Slot Machine Rules

Slot Machine is a crazy variation of poker that is full of wild cards, big hands and lots of betting action. Out of all the poker games listed here, this one may very well be the wildest. The object of the game is the same as it is in all other poker variations: to end up with the best poker hand and win the pot.

Basic Idea

One could say that Slot Machine is played like Omaha except with more community cards. In Slot Machine, each player receives four hole cards face down. Nine community cards are then dealt face down in the middle of the table in a grid of 3x3 cards.

One vertical column of cards is revealed at a time, with a round of betting between each revelation. The players may use any two of their hole cards in combination with three of the community cards to make the best possible five card poker hand. The players may use any one of five pay-lines: any of the three vertical columns or any of the two diagonal rows.

Additionally, all 7s are considered wild cards. The combination of wild cards, community cards and hole cards make this game a crazy one. Big hands are common and big pots are frequent. Players must proceed with caution with anything less than the absolute nuts.

Detailed Slot Machine Rules

1. The two players to the left of the dealer pay the blinds

This game uses the same blinds system as Texas Holdem.

2. Each player receives four cards face down.

The dealer begins with the player to his immediate left and passes out one card at a time to each player, moving clockwise around the table. This process continues until each player has four cards. These are called the “hole cards” and can not be shared with any other player.

3. There is a round of betting.

4. The dealer places nine community cards face down in the middle of the table.

The community cards should be arranged so that there are three columns of three cards.

5. The dealer reveals one vertical column of cards.

These cards can be used in combination with any two of the player’s hole cards to make the best possible five card poker hand. More columns will be revealed as the hand progresses.

6. There is a round of betting

7. The dealer reveals one vertical column of cards.

8. There is a round of betting.

9. The dealer reveals the last vertical column of cards.

10. There is a round of betting.

11. Any remaining players have a showdown

The players remaining at the end of the hand may use any column or diagonal of three community cards in combination with two of their hole cards to make the best possible five card poker hand. The player with the best hand wins the pot.

Slot Machine can also be played in a hi-lo format. In hi-lo poker, each pot is split between the best five card poker hand and the worst hand. Aces count as either high or low and straights/flushes do not hurt low hands. The same player may win both halves of the pot.