The games · Coolhand Poker

Knock Poker

Five cards, then turns of drawing one and throwing one, from the unseen stock or the face-up pile. Knock when you like your hand. The knocker pays or is paid.

18+ · Nothing to win but the hand.

Players: 2 to 5
Family: Home Games
App: Coolhand Poker · iOS and Android, soon

How it goes

Everyone puts in one token and takes five cards, and the top card of the stock is turned over to start a face-up pile. On your turn you draw one card, either the unseen top of the stock or the known top of the pile, then throw one card face up onto the pile, never the pile card you just took. When you like your hand you knock, after you draw and before you throw. Only on your very first turn may you knock without drawing. Everyone else then gets one more turn, a draw and a throw, and after throwing may drop out and pay you one token. Then the best hand takes the pool. The knocker risks more. Win as the knocker and everyone who stayed pays you two more tokens. Lose as the knocker and you pay two to each of them. Tie as the knocker and you split the pool and those payments with whoever tied you.

A good hand

Two pair or better is worth a knock in most seats. A single pair is a knock only when the stock is running short and nobody has had time to improve. Every card thrown onto the pile shows what that player didn't want, and a card you can see on the pile is one the stock can't give you, so watch what goes down as closely as what comes up.

The usual mistake

Knocking with a hand that beats nothing but the pile. A knock gives everyone one more draw, and the players who stay are the ones who think they can beat you. With only a pair, the players who stay are exactly the ones who improved, and the knocker pays two tokens to each of them. Knock on a hand you'd be happy to show, not one you're hoping nobody can beat.

Played differently where you are?

Card games change from table to table, and we researched some of these games instead of playing them. If Knock Poker goes differently where you play it, tell us. That's one of the things the closed beta is for.

The closed beta is by invitation. How to ask to join.