How to Play: Chicago
Description:
Chicago Poker is an exciting and strategic variant of Seven Card Stud, with a special twist that adds extra excitement. Here’s how to play:
Objective
The objective of Chicago Poker is to win the pot by having the best five-card hand at the end of the game or by holding the highest spade face down. The game involves multiple rounds of betting and card revelations.
Setup
- Standard 52-card deck.
- 2 to 8 players.
- Each player is dealt seven cards, three face down and four face up.
Game Play
1. Initial Deal
Each player is dealt two hole cards face down and one card face up. A round of betting follows, starting with the player showing the lowest face-up card.
2. Second Round
Each player is dealt another card face up, followed by a round of betting. The player with the highest poker hand using face-up cards initiates the betting.
3. Third Round
Each player is dealt another card face up, followed by a round of betting. The player with the best face-up poker hand starts the betting.
4. Fourth Round
Each player is dealt another card face up, followed by a round of betting. The player with the best face-up poker hand starts the betting.
5. Fifth Round
Each player is dealt a final card face down, making a total of seven cards (four face-up and three face-down). A final round of betting follows, initiated by the player with the best face-up poker hand.
6. Showdown
After the final round of betting, players reveal their hole cards. The player with the best five-card hand using any combination of their seven cards wins the main pot. Additionally, the player with the highest spade among their face-down cards wins a secondary pot, known as the “Chicago” pot.
Hand Rankings
Chicago Poker follows standard poker hand rankings:
- Royal Flush
- Straight Flush
- Four of a Kind
- Full House
- Flush
- Straight
- Three of a Kind
- Two Pair
- One Pair
- High Card
Strategy Tips
- Pay close attention to both your hand and the revealed cards of your opponents.
- Be mindful of your face-down spades, as they can win you the Chicago pot.
- Bluff strategically, especially when you have strong face-up cards.
- Observe your opponents’ actions during the betting rounds to gauge the strength of their hands.
Game Type: Stud Style
Split Game: Yes
Cards Dealt: 7
Max Players: 8
Best Possible Hand(s):
