The Face Up Poker Proposition Bet

This poker proposition bet has been around for many years, but I have yet to see anyone perform it. I do not know who to credit for this interesting bet. Even so called poker experts have been fooled by this innocent wager. All you need is a deck of cards. If you do not have any cards handy, you can use a printout of the 52 cards on a single sheet of paper. You can even do it over the phone.

The Effect: You offer to play a game of 5 card draw, with a little twist to it. If your opponent beats you OR ties you, they win the wager! The twist is that the deck is spread FACE UP, and your opponent sees what cards are in your hand!

There are 2 rounds in 5 card draw. You explain that in normal 5 card draw, after a player is dealt their 5 cards, they can stay pat ( draw no cards.), or they can discard 1,2,3,4, or even 5 cards from their hand. After they discard their cards, they draw that many from the deck. ( Discarded cards are no longer in play.) The other player does the same thing. Whoever has the highest hand wins.

Now for your version of the game. You spread the deck face up exposing all the cards. You go first. You pick five cards from the spread. These cards are kept face up and your opponent sees what you have. Your opponent picks 5 cards from the spread. Now you give your opponent the option to either stay pat, or discard and draw cards. Keep stressing that if they beat you or even TIE you,they win the bet. It is now your turn, you either stay pat or discard cards. No matter what, you will always win the bet! After he or she pays up, they will be happy to try this on another person.

The Secret: Have you figured it out? There is no sleight of hand, and no high suits. A royal flush in spades is the same as a royal flush in diamonds. Discarded cards are no longer in play. No tricky semantics. The game is played EXACTLY as above. You pick your cards first, but your opponent sees what you have. First is the drawing phase, What cards do you pick when you draw? You pick 4 tens and a small card. (Either a 2,3,4,5,6,7,or 8.) For an example, lets say you pick 4 tens and a 2. (10,10,10,10,2 )

Now it is your opponent's turn. He sees what you have. So he picks a straight flush to the 9. ( 5,6,7,8,9 of hearts.)

Looks like a problem,eh?

Now for the discarding phase. You ask your opponent if he wants to stay pat or draw cards. He stays pat. You discard 4 cards. You discard 3 tens and a 3. You keep one ten. Say the card you kept was the 10 of diamonds. You now draw the J,Q,K, and Ace of diamonds for a royal. You win.

When you draw the 4 tens and a small card at the drawing phase, you block your opponent from getting a royal flush(Since they need a ten.), or a higher straight flush. When you have the 10's, you can get a straight flush TO the 10, or a royal flush. You can always discard 3 of your tens plus the small card to make a hand higher than your opponent. They can never beat you or tie you. Now go out and have some fun!

Variation: Again,if you do not have any cards, or cards are not allowed where you are, use a printout of 52 cards. Easier to carry in your pocket than a deck of cards! For example: During the drawing phase, mark your initials on the 4 tens plus a small card. Your opponent picks his or her cards by putting their initials on their cards. During the discard phase, a card is discarded by crossing it out, and a new one is initialed. The jokers are NOT wild or used. The wager can also be done over the phone, by telling your opponent what cards you are drawing and writing these down for reference.

For more interesting card proposition bets, go to http://www.pokerwagers.net