Baseball Poker is a stud poker variant with specific rules assigned to the cards 3, 4, and 9. This distinct rule set was inspired by the corresponding elements in the sport of baseball: three strikes, four balls, and nine innings. The baseball-themed rules can be applied to both five-card and seven-card stud poker. This guide will focus on how to play the five-card variant.
Necessary Materials
- Poker chips
- A standard 52-card deck
- A group of 2 to 6 players
Ante: Before dealing begins, each player places an ante into the pot. The specific amount of the ante should be agreed upon before the game starts.
Deal: Each player is dealt three cards, distributed one at a time. The first two cards are dealt face down, while the third card is dealt face up.
Objective: The aim of the game is to assemble the best possible poker hand using five cards. The player with the highest-ranking hand who hasn’t folded takes the pot at the end of each round.
Special Cards: Baseball poker features three special cards. The 3 and 9 serve as wild cards, substituting for any other card. If a player receives a 4 face-up, they are dealt an additional card, also face-up.
Poker Hands:
- Five of a Kind: This hand, achievable only with the help of a wild card, is the highest-ranking in the game.
- Straight Flush: The highest hand in a regular deck, consisting of five cards of the same suit in sequential order.
- Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank.
- Full House: A hand with three cards of one rank and two cards of another.
- Flush: Five cards of the same suit.
- Straight: Five sequential cards of different suits.
- Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank, complemented by two other cards of different ranks.
Card Rankings (from highest to lowest): Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.
Gameplay: The player with the lowest face-up card initiates the game with the opening wager. The next player, clockwise from the opener, then has three options:
- Raise: Increase the bet by doubling the opening wager.
- Fold: Withdraw from the round.
- Call: Match the opening wager.
The first betting round concludes when all players have either called or folded. All remaining players are then dealt another face-up card.
The second betting round commences, led by the player with the highest ranking hand. This player may either check or bet. The other players can opt to check, call, raise, or fold as play continues.
The second round ends when all players have either called or folded, and all remaining players receive another face-up card. This process repeats for the third round.
The fourth and final betting round begins, culminating when all players have either called or folded. Each remaining player then uses five of their seven cards to compose their best hand.
The pot goes to the player with the highest-ranking hand.
Rules:
In Baseball Poker, set rules dictate gameplay. There are two different stake levels: low and high. The first two betting rounds use the low bet amount, while the last three rounds employ the high bet amount, double that of the low bet. Before each dealing round, the dealer discards the top card of the deck. In the event of a tie for the lowest face-up card, the player to bring in is determined by suit ranking, with diamonds being the highest, followed by hearts, clubs, and spades. If two or more players have the same highest-ranking hand, the pot is split evenly among them.
Baseball Poker is a card game that melds elements of traditional poker with the iconic American sport, baseball. It employs a standard 52-card deck and can be played with as few as two players.
At least two players are needed for a game of Baseball Poker. However, the game can accommodate any number of players, making it adaptable for both intimate gatherings and larger groups.
