How to Play Jacks or Better Progressive Poker

Before learning this game, you will first want to learn how to play Jacks or Better poker, of which this is a variation. It is labeled "progressive" because the openers progress. The first hand is jacks or better, the next is queens or better, and so forth. This hand draws a large pot while players wait to get a hand they can open with.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Deck of cards
• Card table
• Poker chips or change

Progressive poker

1. Ante up. Begin with a medium ante, equal to a typical bet. For instance, if a regular bet in your home game is 25 cents, that is a good ante for this game. Do not set a high ante, as this game can repeat itself many times if no one can “open,” and players will soon be out of money if they must pay a high ante each hand.

2. Shuffle up and deal. The basic structure of this game matches Five-Card Draw. Each player receives five cards face down.

3. Play begins to the left of the dealer. Each player must declare if he can “open.” The first hand you play is jacks or better, so a player can open if he has a pair of jacks or better in his hand, although he does not need to show the cards (just keep them handy). If a player can open, skip to Step 5.

4. If no player can open, repeat the game from Step 1, making sure to shuffle all the cards again. This time to determine if you can open, the openers progress. Thus, the second hand is queens or better. If again no one can open, the following hand is kings or better. Next is aces or better. Then the openers return to kings or better, queens or better, then jacks or better and back up until someone can open.

5. When a player declares she can open, that player decides on the amount of the bet. Typically, this is equal to the ante, but it may be higher. It should not be lower.

6. Call, raise or fold. Play circulates clockwise from the player who opened.

7. Choose up to three cards to discard. You may choose to discard none. Some people choose to allow players to draw four cards if they show that they are holding an ace. Decide before your game whether to allow this rule or not.

8. Deal new cards to each player, equal to the number he discarded. Make your best poker hand using five cards.

9. Commence the final round of betting, beginning with the opener and continuing clockwise.

10. The winner collects the pot. Hand hierarchy matches regular poker rules. From best to worst hands: Royal straight flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, pair, high card. If players tie, split the pot evenly among the winners. If you feel it is necessary, you may ask the opener to reveal the cards he used to open.

Tips & Warnings

• Offer to be dealer after you've reached your loss limit so you can still enjoy the camaraderie of the game. This will give you a chance to observe your opponents and pick up on their tells.

• Know when to quit. Gambling can be very addictive, even when you’re not playing for money.

• Don’t borrow money or chips to continue playing.

• Don't gamble if you are depressed. Don't gamble if you are under the influence of alcohol.