Friday 2 January 2009

How to Play Anaconda Poker

If you’re looking for a bit of harmless fun at the poker tables then what you need to play is a game or two of Anaconda poker. This fun poker variant actually allows players to pass cards with each other, creating wild opportunities that can get you doubled up in laughter...and maybe triple your profits at the same time!

What is Anaconda Poker?
This game is also known as Pass the Trash Poker. Often played informally, it does however occasionally find its way in professional poker tables, both on poker sites and in the real world. Eight to nine players can take part in Anaconda poker, depending on the inclusion of Jokers as wild cards.
Anaconda can be further divided into several variants such as 3-2-1 Anaconda or “Screw Your Neighbor”.

How to Play Anaconda Poker
A simple version of Anaconda poker starts with players given six cards each. Players choose which three cards they wish to pass off and place them face down on the table. Only when all players have readied cards to be passed on the table can they pick out the cards separated for them.

For the second round, players will choose two cards to pass off. For the third round, players will choose one card to pass off. And for the final round, players will simply have to choose which one last card to discard in order to form the best possible five-card hand.

If eight players are at the table, forty-eight cards will be immediately at play and with four cards discarded from play. Including wild cards can add another player at the table. In other Anaconda poker variants, players are dealt seven cards each.

Betting in Anaconda Poker
Betting rules often follow those used in standard poker games. Blinds may or may not be used and limits may or may not be placed on the pot. Betting will commence prior to each round. Once a player opts out of the game by folding, his cards will be immediately excluded from the succeeding round of card passing.

In some cases, more betting rounds are added by revealing the players’ final hand card by card. Players start by exposing their top card and betting accordingly. This cycle continues until the last card is revealed. Card arrangement in this case is expectedly vital when bluffing against your opponents.

Variants in Anaconda Poker
While you’re certainly allowed to make up your own rules in Anaconda poker, the following are the most commonly used variations in public poker tables.

High or Low
Similar to other hi-lo poker variants, Anaconda poker players with the lowest and highest hands both stand to win the pot. If you’re lucky, a straight or flush can even give you both the lowest and highest hand.

Passing
Instead of the usual 3-2-1 passing combination, some Anaconda poker tables require players to use a 3-1-2 or 1-2-3 passing cycle instead.

Merry Christmas
Finally, this variation provides a consolation prize to players who pass the winning cards to the person sitting next to them. If the person you passed cards to ends up with the winning hand, you automatically win half the pot.

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