How to Deal Baseball Poker

Baseball is a popular variation of seven card stud. The difference is the wild cards, and they can seem endless. Depending on the variation as many as ten cards can be wild and other cards force additional cards and bets and baseball dealers need to keep track of every wrinkle.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Begin play with the ante. Shuffle and cut the deck.

2. Deal three cards to each player. Deal the first two face down, the third face up. So far the deal follows classic seven-card stud play.

3. Add an extra card to any player showing a four. The player can use this card to build her final hand.

4. Begin betting. The lowest card on the table must bring in half the minimum raise. The betting proceeds as normal until everyone is in or has folded. Players dealt a three must match the pot or drop.

5. Continue alternating one card dealt and betting for the fourth, fifth and sixths rounds. After each deal, betting begins with the best hand and proceeds according to stud rules. The rules about threes and fours remain in effect.

6. Finish the deal with the seventh card face down. Betting ends and players make the best five cards into their final hand. Nines and threes are wild.

Tips & Warnings

• Because of the many wild cards, it usually takes four of a kind to win.
• In some variants threes don't force the player to match the pot or drop. Some players include the jokers as two more wild cards, but this isn't standard. Other variants include nine and five card deals.
• In the pay variation players must pay to receive some or all wild card benefits. They may pay for face up wild cards or all wild cards. Typically the payment is equal to the value of the pot.
• In the "rainout" variation, play ends when the Queen of Spades is dealt face up. The cards are redealt to any players still in the game. A further variation requires a dome to be built over the stadium after the third rainout.
• After the opening deal, each deal is referred to as a street (fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh).