and playing without money/chips.</li>
</ul>
<p>This guide is licensed under the <a href="http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html">GNU Free Documentation License</a>.  It uses material from the <a href="http://www.wikipedia.org/">Wikipedia</a>.</p>
<p><object width="425" height="349"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CQUhKUxBYlE&#038;hl=en&#038;fs=1&#038;border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CQUhKUxBYlE&#038;hl=en&#038;fs=1&#038;border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="349"></embed></object></p>
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		<title>Draw poker</title>
		<link>http://www.gamblingweblog.com/2008/07/01/draw-poker/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gamblingweblog.com/2008/07/01/draw-poker/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:48:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Nicolae</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Draw poker]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Poker]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ad hoc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Anaconda]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Badugi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[California high/low split]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[California lowball]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Double-draw]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[draw games]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[draw poker]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Four-before]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[games]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gardena jackpots]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[High/low with declare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[home]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jackpots]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jacks back]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jacks to open]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Johnson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lowball]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pass the trash]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[players]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[poker variant]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Q-Ball]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Roll 'em out"]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shotgun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Skinny Minnie]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spit in the ocean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[standard five-card draw]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Triple-draw]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[variants]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gamblingweblog.com/?p=176</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
Draw poker is any poker variant in which each player is dealt a complete hand before the first  betting round, and then develops the hand for later rounds by replacing cards.
The descriptions below assume that you are familiar with the general game  play of poker, and with hand values (both high and low [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.gamblingweblog.com/wp-content/gallery/poker/drawpoker.jpg" alt="Online draw poker" /></p>
<p><strong>Draw poker</strong> is any poker variant in which each player is dealt a complete hand before the first  betting round, and then develops the hand for later rounds by replacing cards.</p>
<p>The descriptions below assume that you are familiar with the general game  play of poker, and with hand values (both high and low variations). They also  make no assumptions about what betting structure is used. In home games, it is  typical to use an ante, and betting always begins with the player to the  dealer&#8217;s left. In casino play, it is more common to use blinds; the first  betting round thus begins with the player to the left of the big blind, and  subsequent rounds begin with the player to the dealer&#8217;s left, thus draw games  are very positional.</p>
<p>Some sample deals below will assume that a game is being played by four  players: Alice, who is dealing in the examples, Bob, who is sitting to her left,  Carol to his left, and David to Carol&#8217;s left.</p>
<h2>Standard five-card draw</h2>
<p>This is often the first poker variant learned by most players, and is very  common in home games although it is now quite rare in casino and tournament  play. Two to eight players can play.</p>
<h2>Other draw games</h2>
<h3>Gardena jackpots (&#8220;Jacks to open&#8221; or simply &#8220;Jackpots&#8221;)</h3>
<p>Played as above, with standard hand values, and with a single joker in the  deck acting as a bug. Always played with an ante and no blinds. On the first betting round,  no player is allowed to open the betting unless his hand already contains a pair  of jacks or a better hand. Other players who checked on the first round may  subsequently call or raise if someone else opens. If no player opens, a new deal  begins and everyone antes again into the same pot. The player who opened the  betting keeps his discarded cards near him on the table so that he can prove, if  necessary, that he had a sufficient opening hand. For example, a player with the <strong>K</strong>, <strong>J</strong>, <strong>9</strong>, and <strong>7</strong> of clubs and the <strong>J</strong> of hearts  has a pair of jacks and may open. He may wish to &#8220;break openers&#8221; in this case by  discarding the jack of hearts in an attempt to make the club flush, so he keeps  the discarded jack to prove that he was entitled to open.</p>
<p>The game is named after the city of Gardena, California, where this game was  especially popular from the 1930s to 1970s (though it was always secondary to  lowball). At that time, there were more public poker tables in that small city  than in all the rest of the United States. Public poker rooms are still a big  industry there, though Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and other locations now have  many more poker rooms than they did at that time. Because &#8220;Jacks to open&#8221; was  the primary form of high-hand draw poker played there, traditional draw poker  was often described by the retronym &#8220;Guts to open&#8221;.</p>
<p>In home games, it is common that when a deal is &#8220;passed out&#8221; (that is, when  no one opens), the players re-ante, and the qualifier to open is raised to a  pair of queens. If that deal is passed out, the qualifier is raised to kings,  and finally to aces. This is called &#8220;progressive&#8221; jackpots.</p>
<h3>California lowball</h3>
<p>This was the primary poker game played in California during the heyday of  Gardena in the 1970s. It is still played today, though its popularity has  somewhat lessened since the introduction of stud poker and community card poker  to the state.</p>
<p>Played as above, using ace-to-five low hand values, with a single joker in the deck. Always played  with blinds rather than antes, so players may not check on the first betting  round (but may on the second round). A player with a <strong>7</strong>-high hand or  better who checks after the draw forfeits his right to win any money placed in  the pot after the draw. (In other words, you may not check a &#8220;seven&#8221; unless you  intend to fold when someone else bets). Another common rule in low-limit games  is that a player who checks on the second betting round may not subsequently  raise on that round. This latter rule is never used in games with a pot limit or  no limit betting structure.</p>
<h3>Badugi</h3>
<p>Also sometimes known as Padooki or Badougi, Badugi is a four card ace-to-five  low lowball variant where traditional poker hand rankings are  changed. A Badougi is a four card hand where all the cards are of different  ranks and suits. Any cards which match another card in rank or suit does not  play and the first criteria for evaluating hands is the number of cards which  are playing. The following is the ranking of several example of hands from best  to worst:</p>
<ol>
<li>Ace of spades, 2 of clubs, 3 of hearts, 4 of diamonds: 4 card 4 high  	best possible Badougi</li>
<li>4 of spades, 6 of hearts, 8 of diamonds, J of clubs: 4 card J high  	Badougi</li>
<li>Ten of clubs, J of hearts, Q of Diamonds, K of hearts: 4 card worst  	possible Badougi</li>
<li>Ace of hearts, Ace of diamonds, 4 of clubs, 5 of spades: 3 card hand, 5  	high</li>
<li>Ace of clubs, Ace of spades, 4 of spades, 6 of spades: 2 card hand, 4  	high</li>
</ol>
<p>Badougi is usually played triple-draw, with a 1-1-2-2 betting structure,  although it also plays well at no limit.</p>
<h3>Other forms of lowball</h3>
<p>Five-card draw, with no joker, and deuce-to-seven low hand values is called  &#8220;Kansas City&#8221; or &#8220;Low Poker&#8221; or even &#8220;Billy Baxter&#8221; draw in honor of the player  who dominated the world championship in the event for many years. The 7-high  rule and the no check-and-raise rule do not apply. In the eastern United States,  the United Kingdom, and elsewhere, ace-to-six low hand values are common.</p>
<h3>California high/low split</h3>
<p>Played as above, with a single joker, used as a bug. High hand and low hand  (using the ace-to-five low values) split the pot. An 8-high or better low is  required to win low. If no hand qualifies low, high hand takes the whole pot.  Played cards speak, that is, players do not declare whether they intend to win the  high or low half of the pot (or both); they simply show their cards and the best  hands win. Because ace-to-five low values are used, a hand such as a low  straight or flush can win both high and low, called &#8220;scooping&#8221; or &#8220;hogging&#8221; the  pot.</p>
<h3>High/low with declare</h3>
<p>This is common in home games but is rarely found in casinos today. Played as  are other versions of five-card draw, but after the second betting round and  before the showdown, there is a simultaneous declaration phase. Each player takes two chips from his stack and takes them  under the table, bringing up a closed fist that contains either no chips  (indicating that the player intends to win the low half of the pot), one chip  (indicating that the player intends to win the high half), or two chips  (indicating that he intends to scoop). When everyone has brought up the closed  fist, the players all open their hands simultaneously to reveal their choices.  If any player shows two chips, and his hand is the best low and the best high,  he scoops the pot. Otherwise, half of the pot goes to the player with the  highest hand who declared high, and the other half to the player with the lowest  hand of those who declared low. There is no qualifying hand to win either high  or low, and if no one declares in one direction, the full pot is awarded in the  other (for example, if all players declare low, the low hand wins the whole pot  rather than half). A player who declares for a scoop must win both ends  outright, with no ties. For example, if a player declares scoop, has the lowest  hand clearly but ties for high, he wins nothing. The other player with the same  high hand wins the high half of the pot and the next-lowest hand wins low  (assuming he declared low&#8211;if no other player declared low, the high hand who  declared high wins the whole pot).</p>
<p>This game can be played with deuce-to-seven low or ace-to-six low hand values, but in that case it is nearly impossible to  scoop (though you can still win the whole pot if everyone declares the same  direction).</p>
<h3>Double-draw and Triple-draw</h3>
<p>Any game above can be played with two or three draw phases and therefore  three or four betting rounds. Double-draw California lowball is a particularly  good game. Triple draw lowball, either ace-to-five or deuce-to-seven, has gained  some popularity among serious players. The 2004 World Series of Poker included a deuce-to-seven triple-draw lowball event.</p>
<h3>Four-before</h3>
<p>Another variation that can be applied to any game above, but that is  especially suited to lowball. On the initial deal, only four cards are dealt to  each player. A betting round follows, then each player draws one more card than  he discards, completing his hand to five cards. Then the final betting round and  showdown. Note that it is impossible to be dealt a &#8220;pat&#8221; hand, that is, a hand  (such as a straight or flush) that is complete before the draw.</p>
<h3>Johnson (and &#8220;Jacks back&#8221;)</h3>
<p>Played with one joker which acts as a bug. Must be played with antes and no blinds. Each player is dealt five  cards. The first betting round begins with the player to the dealer&#8217;s left, who  may check or open with anything. If any player opens, the game continues as  traditional five-card draw poker. If the first round is passed out (that is, no  one opens), then the player to the dealer&#8217;s left may now open if he chooses, but  the game has switched to California lowball. On the rare occasion that the deal  is passed out yet again, players re-ante and deal again. This game plays well  head-up (that is, with only two players). When the game is played that a pair of  jacks or better is required to open on the first high-hand round, the game is  called &#8220;Jacks back&#8221;.</p>
<p>Some examples might help clarify: On the first deal, players ante and Alice  deals five cards around. Bob sees that he has a <strong>6</strong>-high straight, which is  a very good hand for both high and low. He also wants to be deceptive about the  value of his hand, so he checks. Carol opens for $1, David folds, Alice raises  to $2, and Bob (who now realizes that Carol and Alice want to play high hands)  reraises to $3, which is called by Carol and Alice. Bob announces that he  &#8220;stands pat&#8221; (draws no cards). Carol draws three cards, and Alice draws two. Bob  bets $2, Carol folds, Alice raises, and Bob calls. Bob shows his straight, but  Alice has made a full house and wins the pot.</p>
<p>On the second deal, Bob has the same hand: a <strong>6</strong>-high straight, and  makes the same play, checking. This time, Carol also checks, as does David, and  finally Alice. Now it is Bob&#8217;s turn again, but now they are playing lowball. He  opens for $1. Carol folds, and David raises to $2. Alice folds, and Bob reraises  to $3 (a <strong>6</strong>-high is a very good low hand; much better, in fact, than a <strong> 6</strong>-high straight would be for high). David calls. Bob stands pat, and David  draws one card. Bob bets $2 (he is required to bet under California lowball  rules since he has a hand better than <strong>7</strong>-high), and David calls. Bob shows  his <strong>6-5-4-3-2</strong> low, and David shows <strong>7-5-4-3-A</strong> low, and Bob wins  with his <strong>6</strong>-high.</p>
<h3>Q-Ball</h3>
<p>This is a lowball game designed by Michael Wiesenberg that combines some of  the variations mentioned above. It is generally played with three blinds&#8211;one  unit from the dealer, one unit to his left, and two units for the second player  to the dealer&#8217;s left. The deck contains one joker. Each player is dealt three  cards, followed by a round of betting beginning with the player immediately  after the big blind who may call the big blind, raise, or fold (there is no  checking on the first round). Next, each player is dealt a fourth card, followed  by a second round of betting starting with the still-active player to the  dealer&#8217;s left. No checking is allowed on this round either, despite the fact  that there is no bet facing the first player; the first player must open or  fold. Each player is then dealt a fifth card, followed by a third betting round  beginning on the dealer&#8217;s left. At this point, checking is allowed. Finally,  each player draws as in normal draw poker, followed by a fourth betting round  and showdown. Ace-to-five low values are used.</p>
<p>Played at fixed limit, it is recommended that the betting structure be 1-2-2-4; that  is, the second and third betting rounds should allow a bet of twice the amount  of the first round, and the final bet should allow four times the amount of the  first round.</p>
<h2>&#8220;Home&#8221; games</h2>
<p>These are somewhat less-serious games that are typically played only in home  games at small stakes. This does not necessarily mean that there is less  opportunity for skillful play, just that the games are seen as more social than  competitive.</p>
<p>To help grow the betting pot in a home game, one can add a variant known as  the &#8220;kill card&#8221; to the rules. Kill cards work best with stud games or shared  card games as no one player can control when the &#8220;kill card&#8221; is played.</p>
<p>One popular &#8220;kill card&#8221; game is called Chernobyl Cowboy. The &#8220;Chernobyl  Cowboy&#8221; is the King of Hearts. Whenever the King of Hearts appears face up in a stud or shared card game the game is dead. All bets remain in the pot and  the game begins again with a new ante and a new deal. Anyone who has folded is  out until the game concludes. For example: In a seven card stud game each player  gets two cards down, then four cards up, then one final card down. In a seven  card stud game with a &#8220;Chernobyl Cowboy&#8221;, if the King of Hearts comes up during  the time the four up cards are dealt, the game is killed and everyone who is  still in antes again for a new round.</p>
<h3>Shotgun (&#8220;Roll &#8216;em out&#8221; and &#8220;Skinny Minnie&#8221;)</h3>
<p>This is a draw game that plays much like a stud game. First five cards are dealt to each player, followed by a betting  round, and a draw. Now, in place of a second round and showdown, there is a  rollout phase, which begins with the players arranging their five cards in any chosen  order, placing them face down in front of themselves. Each player&#8217;s top card is  now revealed, followed by a betting round. Then each player reveals his next  card, followed by a betting round. Then a third card is revealed, followed by a  betting round, a fourth card, a betting round, and finally a showdown. Players  may not change the order of their cards at any time during the rollout phase.</p>
<p>This game can be played for high or low, but plays best at high-low split, in which case it is called &#8220;Skinny Minnie&#8221;.</p>
<h3>Spit in the ocean</h3>
<p>This might be classified as a hybrid draw/Community card game, but it is placed here because it plays mostly as a draw game. On  the initial deal, each player is dealt four cards, and then a single card is  dealt to the center of the table face up. This card plays as if it were the  fifth card in every player&#8217;s hand. It is also a wild card, and every other card  of its rank is also wild. The first betting round is then played, followed by a  draw in which each player replaces cards from his hand with an equal number, so  that each player still has only four cards in hand. A final betting round is  followed by a showdown. High-hand values are used.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s a sample deal: Alice deals four cards to each player, then deals the  next card face up to the center of the table. it is the <strong>6</strong> of diamonds,  and this makes all <strong>6</strong>-spot cards wild. Bob opens for $1, Carol raises to  $2, David folds, Alice and Bob call. Bob discards two cards, and receives two  replacements. Carol draws one card, and Alice draws one. Bob checks, Carol bets  $2, Alice raises to $4, Bob folds, Carol reraises to $6, and Alice calls. The  cards in Carol&#8217;s hand are <strong>Q-Q-6-4</strong>. Because the <strong>6</strong> in her hand and  the one on the board are wild, her hand is four queens. Alice&#8217;s hand contains <strong> K-J-9-7</strong>, all spades. With the shared wild card, this gives her a flush,  which loses to Carol&#8217;s four queens.</p>
<h3>Anaconda (&#8220;Pass the trash&#8221;)</h3>
<p>Seven cards are dealt to each player. Before the first betting round, each  player examines his hand, and removes exactly three cards from his hand and  places them on the table to his left. After each person has thus discarded, he  picks up the cards discarded by his right-hand neighbor and places them in his  hand (thus, each player will have given three cards to his left-hand neighbor).  It is important that each player discard before looking at the cards he is to  receive. After the first pass, there is a betting round. Then a second pass  occurs, each player passing two cards to his right. A second betting round is  followed by a third pass, each player passing one card to his left. Finally, a  fourth betting round and a showdown, in which the player with the best five-card  high hand he can make out of the seven in his hand wins the pot.</p>
<p>In some casual games, the showdown is replaced by a rollout phase, as described above in &#8220;Shotgun&#8221;. This makes a total of eight betting  rounds in the game, which generally destroys any chance for skillful play in the  later rounds.</p>
<h2>Ad hoc variants</h2>
<p>Any of the above games can be modified in many ways upon player whim, by  designating additional wild cards, betting rounds, more or fewer cards, altered  hand values, and any other change agreed upon by all players prior to each deal.  You can announce such a game by using the name of an existing game and  specifying the variations, for example &#8220;Three-card Triple-draw California  lowball, Kings wild&#8221; (a surprisingly good game heads up). Many times this will  result in a game that does not play well, but occasionally will produce a game  that is well-suited to a particular group of players. Even if it doesn&#8217;t, such  games can be used sparingly to enliven an otherwise serious game.</p>
<p>Here are some general guidelines:</p>
<ul>
<li>If you want to designate some normal suited cards as wild, choose cards  	that would otherwise be bad for the game being played. For example, deuces  	wild for high-hand games, kings wild for lowball, <strong>9</strong>-spots wild for  	high-low split (where an <strong>8</strong>-high or lower is necessary to win  	low).</li>
<li>High-low split games play best with more than four players.</li>
<li>When playing high-low split, it is necessary to have either a  	declaration phase or a qualifier (but not both). The most common form is 	<strong>8</strong>-high or better to qualify low, but also common is any pair/no pair  	(that is, a pair or better is required to win high, and no pair or better  	low is required to win low), and <strong>9</strong>-high for low.</li>
<li>Designating more than four wild cards (or possibly six) will result in  	considerable confusion and many ties.</li>
<li>Two to five betting rounds makes a good game. One round or more than  	five rounds reduces the amount of skill involved.</li>
<li>Sometimes there is no betting round before the draw; players pick up  	their cards, discard and draw, and then the betting starts.</li>
<li>Giving each player more than eight or nine cards usually makes a bad  	game. (Note that in Anaconda, each player will have seen up to thirteen  	cards!)</li>
</ul>
<p>This guide is licensed under the <a href="http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html">GNU Free Documentation License</a>.  It uses material from the <a href="http://www.wikipedia.org/">Wikipedia</a>.</p>
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