Other Shared-Card Variations

• Bush League

  • Players:

    3-10

  • Initial deal:

    Same as Omaha Hold'Em except that the shared cards are dealt in a cross formation.

  • Play:

    Shared cards are exposed one-at-a-time with betting prior to each exposure and after the last exposure. As in Baseball, 3's and 9's are wild. A four exposed gets everyone an extra card. Players may be required to pay the minimum bet for each exposed wild card.

  • Winner:

    High Hand.

• Church (aka Iron Cross)

  • Players:

    3-9

  • Initial deal:

    five cards down to each player, five cards down to the table arranged in a cross.

  • Play:

    As in Cincinatti, with the table cards revealed clockwise with the center card last. Players may only use cards from one arm of the cross to form their hands.

  • Winner:

    High hand

  • Standard variations:

    High/low Center card is wild.

• Cincinnati

  • Players:

    3-9

  • Initial deal:

    five cards down to each player, five cards down to the table.

  • Play:

    One of the table cards is flipped up, followed by a round of betting. Repeat until all five cards have been flipped (players keep their own cards face down). A showdown follows the last round of betting, with each player making the best hand possible using their own cards and the five on the table.

  • Winner:

    High hand

  • Standard variations:

    High/low.
    Whoever has the highest card of the same suit as a specified table card (usually the 3rd or 5th) gets half the pot. If you use the 3rd card, expect someone to raise the maximum every time during the last 3 betting rounds.