Yes this can be played at home and its pretty easy. My group plays it whenever we are shorthanded. There are three of us that are really into it and we usually play 2 or 3 rounds each night we play. The basic premise is to deal 13 cards to each player, so heads up works just as well as 4 players. After players arrange their hands the hands are turned up one at a time and compared. We typically settle our debts at the end of each hand, some people just keep score and settle up at the end.
The way we settle debts works like this: After all the cards have been turned over and compared and all called hands are verified by all the players* the dealer compares his hands with each other player 1 at a time and after the hands have been scored the debt is paid. Then the next player compares with the other players except for the dealer, and the process continues until everyone has compared their hands with each other. We also use 2-4 scoring and we typically play for .10¢ a point, sometimes we play for .25¢ a point. Each hand is compared between players and score is kept. Players get 1 point for winning a hand and lose 1 point when they lose a hand.
(*meaning that if I called an A Hi Flush and another player calls an A Hi flush all players involved verify who has the best A Hi Flush, or a better two pair, etc.)
Here is an example to show you what I am talking about
:
4 players Rob, Steve, Chad, and Mike. Rob is the dealer.
Comparisions:
Rob with Steve
Rob with Chad
Rob with Mike
Steve with Chad
Steve with Mike
Chad with Mike
Now all of the players have compared their hands with each other and can settle their debts accordingly.
Okay, so lets look at a comparison between two players. Rob and Steve.
Rob has:
Front:
A Hi
Middle:
Kings Up- 2 Pair
Back:
3's Full of 9's- Full House
Steve has:
Front:
- A Hi
Middle:
10's- 1 Pair
Back:
7 Hi Straight Flush
When we score this hand Steve wins the front, Rob wins the middle and Steve wins the back, and since Steve won 2 out of three hands he also wins the overall point. So Steve wins 2 points and Rob loses 2 points. Here is an equation to show how that works:
Rob: -1+1-1-1 overall = -2
Steve: +1-1+1+1 overall = 2
Now if in the case one player wins all three hands that is called a scoop and the scoring looks like this:
Rob wins all three. Steve loses all three.
Rob: +1+1+1+1overall = 4
Steve: -1-1-1-1overall = -4
In some cases there can be a split or push. Lets say Rob wins the back, Steve wins the middle, and both players have AKJ in the front hand. Neither player would pay because there is no overall point winner. Here's the math:
Rob: 0-1+1= 0
Steve: 0+1-1= 0
That pretty much covers the basics of scoring. If you have other questions please let me know and I will see if I can answer them.
Oh and since it is the day after my Poker Night, and I have spent nearly 3 hours writing this message I may have a mistake or two. (I started the message around 12:00 when I had a few extra minutes and then I didn't get a chance to work on it unitl 3:20!!! Darn kids needing an education!!!
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