Pinatubo Rules

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Pinatubo poker is a Texas Hold’em variant, similar to Manila Poker, played with a stripped deck (i.e. 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 Pinatubo Poker).

Betting Structure

Pinatubo 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 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. Before the second round of betting, two community cards are dealt. There are then two more betting rounds, each preceded by a face up community card being dealt.

There will be five community cards by the time the last betting round commences. On the final betting round, the bet amount increases to the big bet.

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

Variations

A three-card variant can be played where the player must use exactly two of his three pocket cards with three of the board cards to make their final hand.