Follow the Queen Rules

Follow the Queen is a poker variation that uses the same basic setup and game structure as Seven Card Stud. The difference is that in this game, all Queens and certain other cards are played as wild cards.

This is a fun poker game in which the wild cards can change multiple times within a single hand. Strong hands can become weak hands and weak hands can become powerhouses with just the single flip of a card.

Follow the Queen isn’t played in any casino but many home games like to include it in the lineup. The ever changing wild cards make this a wild but incredibly fun game. This game should be played in the fixed-limit format as opposed to no-limit.

Wild Cards

The first thing to remember is that no matter what else happens, Queens are always wild cards. Any time a Queen is dealt face up anywhere on the table, the next card dealt face up, and all cards of the same rank, are also wild cards.

Any time another Queen after that is dealt face up, the next card dealt face up replaces the previous card as the wild card. If a Queen is the last card to be dealt face up, Queens are the only wild cards.

Antes

Every hand begins with each player paying an ante to get the hand started with a little money in the middle. Antes are small, mandatory bets that are equal in size to 10% of the lower betting limit. This means that if you’re playing in a $2/$4 game, the antes are $0.20.

Third Street

Each player is dealt two cards face down and one face up. Each player is dealt one card at a time, beginning with the payer to the left of the dealer and going clockwise around the table.

The betting begins with the player who has the lowest card showing. This player must pay the bring-in, which is a bet equal to half the size of the lower betting limit. This player may just pay the bring-in or he may raise it up to a full minimum bet.

Once that player makes his decision, the betting continues clockwise around the table. Each player has the option to call the current bet, raise, or fold.

Fourth Street

Next, each player is dealt one card face up. This is followed by a round of betting that begins with the player who has the best hand showing. The player who starts the betting may check, bet, or fold.

Fifth Street

One card is dealt face up to each player. This is followed by another round of betting identical to the previous round except that from here on out, all bets must be made using the upper betting limit.

Sixth Street

One card is dealt face up to each player. This is followed by a round of betting identical to the previous round.

Seventh Street

A final card is dealt face down to each player. This is followed by one more round of betting identical to the previous round.

Showdown

The players still in the hand after the last round of betting now reveal their cards. The player with the best poker hand, using any five of his seven cards, wins the pot.