Typically Dealer's Choice - Although games that favor the dealer should be played at least once around
Betting:
Unless otherwise specified in the Rules, betting is typically 75 max bet, 3 max raises. If a player runs out of money in the middle of play, they must form a side pot - taking money from the bank in the middle of a game is strongly discouraged. (Mostly Because Frank can't count)
Specials:
A non-wild "Special" hand - 4 of a kind or Straigh Flush entitles the Winner to a "bonus" 50 from each player, even if they folded. Additionally, their picture goes up on the poker wall. Lastly - you MUST win the hand to collect - if everyone folds, you do not win.
Texas Hold 'Em
Initial Deal:
2 cards down to each player, five common cards.
Play:
A round of betting is held after the deal, then three of the table cards are turned up. Another round of betting follows. One more table card is flipped, followed by another round of betting. The last card is flipped, a final round if betting ensues, and finally a showdown in which players make their best hands using any combination of their 2 and the table's 5.
Winner:
High Hand
Variations:
Tahoe: 3 cards down instead of 2. No more than 2 hole cards can be used in final hand.
Pineapple: 3 cards down instead of 2. Each player must discard one before the first 3 table cards are flipped.
Crazy Pineapple: Same as Pineapple, but each player discards AFTER the first 3 table cards are flipped.
Super Hold 'em: 3 cards down instead of 2, all of which may be used.
Texas 2-Step: After the first 3 common cards are rolled and the betting round is finished, each player may pay the lowest stake for each card he/she wishes to exchange for a new card from the deck. After the next roll and betting round are finished, each player may pay twice the lowest stake for each card he/she wishes to exchange for a new card from the deck. After the last roll and betting round are finished, each player may pay three times the lowest stake for each card he/she wishes to exchange for a new card from the deck. After the last draw, there is a final betting round, then the showdown. If no cards were drawn during the last exchange, there is no extra betting round.
Special Rules:
"All-in" may be called - but is limited to 50 cents * the number of players or all money currently on hand, which ever is smaller. If it is less than 50 cents per player, Other players may continue to bet/play, however ny further action will create a side pot of which the "All In" player will have no claim to. The limit of the number of side pots is only limited to the number of participants in a particular hand. The player will have claim to the portion of the pot that they have contributed to.
Screw Your Neighbor
Initial Deal:
1 Card down to each player. Deck is not reshuffled.
Play:
Each player starts with an equal number of "lives" (typically four) and each life represents a stake in the pot, which will be collected by the overall winner. Just one card is dealt to each player, and each player may look at their own card. The object is not to be left holding the lowest card. Suits are irrelevant and the cards rank K (high), Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, A (low).
Each player has one turn, beginning with the player to dealer's left, continuing clockwise round the table and ending with the dealer. At your turn you may either keep your card or try to exchange it with your left hand neighbour, in the hope of getting a better card. Your neighbour must accept the exchange unless she has a king,queen, or Jack. A king is "invisible" to the game, and that player autmotically goes to the next round. A Queen acts as a reverse, and you trade with the player to your right, and a Jack acts as a stopper, where the exchange does not take place.The dealer, whose turn comes last, can exchange with a card cut from the undealt stock. When down to two players, A King and a Queen become identical acting cards.
Winner:
Last Man Standing
Seven Twenty Seven (7/27)
Initial Deal:
Two cards down, one card up to each player.
Play:
The object is to get as close to 7 or 27 as possible. As in Blackjack, Aces are worth 1 or 11 and numbers are worth their face value. Face cards, however, are worth half a point (.5). The player to the dealer's left is the lead player, with the lead rotating each round. Each round, each player starting with the lead has the opportunity to take one additional card. The lead then starts a round of betting. This continues until nobody takes an additional card. After a final betting round, players declare high/low/both and hold a showdown.
Winner:
Closest to 7 and closest to 27 split the pot. 5-A-A (because Aces are one or eleven, or in this case one and eleven) wins a share of both 7 and 27. If multiple players are equidistant from a target number (like 6 & 8), the player with the lowest count gets the pot share for that target number. If multiple players have the same count, then they each get an equal pot share for that target number. So, for example, if one player has 26 1/2 and two players have 7 and $20 is in the pot, then the 26 1/2 player get $10 and the 7 players each get $5.
Omaha Hold 'Em
Initial Deal:
4 cards down to each player, five common cards.
Play:
Identical to Texas Hold 'Em, but final hands must include exactly 2 of the player's four cards and exactly 3 of the table's five cards.
Winner:
High Hand
Variations:
High-Low Split: Players may use all 4 of their cards, splitting them into two groups to form a high hand and a low hand. Cards speak for themselves. As above, but players declare high/low/both.
Bush League: Common cards are dealt in a cross formation. Common cards are exposed one-at-a-time with betting prior to each exposure and after the last exposure. As in Baseball, 3's and 9's are wild. A four exposed gets everyone an extra card. Players may be required to pay the minimum bet for each exposed wild card.
Fan Tan
Card Ranks:
Standard ranking, but with ace low.
Initial Deal:
All the cards are dealt out clockwise, one at a time until all cards have been dealt.
Play:
The player sitting left to the dealer starts out by placing a 7 on the table (it doesn't matter from which suit). If this player doesn't hold a 7, then the turn continues to the next player on the left and so on, until someone can begin the game with a 7. Once the first 7 is on the table, the turns continue in clockwise order. Players discard a card each turn in one of the 11 remaining piles where applicable. The four piles positioned below the center row of 7's, range from 6 down to Ace and the four piles positioned above range from 8 up to King. Players must follow the suit of each pile and must also follow the number order within a suit - meaning if a top card in the lower pile of hearts is 4 of hearts, then a 3 of hearts is the only acceptable card for that pile. A player must pass a turn if no cards can be played, but may not pass a turn if a card can be played. Once a player places a King or an Ace on a pile, the pile is flipped around to indicate that it is completed.
Restrictions:
The piles in a suit can only be started with a 7. Hence, players may not play any value above or below 7 within a given suit until a 7 of that suit has been played.
Variations:
Using Spades as "trump", they can be played anywheres any suit would be. The "trumped" card can then be played on the 7 card. The 7 of spades is not trump
Winner:
The first player who has no cards left wins the game.
Guts:
Initial Deal:
2 Cards Face down
Play:
The dealer deals two cards to each player. If both cards in the player's hand match, then that player has a pair. Otherwise, the hand is called simply by the high card between the two. For example, a King and an eight would be a King-high. Beginning to the left of the dealer, each player decides whether or not they will go "in" or "out". Those players who are "out" have no further stakes in the game unless it is re-dealt.
Of those players who are "in", the one with the best hand collects the pot while the others who called "in" throw into the pot the amount of money that the winner has collected. (Terrill Rule may apply, limiting the damage to .50 per player)
play continues until every one has dealt once, then one final hand where the pot does not carry over
In Case of a Tie no one wins, and the "winners" must match the pot
WINNER: Best 2 Card Poker Hand (no straights or flushes).
Variations:
Jokers: add in Jokers, they are worth nothing, but you must stay in. Pair of Jokers wins over pair of aces.
Gutter Sluts: Hi-Low. Add in Jokers. Low is lowest POKER HAND, NOT SUMMATION. If you declare low and have a Joker, the Joker makes a pair. If you go High and have a Joker, the Joker is worth nothing.
3 Card: Same as two card, but if you are the only one in the pot you must beat the deck. No Jokers.
Anaconda
Initial Deal:
7 cards down to each player.
Play:
Select three cards to be passed to the player. These cards are simply set on the table near their left-most opponent. No players get to see their new three cards until everyone has made a pass. Betting round. Afterward, the players repeat the process, only with two cards, then again with one card. (with a betting round after each pass.) Players then discard two cards to make their best five-card poker hand, and stack them face down. Once players have set their hands, one card at a time is rolled, with a round of betting following each card.
Winner:
Best 5 Card Poker Hand.
Variations:
Rick's Wussy Anaconda: Dealt the same, with same Passing Betting round. Insead of Stacking the 5 cards at the end after a discard, you keep all seven cards - It is a declared split pot, where you can go for both with two sets of 5 card hands. Low Hands are allowed to be the 'worst' Outcome style cards.
Sean's Manly Anaconda: Same as Rick, in that the 5 additional betting rounds are removed, and it is a high/low split. The difference is you may only attempt to go for one style, and you MUST make your best poker hand, even if going for low.