How to Play Poker Baseball

Poker Baseball is played using the same format as Seven-Card Stud. In this game, 3's and 9's represent wild cards, and any player who is dealt a 4 face up receives an extra card.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Card Tables
• Folding Chairs
• Playing Cards
• Poker Chips

1. Collect the ante from each player.

2. Begin the game by dealing three cards to each player - the first two face down and the third face up. If a player receives a 4 face up, he or she is dealt another card face down.

3. Follow with a round of betting. Bear in mind that 3's and 9's are wild cards.

4. Deal the fourth, fifth and sixth cards face up to each player, with a round of betting after each card is dealt. Remember the rule for 4's that are dealt face up.

5. Deal the seventh and final card face down to each player.

6. Finish with a round of betting.

7. Determine the winner.

Tips & Warnings

• The three outs, four bases and nine innings of baseball form the basis of this entertaining poker variation.
• Players will have more than seven cards if they receive 4's face up.
• Adding wild cards creates stronger winning poker hands, and you'll usually need a full house or better to win. Keep this factor in mind.
• Your position at the table can often dictate your playing style. For instance, if you're last to play, you might try to bluff and steal the pot when appropriate. If you're first to play while holding a strong hand, you might bet small and allow players after you to drive up the stakes.
• Don't expect to find Poker Baseball at a casino. Generally, games with wild cards are played strictly for fun.

[briangarvin]

on 2/4/2009 Wow Poker Baseball. When I was a kid I was a home run hitter on a Baseball team called the Dodgers in Norco, CA. We were the top team that year in the league. I also am an avid Poker Player. So combining Poker and Baseball is a marvelous idea and this article spells this out to the extent to where I can really try this the next time my friends are around. Kudos..

on 8/8/2006 I've played with 3's and 9's being wild, however if you are dealt two 3 cards face you automatically strikeout.

on 11/22/2005 Deal all seven cards face down and advise the players not to look at their cards. Have each player reveal the cards one at a time, in turn, until their hand is better than the previous showing hand (at which point they stop turning over their cards and can bet or fold). Play then continues with the next player in turn. The same rules apply as those for 4's and the wild cards 3 and 9. It's a good pot builder, too.

on 11/22/2005 I learned this version of Baseball from a poker book. As stated, it is a basic 7 card stud game. 3's and 9's are wild, and if you get a 4, you can buy an extra card. However, if you are dealt a three as one of your "up cards," you must match the current pot or fold out of the game. I find that this adds a huge bluff factor to the game, as well as much larger pots.

on 11/22/2005 1) We also play a no-peak version called "Night Baseball" where all cards are dealt face-down and you take turns turning them over. 2) In nickel-dime-quarter betting, we pay 10c for wild cards (3's and 9's) and 25c for an extra card (4's). 3) You cannot play with 4's if you have seven players - there aren't enough cards!