In order to ensure understanding of the variant game rules below, a quick refresher of Texas Hold’em is in order.
There are two to ten players, with the dealer position often being determined by high draw and indicated by a white chip, referred to as a dealer button. The player to the left of the dealer makes a mandatory bet, the amount determined before play. This bet is referred to as the “little blind;” the “big blind” is a second mandatory bet, twice the amount of the first, and made by the person in the second position to the left of the dealer button.
Each player is dealt two pocket cards, after which there is a round of betting. Three community cards are placed face up; this is called “the flop.” There is a second round of betting followed by a fourth face up card, called “the turn.” There is a third round of betting and then the final face up card, called “the river,” after which is a final round of betting. The winner is the player with the best hand using five of the seven available cards following the standard poker-hand ranking. Don’t forget that at anytime a player can go “all in,” betting every chip they have.
So if your Texas Hold’em Poker Night is starting to drag, or if a few players are late and the ones that are there want something to play, give these variants a try:
Church
also called “Iron Cross”
The Play: Each player gets five pocket cards instead of two. The five table cards are dealt in the shape of a cross, face down. Each round one card is turned face up, starting with the card in the North position, then moving clockwise, with the middle card being last. After each card is turned over players may bet. The winner is the player with the best hand of five cards.
The catch: A player may only use three of the cards in the cross, and they have to be in a row, either vertically or diagonally.