How to Find New Variations For a Poker Game

Here's how to come up with new variations of poker to play at your next home game.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Playing cards

Create Your Own Poker Variations

1. Decide what type of game you and your friends have the most fun playing, whether it be a game with wild cards and a split pot. Perhaps you prefer a game where if a card is dealt face up the entire hand is redealt. The answer to these questions will help you devise your own poker variation.

2. Choose a poker variation you enjoy playing and change one item. Maybe you enjoy playing "Follow the Queen" where all queens are wild as well as the card dealt after the queen until another queen is dealt. Make a simple change such as "If a queen is dealt face up it is no longer wild, only the card dealt after the queen is wild." Or you could say that whatever card is dealt after the queen is only wild for the player who received it.

3. Start getting more creative. If you enjoy auctions, you could have a game where each time a card is dealt to all the players there is one face card that is up for auction, and anyone losing the auction has to take a face down card. Have the amount bid for the face card paid into the pot.

4. Explain it to everyone that is playing that night before the first hand is dealt. Let them know this is a variation you have came up with and might call later in the night if you are playing dealer's choice. Explain the rules to them and play a sample hand without any real bettor. This way everyone can see how the poker variation is played and you do not have an unfair advantage.

5. After explaining the new poker variation and playing a sample hand, ask you poker playing friends at the table for any suggestions. They might see a flaw in your poker variation that you didn't see. Do not take it personally; it might be a small flaw that can be fixed right there. They might also suggest minor changes that make the game more entertaining or add features such as bidding limits. Remember, poker is a social game.

6. Play your poker variation early in the evening and see how others react to it. If they seem to enjoy it, call it a couple other times when it is your turn to deal the game. After calling the game three or four times yourself, call other games on your next deals. See if anyone else calls the poker variation that you created. If they do then there is a good chance it has become accepted by your poker playing friends and might become a regular poker variation.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't be offended if others aren't big fans of your poker variation. Not every variation will be a hit with everyone at the table. Remember it is just a game, and shouldn't be taken personally.
• Don't forget to play a sample game of your variation before the poker night begins to introduce it to your friends. Also if your game builds large pots it might be a good idea not to call it if a couple players at the table are low on chips.