Absolute Poker

Basic Poker Rules

Hands Tie

Hands tie if they contain exactly the same denominations; the suits are irrelevant. Hands that tie as highest in the showdown divide the pool between them. If the pool is not exactly divisible, the amount left over goes to the player who was "called" (i.e. the player who made the highest bet)

Wild cards

Sometimes at the beginning of a game the players decide to designate certain cards "wild". A wild card is one that may represent any denomination. Any card or any group of cards may be designated, but the following are popular choices:

1. The joker (or two jokers);
2. The "deuce" or 2 of spades if the jokers are not available;
3. All the deuces
4. All the deuces and "treys" (the 3s)
5. Red 10s

In some forms of the game, a card that occupies a particular position in the game may count as wild, for example each players "hole" (concealed) card in some stud poker games. Two alternative rules govern the use of a wild card. The holder may either:

1. use it to represent any card (denomination and suit) he does not hold;
or
2. use it to represent any card, even if he holds that card.

In either case, a wild card ranks the same as the card it represents. If a joker is used as a wild card, it may be used either like any other wild card or, alternatively as a "bug".

The bug may be used to represent only an ace or any card the player needs to complete a straight or a flush. Again, the use of the joker as the bug may or may not be limited to cards not held by the players.

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