How to Play Blackjack Poker

Are you looking for a new game to add to your home poker night? You've played Texas Holdem, you have been playing Omaha Hi-Low, and you even have tried various wild card games. Why not combine another popular card game with poker and play blackjack poker? Blackjack poker is a split pot game that will keep a lot of people in the hand until the showdown.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• playing cards
• poker table, poker table top, or standard table
• chairs
• poker chips

How To Play Blackjack Poker

1. Gather a group of friends to enjoy a home poker night at your house. Explain the rules of Blackjack Poker to them after reading this guide. Once everyone understands the basics of this easy to learn poker game, it is time to deal.

2. Deal two facedown cards to each player to start the hand. Explain to each player that the player with facedown cards that total closest to 21 among the players still in the hand at the showdown will split the pot. Also let each player know that the last card of the hand will be dealt face down, but for a predetermined payment to the pot they can have their card dealt face up so it won't "bust" their down cards. Have each player bet with the player to the left of the dealer starting the betting round.

3. Deal the next four cards one per round to each player face up. After each round, perform a round of betting. The player with the highest face up hand starts the wagering for that round.

4. Prior to the dealing of the final card, ask each player if they would like their card face up or face down. If they want it face up to avoid busting their blackjack hand they must pay a donation to the pot. Deal the final card to each player. A final betting round is started by the player with the best face up hand.

5. Award half the pot to the player that has the best poker hand. The other half of the pot is awarded to the player who gets closest to 21 with their face down cards without going over. Only players who have not folded are eligible for portions of the pot. If there is a tie for the best blackjack hand, that half of the pot is split evenly among the players that tied for it.

Tips & Warnings

• Try playing this game with a twist, play Follow The Queen instead of standard 7 card stud for the poker portion of the pot. Let all players know that for the blackjack hand the queen counts as 10 , not as a wild amount.

• Be careful staying in based just on your blackjack hand, if you have less than 20 you are likely to lose the blackjack portion of the pot with more than five players at the table.