Anaconda Rules

Anaconda Poker, also sometimes known as Pass the Trash, is a variation of Seven Card Stud Poker. The biggest difference between Anaconda Poker and every other form of poker is that after the players get their cards, they get to pick which cards they keep and then pass their trashy cards to the players to their left.

This game is quite popular in home games but it’s highly unlikely you’ll ever see it spread in a real casino. Players with strong memory skills can do quite well at this game, but it’s best played as a casual game because it’s a lot of fun and generates interesting conversation.

Antes and Deal
At the beginning of each hand, each player must pay an ante to receive cards. This is just a small bet that’s usually equal in size to 10% of the lower betting limit. So if you’re playing in a $10/$20 Anaconda game, the antes would be $1.00.

Each player is then dealt seven cards face down. The player to the left of the dealer receives the first card, and then each player to the left receives one card in turn. This process continues until every player has seven cards.

First Betting Round
The first betting round begins with the player to the left of the dealer. This player may bet, check or fold. The betting action continues to the left around the table until all the players have had a chance to bet and all bets have been matched. The bets in this round should be placed in increments of the lower betting limit.

First Pass
Now each player chooses three cards from his hand and passes those cards to the player to the left. Each player will simultaneously lose and gain three cards in this fashion.

Second Betting Round
Another betting round begins with the player to the left of the dealer. This round of betting is played in the same manner as the previous round.

Second Pass
In this round, each player chooses two cards to pass to the left.

Third Betting Round
After the players get their new cards, there is another betting round. This round also begins with the first player to the left of the dealer. From here on out, the bets should be made in increments of the upper betting limit.

Third Pass
Each player chooses one more card to pass to the left. This is the final pass.

Fourth Betting Round
There is one more round of betting identical to the previous betting round.

Pick Five
Now each player chooses five of the seven cards to make up his final five card poker hand. The remaining two cards can be discarded. The players then put their cards face down in a stack in front of them.

At the signal of the dealer, each player then reveals one card of his choice.

Fifth Betting Round
There is one more round of betting.

Showdown
Any players remaining after the last betting round now reveal the rest of their cards. The player with the best five card poker hand wins the pot.

Optional Showdown Rules
In some versions of Anaconda, the game may be played with alternate rules for revealing the cards. After the fifth betting round is completed, the dealer will then tell the players to reveal one more card, followed by another betting round. This continues until each card is shown.

In this version, there are more betting rounds and hands take longer to play. I don't recommend playing this way, but if you are looking for a long game this is perfect.

Five Card Draw Rules

Five Card Draw is the simplest form of poker and is a favorite at home games around the world. It’s an easy game to pick up and play because it requires little preparation. All you need is a deck of cards and at least two players.

Antes and Blinds

Some Five Card Draw games use antes and others use blinds. If an ante is used, each player is required to place a small bet at the beginning of each hand. Antes can range in size from 10% to 20% of the small betting limit. In a $5/$10 game, the antes would be about $0.50.

Due to the explosion of Texas Hold'em, some players are more comfortable using blinds rather than antes. If blinds are used, the two players to the left of the dealer must place bets at the beginning of each hand. As the dealer’s position moves around the table, each player must pay the blinds once per orbit.

The player to the immediate left of the dealer is the small blind and must place a bet equal to half the size of the big blind. The big blind is one seat to the left of the small blind. The big blind is equal in size to the small betting limit. In a $5/$10 game, the small blind would be $2.50 and the big blind would be $5.

Dealer

In games that use a full time dealer, a small disc known as the “dealer’s button” is passed around the table to represent the dealer’s position. Even though the players never actually deal the cards, one of them is always known as the dealer. The dealer’s button moves one seat to the left at the beginning of each hand.

When performing the initial deal, the player to the left of the dealer receives one card face down first and then each other player receives one card, going clockwise around the table. After all the players have one card, the dealer hands out one more card to each player in the same fashion as before. This is repeated until each player has five cards.

First Betting Round

The first betting round begins after all the players receive their cards and have a chance to look them over. The player to the immediate left of the dealer (the small blind) starts the betting. This player may call, raise, or fold.

The betting then continues clockwise around the table. Each player will have a chance to call, raise, or fold. If there are no raises, the big blind can check because he already paid a full bet at the beginning of the hand. The small blind would have to complete the half-bet to stay in.

Draw

After all the bets have been matched, players may now discard as many cards as they wish and draw new ones. In some games, the rule is that you may only discard up to three cards unless you have an Ace. In that case, you can discard every card except the Ace. In most games, however, you may discard as many cards as you wish.

Second Betting Round

Now that the players have their new cards, a second round of betting may begin. This round begins with the first remaining player to the left of the dealer. This player may check, bet, or fold. The betting then continues clockwise around the table until all the players have had a chance to act.

Showdown

If there are two or more players remaining after the last betting round, these players have a showdown. The player with the best poker hand wins the pot. If only one player remains after the last betting round, that player may collect the pot without showing his cards.