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How to Play: Watermelon

Description:

Understanding Watermelon

Watermelon is a triple board variation of poker in which the winner is decided based upon who accrues the most ‘points’. Points are valued by who wins or ties for the win of various boards.

Each board that a player wins they are assigned 1 point. A tie gives each player .5 (half a point). You could feasibly win with only 1 point if you won board A and 2 other players tied for board B and 2 players tied for board C. This would give each of those players each a half point and you 1 point. This is rare but can happen. Generally the player who wins 1.5 or 2 points will win the pot.

If 2 players tie in point, i.e. 2 players have 1.5 points each then it is a split pot. Or 3 players could have 1 point each, then it would be a 3 way split pot.

Each player antes a small amount to form the initial pot.
Each player is dealt four hole cards face down.
Five community cards are dealt face up in the center of the table in three stages: the flop (three cards), the turn (one card), and the river (one card). This happens on 3 separate boards simultaneously!
Blinds are posted: the small blind by the player to the left of the dealer, and the big blind by the next player to the left.

Betting Rounds and Discards

Pre-Flop

After receiving their four hole cards, players have the option to call, raise, or fold. Betting starts with the player to the left of the big blind.

The Flop

Three community cards are dealt face up x3. A round of betting follows, starting with the player to the left of the dealer. After the betting round, each player must discard one of their hole cards, leaving them with three.

The Turn

A fourth community card is dealt face up x3. Another round of betting follows. After this betting round, each player must discard one more of their hole cards, leaving them with two.

The River

The fifth and final community card is dealt face up x3. A final round of betting occurs.

The Showdown

After the final betting round, remaining players reveal their hole cards and combine them with the community cards to form the best five-card hand. The player with the best hand wins the pot.

Hand Rankings

Royal Flush: A, K, Q, J, 10, all of the same suit.
Straight Flush: Five consecutive cards of the same suit.
Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank.
Full House: Three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank.
Flush: Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence.
Straight: Five consecutive cards of any suit.
Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank.
Two Pair: Two cards of one rank and two cards of another rank.
One Pair: Two cards of the same rank.
High Card: The highest card in the hand if no other hand is made.

Special Rule Options for Watermelon Poker

Mandatory Discards: Players must discard one hole card after the flop and one more after the turn, leaving them with two hole cards for the final betting rounds.
House Rules: Additional house rules can be created to add more variety and excitement to the game. These rules should be agreed upon before the game begins.

Tips for Playing

Choose which hole cards to discard carefully to maximize the potential strength of your final hand.
Pay attention to the community cards and how they interact with your remaining hole cards to form the best possible hand.
Observe your opponents’ betting patterns and discards to gauge the strength of their hands and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Manage your bankroll effectively, as the mandatory discards can lead to more frequent betting rounds and larger pots.