You begin the game with a deck of 52 cards, four Raise Chips, and four rows in which to create poker hands. The top card of the deck will be always be visible to you. You can place it into one of the four rows by clicking on the row.
A card can be placed in any row, with no restrictions. However, once you place the fifth card into a row, the row will be scored, and you only earn points if you have created one of the poker hands listed on the left side of the board. If you fill a row with five cards that do not create a poker hand, you will receive a penalty of 50 points. After scoring, the row will be cleared and you can use it to create a new poker hand.
When you score for a particular type of hand, it will turn red and be checked off the list. Once this happens, you will not be able to earn points for future hands of that same type. If you create another hand of the same type, you will score a penalty of 50 points unless the hand can instead be used to fulfill a different hand of a lesser type.
For example, if you have already scored a four of a kind and you create a second four of a kind, you could use it as a three of a kind, two pair, or a pair instead. A straight flush could be used as a straight or a flush if a straight flush is no longer needed. Each hand will always be scored using the highest-ranking hand applicable of those still remaining on the list.
To avoid getting penalties, you can discard all the cards in a row by clicking the Fold button. However, you can only fold hands with three or fewer cards. Once you place the fourth card into a row, the Fold button will become deactivated. Note that discarded cards are removed from play and will not reappear during the game.
You can earn extra points by using the four Raise Chips. Place a Raise Chip on a row by clicking the Raise button. The chip will then appear next to the row, with a points multiplier displayed on it. The multiplier will be applied to the score you receive for the hand created in that row. The value of the multiplier depends on how many cards were in the row when you raised it:
| 0 Cards | 2.0x Multiplier |
| 1 Card | 1.8x Multiplier |
| 2 Cards | 1.6x Multiplier |
| 3 Cards | 1.4x Multiplier |
| 4 Cards | 1.2x Multiplier |
As you can see, you will score the most points if you place your Raise Chip out before placing any cards in the row. You may only place one Raise Chip at a time in each row. When the row is scored or folded, the Raise Chip is cleared away and you may then place another one there.
You only get four Raise Chips, so use them carefully. Note that the points multipliers also affect your penalties. Take care not to get a penalty on a row that you've placed a chip on!
You begin the game with four minutes on the clock. A warning sound will be heard when only 30 seconds remain on the clock. If the clock runs out of time, the game will end immediately. If you are able to make it through the entire deck before the clock runs out, you will score a time bonus of five points for each second remaining.
There are three ways for the game to end:
- If you go through all 52 cards in the deck, the game ends and you score a time bonus for each second left on the clock.
- If you manage to complete all nine types of scoring hands, then the game ends and your time bonus is awarded. (Note: It's very challenging to get all nine. You're a real superstar if you can pull it off!)
- If you run out of time, the game ends immediately with no time bonus.
Note that you will not receive points for incomplete hands at the end of the game. Only completed five-card hands get scored.
Poker Hand Definitions
The ten types of poker hands are defined as follows:
A Pair is a hand in which two cards have the same rank. For example, a hand with two eights in it would be called a pair of eights.
Two Pair is a hand with two different pairs in it.
Three of a Kind is a hand with three cards of the same rank, such as three fours or three Queens.
A Straight is five cards in sequence, such as 4-5-6-7-8 or 9-10-J-Q-K. Note that Aces can be used in both high Straights (after the King) or low Straights (preceding the two).
A Flush is five cards of the same suit. The ranks of the cards do not matter.
A Full House is three cards of one rank and two cards of another, such as 8-8-8-3-3 or 4-4-A-A-A.
Four of a Kind is a hand containing all four cards of a particular rank, such as all four nines, or all four Jacks.
A Straight Flush is five cards in sequence and all of the same suit. For example, A-2-3-4-5 all in Diamonds would be a Straight Flush.
A Royal Flush is the highest possible Straight Flush, a hand made up of 10-J-Q-K-A all in one suit.
A Nothing hand is any five-card hand that does not contain one of the hands listed above. Also, if you make one of the above hands after it has already been checked off, and it can't be placed anywhere else, it will be scored as a Nothing hand.
Every hand must have five cards in it to be scored, even if fewer are needed to make the hand.
Game Controls
The game controls are as follows:
- To place a card into a particular row, use your mouse to click on the row.
- To place a Raise Chip, click on the Raise button.
- To discard all the cards in a row, click on the Fold button. You may only Fold rows with three or fewer cards.
- You may hold your mouse cursor over the hands listed on the scoring chart to see examples of each hand.
- To see which cards are left in the deck, place your mouse cursor over the deck.
Game Scoring
The different types of poker hands are scored as follows:
| Royal Flush | 500 Points |
| Straight Flush | 450 Points |
| Four of a Kind | 400 Points |
| Full House | 350 Points |
| Flush | 300 Points |
| Straight | 250 Points |
| Three of a Kind | 200 Points |
| Two Pair | 150 Points |
| Pair | 100 Points |
| Nothing | – 50 Points |
These scores are multiplied by any Raise Chip bonuses that are in effect. At the end of the game, a Time Bonus of five points is awarded for each second remaining on the clock.
Did You Know?
- Former President Richard Nixon financed much of his first campaign for Congress with poker winnings accumulated in the U.S. Navy during WWII.
- Over 65,000,000 Americans regularly play poker.
- It is widely held that when Columbus first landed on American shores in 1492, his men plucked wide leaves from trees, marked them with images, and played cards.
