Anaconda Rules

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Anaconda is a 7-card Stud variant with some relation to draw games, in which unwanted cards are passed along to other players. Players must use five of their seven cards to make a poker hand.

The Deal Players post an ante. Players are then each dealt 7 cards face-down. Players bet, starting with the player to the dealer’s left.

First Draw Players all now pass three face-down cards to the player to their left. The idea is to pass along cards that don’t help your hand and hope to be passed cards that will help you make a better hand. This is similar to draw poker. For example, if you were dealt [A♣ K♥ J♦ 10♥ 5♠ 7♠ 3♣], you would pass along the 5♠ 7♠ and 3♣ to the player on your left and hope for a queen and a jack to be passed to you, which would complete a straight. Players bet again, starting with the player to the dealer’s left.

Second Draw Players now pass two face-down cards to the player on their left. Another round of betting takes place.

The Last Draw Each player passes one more face-down card to the player on their left. Another round of betting takes place.

The Endgame Players still in the hand at the end of betting makes up their best 5-card hand and puts them face down on the table. Everyone’s remaining two cards are discarded.

Turning and Betting Players all turn over their top card. Once everyone’s top card is exposed, another betting round takes place. The player with the highest upturned card starts the betting. The next three cards are turned up one at a time, each followed by a round of betting.

The Showdown Then, once the fifth card is turned over, everyone can see each other’s full hand. The player with the best hand wins the pot.

Variations

The game can be played for low hands or for a low/high split.