How to Play Wheel of Fortune Poker

Wheel of Fortune Poker is a variation of Merry Go Round Poker. Unlike standard Merry Go Round Poker there are wild cards in the game of Wheel of Fortune Poker. Anyone that has played Wheel of Fortune Poker already knows that the pots in that game tend to be rather large, and many players stay in until the showdown. Adding in the wild card results in even larger hands, and larger pots. This is a great game for the casual poker player, but one that serious players might be frustrated with after a few games.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Gather your friends together for a night of Wheel Of Fortune Poker. This is a game that can be played by itself all night, or as a part of the game rotation at your home poker night. The maximum number of players is eleven, but a typical game ranges from six to nine players.

2. Deal four face-down cards to each player after everyone has anted. Continue dealing by dealing six cards into the center of the table in a formation close to a circle. These are the community cards. Flip over the first of the community cards on the circle, and allow each player to look at his or her own cards.

3. Inform the players at the table that this is a split pot game and that the high and low hands at the table will split the pot. Let everyone know that there are two wild cards in Wheel Of Fortune Poker. Those two wild cards are the Queen of Hearts, and the King of Diamonds.

4. Conduct the first wagering round, with the player to the left of the dealer starting the wagering.

5. Flip over the remaining five community cards in the circle in the center of the table one at a time. After each card is flipped, there is a wagering round. The player that starts the wagering round rotates clockwise around the table each round.

6. Inform all the players that they may use any combination of his or her own four cards along with three touching community cards in the circle to form his or her best poker hand.

7. Instruct each player that has not folded to put their closed fist over the table and declare if they will be playing for the high hand or the low hand’s half of the pot. Each player can only play for one or the other. Players wanting to play for the high hand put a chip in their closed fist, players playing for the low hand leave their fist open.

8. Reveal the cards, determine who is playing for high and low hand, and determine the winners of each half of the pot. Each player opens his or her fist and reveals if he or she is playing for the high hand or low hand half of the pot. All players then reveal their cards and declare their hands. Determine the winner of the high hand first, and then the winner of the low hand. These players split the pot.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember, unlike other split-pot games, a player can not declare for both halves of the pot. They must decide if they will play their hand for high or low hand only. This keeps more people in the game and guarantees two winners per hand.
• If there is a sequence of touching cards in the community cards of the two through the four, be very careful about declaring for the low hand. Someone is likely to have the five in his or her hole cards and if you don’t have it you should seriously consider folding, unless you have a hand that can compete for the high hand instead.