2-Card Manilla Rules

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Manila poker is a Texas Hold’em variant played with a stripped deck (cards ranked from 2 to 6 inclusive are removed from the deck). Players must make their poker hand from both of their pocket cards and three of the five community cards that are dealt to the table (the board). Note that unlike Texas Hold’em, players must use both of their pocket cards in their hand. Because of the altered deck, flushes are more difficult to achieve and are therefore ranked higher than full houses. Aces can not count as low in a straight (i.e. [A-7-8-9-10] is not a straight in Manila Poker).

Betting Structure

Manila Poker has three bet sizes and one blind.

In a $4 / $8 game, the player to the dealer’s left posts a $2 blind. Players can call that blind or raise by the small bet size ($4). All but the last round of betting use the small bet size. The last round uses the large bet size (in a $4 / $8 game, this bet is $8). Three raises are permitted per betting round.

The Deal The player to the dealer’s immediate left posts the blind. Each player is dealt two pocket cards. One community card is dealt face-up to the board.

Betting

Players bet on the strength of their two cards with the first community card. Betting begins with the player to the left of the player who posted the blind. Players can call the blind amount, raise by the small bet amount or fold their hand.

There are three more betting rounds, each preceded by another face-up community card being dealt. These rounds start with the player to the dealer’s left.

The Last Round The last board card is dealt. Betting commences from the player to the dealer’s left. There will be five community cards by the time this last betting round commences, so players will know their final hand.

The Showdown The player with the best hand (including both pocket cards and any three of the community cards) wins the pot.