Faldo Says “Yay” or “Nay” to Common Dealer’s Choice Games – Part V

There are other poker games besides what is dealt in casinos and tournaments. The casino games are there because of their speed and simplicity in dealing. More hands equals more rake for the house.

But there are some fun, entertaining and exciting poker games you can deal in a home game, which make you have to think outside “the flop” sometimes.

The description of the following games in this series is Faldo’s opinion only. Others may like my take on a game and some will not. That’s fine. It’s all good. Here we go:

Mexican Stud / Flip / Peep / Pedro

A lot of names for a game that is simply 5 –card Stud where the player receives his all of his cards face down – one at a time – and rolls the one he wants his opponents to see.

Faldo says Nay. There is just not enough action in this game.

Follow the Queen

Played like Seven-card Stud, except Queens are wild and/or the next face card and all like it are also wild. The twist is, every time a new queen appears the wild card changes to the next card off the deck.

So if you have been betting your two 3’s as wild on 3rd street, they may just be a pair of 3’s by 6th street.

In some circles, the game is played where if the Queen of Spades appears showing in anyone’s hand, the game ends, the pot stays in the middle and a new deal begins. This version is called Black Mariah.

Faldo says Nay. I consider this to be more of a lottery than poker.

444

Dealt as 8-card stud with 4’s as a wild card. Obviously this game can only be played with a table of six or less players (although you could spit a community card or two if you have more players playing).

The best way to deal it is to start with two down and two up. Then always deal so the up card outnumbers or is tied with the down cards. So the last card is down.

This is a straight wild card game like Deuces explained earlier, but with an extra card in the hand.

Faldo says “Yay” and thinks the game plays better with more players and community cards. And there is no law against dealing it - and calling it 442, 443, 44Q etc. - simply changing the wild card.