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Balls Poker Rules

The game is similar to 5 Card Stud with the addition that all twos are wild. Prior to the game commencing, the dealer also chooses another card (value) in the deck to be wild. This extra wild card does not need to be the same card all the time. The dealer is free to choose any other card value to be wild.

All players are dealt five cards (face down). There is a "Ghost Hand" dealt also. This is in essence an imaginary player and also consists of five cards (we will get to this).

After the initial deal, all players in the game hold their cards in the middle (off the table). There is differing variations of the game, where the dealer counts to 3, 4 or 5 however this is not necessary to play the game. All players who want to fold their hand, drop their cards and sit out. Keeping your cards elevated indicates that you want to stay in the hand.

If there are multiple players who remain in, the player with the best five card poker hand (see poker hand rankings) has a chance to win the pot whilst the losers would each replace the value of the pot. However, to win the pot, the player that is left holding cards in the middle must compare his/her hand to that of the Ghost. If the hand beats the Ghost, the hand is won and the game begins again. When the pot is won and the game begins again, the dealer picks a new wild card (2's remain wild).

If the Ghost hand wins (against all hands left in), all players who were left in the game must match the pot (not collectively replace the pot!).

The game repeats and the pot grows until a player beats all the players and the Ghost to take down the pot. The game is fairly aggressive by nature in that you don't want to be playing average hands as you would have to replace the value of the pot if you lose.

To date there is no online room that offers an online version of this game but it is a fun game and would be a great addition or alternative at any home game.

Alternatively - Check our Poker Games section for listings of games played online.