How to Play Flop-A Poker

Flop-A Poker is a poker variation that can be played at home, but the name is deceptive. The winner of Flop-A Poker is not determined by the best poker hand at the table, but instead by which player or players can discard all of their cards. Players discard cards by matching cards in their own hands with the community cards that are flipped over. The first player or players to discard his cards wins the pot, plus additional money from any player that had not folded.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Deck of playing cards

1. Gather a group of friends together. Flop-A Poker can be played by a relatively large group of players. The minimum number of players is 4, and the maximum is 10 players. The ideal number for a game of Flop-A Poker is between 6 and 8 players.

2. Deal 3 face down cards to each player, and 4 face down cards into the center of the table. The 4 face down cards in the center of the table are known as the community cards. Place the draw deck next to the community cards. After each player pays an ante into the pot, he may look at his own 3 cards.

3. Inform the players that the goal is to discard all 3 cards in their hands. A player may discard a card if it matches one of the community cards as they are flipped over one at a time.

4. Flip over the first community card. Any player having a matching card can then place her matching card on top of the community card. Conduct a wagering round, with the player with the lowest number of cards starting the wagering. If there is a tie for lowest number of cards, the player sitting closest to the dealer in a clockwise pattern goes first.

5. Flip over the remaining community cards on the table in the same way the first round was conducted. If a card that is flipped over matches one that was flipped before it, place this card on top of that one and flip a new card over from the draw pile. After each round conduct a wagering round, just like the first wagering round.

6. Flip the top card on the draw pile over to be the fifth and final community card. Allow players to discard and conduct a final wagering round in the same fashion as the previous wagering rounds.

7. Determine who wins the pot. If a single player plays his final card in any of the 5 rounds, he wins the entire pot. Any player that did not fold must also pay a penalty equal to 20% of the pot to the winner. If multiple players play their final card in the same round, the remaining players that did not discard their final card must pay a penalty by matching the value of the pot and placing that into the pot for the winners. The winners split the pot evenly. If no player plays all of his cards after the 5 community cards are flipped up, the player with the lowest point total in his hand wins the amount in the pot. Points are based on face values of the cards, with all face cards counting as 10 and aces as 1. Players that tie in this situation split the pot.

Tips & Warnings

• Flop-A Poker is a fun game to play at the beginning of your night of poker. If the players at the table enjoy it, it might be called by the dealer many times throughout the night. The strategy in this game is rather limited, so it is an easy game to teach to new players.
• It is highly recommended to fold if a player at the table has played 2 of her cards in the first 3 rounds and you still have 3 cards in your hand.