How to Play Frustration Poker

There aren’t many two card poker games. The most common one is known as Guts. In Guts though, there are no options to draw. You must play the hand that you are dealt. That is not the case with Frustration Poker. In Frustration Poker there is a drawing round which does give you a chance to improve your hand slightly. So, why is the game named Frustration Poker? Well, it can be very frustrating trying to develop a high hand in poker when you can only have two cards in your hand. Clearly a pair of Aces is the best hand you can since straights and flushes do not apply usually in Frustration Poker. The other aspect of Frustration Poker that can be frustrating to those playing is the fact that the pots in this game tend to be rather low.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Playing cards
• Poker table, poker tabletop or standard table
• Chairs
• Opponents
• Poker chips

1. Gather your friends together for a home poker night. Frustration Poker is a good option to play as a warm up game while you are waiting for your friends to arrive. Frustration poker can be played by as many people as you can fit at your table. Technically there are only enough cards for 17 players, but you will find very few home poker games with 17 players at a table.

2. Deal two cards face down to each player. Once each player has received two face down cards, each player may look at their own cards

3. Conduct a betting round. The player sitting to the left of the dealer is the player that begins the first betting round.

4. Discard one or two cards from your hand. Each player has the option to discard either one or both cards that are in their hand.

5. Deal replacement cards to each player. Once each player has made their discards, deal an equal number of face down cards to the number of cards they discarded to each player.

6. Conduct another betting round. This time the wagering is began by the player sitting directly across from the dealer, or as close to directly across from the dealer as possible.

7. Reveal your cards. Each player reveals their two cards. There is really no need to declare your hand in Frustration Poker as everyone can clearly see what you have. Pairs are the highest hands, with a high card winning if there are no pairs. The highest hand wins the poker pot.

Tips & Warnings

• There are many house rules you can add to Frustration Poker to make it slightly more interesting. You can deal one card face up and one face down to each player on the initial deal if you wish. You may also add additional drawing rounds to the game if you wish. It is recommended that have have no more than four drawing rounds in a game of Frustration Poker.
• If you are playing the traditional form of Frustration Poker, having a Queen or higher in your hand gives you a good chance to win. Being dealt a pair off the initial deal is very rare.