Rules of Follow the Queen Poker

Follow the Queen is a variation of 7 card stud with the key difference in that all Q's are wild throughout the game. In addition, when a Q is dealt face up, either on the board or to a player (as an up card), the next card dealt up and all cards of the same rank are also considered wild. This means that with four Q's available, you could have another four wild cards (the cards dealt next) meaning that there are a maximum of eight wild cards that could play a part in any one hand.

If a subsequent Q is dealt face up, the next up card replaces the previous wild as a new wild card. There shouldn't be more than 8 wild cards available in the deck at any one time. If a Q is the last card dealt up, then only Q's should be wild. As with any game that makes use of wild cards, monster hands are common place. Hands that would normally win in a standard game (like full houses and straight flush) are regularly beaten in this game so don't place the same level of value to your hands that you would do in a regular game of 7 Card Stud.

If you can get your head round the use of wild cards, the game is basically 7 Card Stud, wild! Best five card hand wins.

Remember..

- All Q's remain wild throughout the game.

- There shouldn't be any more than 8 wild cards at any one time.

- Standard hand values go out the window with the introduction of wild cards.

If you are interested in seeing what the online arena has to offer, check our listings of games played online.

There has been an alarming trend of the poker world taking itself a little too seriously in recent years. The attitude is that if it’s not Texas Hold ‘Em or Omaha, then it’s not really poker. But for the genuine poker enthusiast, the true joy is in the variations, particularly those that are less serious but that were instrumental in piquing our interest at a young age. Follow the Queen is a prime example of the type of game that was a mainstay for high school kids back in the day, at a time when poker was not as easily accessible as it is online today. It’s the perfect introduction to poker for beginners, and if you’ve never played it before, you are in for a treat.