If you’re a poker enthusiast and are interested in learning about different variations of the game, you may have come across the Chicago Poker Game, also known as Seven-Card Stud Eight or Better. This game is a popular variation of Seven-Card Stud, but with a twist. In this tutorial, we’ll go through how to play Chicago Poker Game and understand its rules.
The Basics:
Chicago Poker Game is played with a standard 52-card deck and can be played with two to eight players. The objective of the game is to make the best possible five-card hand using seven cards dealt to each player. The twist in this game is that the pot is split between the highest and lowest hand at showdown.
Dealing the Cards:
Before any cards are dealt, each player puts in an ante which is a small amount of money that goes into the pot. Once all players have placed their ante, each player receives three cards – two face down (hole cards) and one face up (door card). The player with the lowest door card starts the first betting round with either a forced bet or a bring-in bet.
Betting Rounds:
After the first betting round, three more cards are dealt to each player face up followed by another betting round. This process repeats twice more until all players have seven cards each – four face up and three face down.
Showdown:
Once all betting rounds are complete, there’s a showdown where all remaining players reveal their hands. The pot is then split between the highest hand and lowest hand according to specific rules.
The highest hand follows traditional poker hand rankings starting from Royal Flush down to High Card while for determining the lowest hand Ace counts as low only while straights and flushes do not count against it. If there’s no qualifying low hand (5 cards 8 or lower), then only high hands will be eligible to win the pot.
Strategy:
Since the pot is split between the highest and lowest hand, players need to keep both in mind while playing Chicago Poker Game. Players should look for hands that can potentially win both ways. Hands like A-2-3-4-5 or 8-7-6-5-4 can potentially win both high and low hands.
Another key strategy is to pay attention to the door card of your opponents. If an opponent has a low door card, they may be going for a low hand.
On the other hand, if an opponent has a high door card, they may be going for a high hand. This information can help you make better decisions during the game.
Conclusion:
Chicago Poker Game is a fun variation of Seven-Card Stud that adds an exciting twist to traditional poker games. The game requires players to be mindful of not only making a strong hand but also making a qualifying low hand. With these rules and strategies in mind, you’re now ready to give Chicago Poker Game a try!
