[TenPercenter]

Originally Posted by TomHimself

how do you play baseball? i always get confused by that game

Here's how we've played it for years:

http://thecagles.com/poker/stud.htm#Baseball

"Baseball PLAYERS: 3-7
INITIAL DEAL: two down and one up to each player PLAY: As with 7 card stud, with these exceptions: threes and nines are wild. If a four is dealt face up, the recipient immediately receives another card down. WINNER: High hand STANDARD VARIATIONS: Rainouts - If the Queen of Spades is dealt face up, the hand is terminated and redealt-- but only for players who are still in. Rainouts as above, but after 3 of them you build a dome over the stadium, preventing further rainouts. Paying for wild cards. Usually, the required payment is to match the pot. Possibilities include: Face-up threes, nines, or both require the recipient to pay for them to be wild, otherwise they're just face value. Face-up threes, nines, or both require the recipient to pay for them or fold. Pay for face down wilds as well as face up ones. Paying for the additional card when a four comes face up. Allowing someone with a face-down four to flip it face up and receive an additional card. The way we usually play is: Nines are free, as are down threes. Up threes require you to match the pot or fold. The additional card from a four is free. "



And here is a more fun version:

"Midnight Baseball PLAYERS: 3-7
INITIAL DEAL: seven cards face down to each player and one up card on the table. PLAY: Do not look at your cards! This game is similar to baseball, except you can't look at your cards until they're flipped up. The player to the dealer's left is the lead player. The lead player starts rolling cards until his revealed hand beats the highest revealed hand on the table (initially, the single up card). He must obey any payment rules which apply as he flips cards (paying for wild cards, fours, etc). As soon as his revealed hand becomes the new best hand, he stops rolling cards and begins a round of betting. If he rolls all his cards and does not beat what is on the table, he is out and a betting round begins with the high hand. Either way, the next player then tries to beat the high hand in the same manner, with a betting round ensuing whenever someone stops rolling cards. The game continues until all the cards have been turned up or there is only one person left in the game. WINNER: High hand
STANDARD VARIATIONS: If a player rolls all his cards without beating the high hand, there is no betting round-- the next player begins rolling immediately. Players can look at their cards and lay down the cards of their choice until their exposed hand beats what's on the table. Makes this game more strategic. "