[smoore]

I don't know how many of you have played poker dice but it's a great way to pass some time while waiting for people to show up or waiting for others to bust out to start a cash game. Here are the basics:

Each die is identical, with one each nine through ace.
There are five dice
There are no suits.
Best poker hand wins.

The first player rolls the dice and selects none/any/all to keep. The player is allowed up to three throws. Play proceeds in turn with each player using no more throws than the first player to try to beat the hand. Whoever has the best hand after all have rolled is the winner. Four of a kind usually holds up. Five of a kind is a monster.

Fun and all, but poker is a game of betting, right? Here's what I came up with:

The dealer is in control of the hand. His position is indicated by a button.

All other players ante, the dealer does not.

The dealer rolls as normal, up to three throws. At this point the dealer decides if he would like to wager any amount between the ante and the size of the pot. If the dealer doesn't like his hand he can fold and all the antes stay for the next pot.

When the dealer does wager, each player in turn is given the option of matching the bet and trying to beat the current high hand, using no more throws than the dealer.

If no one calls the dealer's bet, he takes the pot uncontested.

Play proceeds in order so being last is advantageous because you are closing the action and know exactly what you have to beat. After all players have had a choice and any who have called have rolled, the high hand takes the whole pot.

Dealer button is passed and the procedure is repeated.



I was messing around with it last night playing 5 positions by myself and it seems like it can be really fun. If you have a so-so hand such as tens full of queens you could try to bet the entire pot and scare people out. If you roll a straight on your second roll you might simply bet the ante to entice people to call you and try to beat you. Although straights hold up infrequently, it does happen.

What gets really interesting is when there are three rounds of antes in the pot and the dealer rolls something like four of a kind tens. With all that cash out there, he's going to have to bet quite a bit to make people want to go away. Even with a pot sized bet someone might be feeling four kings coming their way and they feel like gamb00ling.

So yeah... new game and stuff! Anyone have any critique?