Introduction
Chicago Poker is an interesting comparing game in the poker family. It is, more specifically, a variant of 7-Card Stud Poker.
The game can be played High, or Low. Due to the large number of cards dealt out, the game can only be played by a maximum of 7 players.
How to Play Chicago Poker?
Chicago Poker is played using the standard Anglo-American 52-card deck. As this is a Seven-Card Stud variant, each Player must make an Ante before cards can be dealt (as opposed to the Blinds of Omaha and Texas).
Card Dealing
Once each Player has made their Ante wager, three cards will be dealt to each Player, as well as the Dealer.
- Two of these cards will be dealt face-down, only to be seen by the Player.
- One will be dealt face-up, for all other Players to see.
Betting Rounds
The Player with the lowest ranking face-up card will take their turn first, laying down the “Bring in” wager. That Player is compelled, whether they fold or not, to place a wager equal to half of the minimum bet.
Third Street
Play will continue from that Player to the left, beginning the “Third Street” betting phase.
- Players may bet according to the minimum, or raise if they so wish.
- Players may also fold if they do not feel strongly about the quality of their hand.
Keep in mind that in order to participate in the next Betting Phase, the Player who “Brought In” must still match the highest outstanding bet.
Fourth Street
Once each Player has made their betting position, the Fourth Street shall be dealt out to each non-folded Player.
The Fourth Street is a single face-up card, dealt to each Player.
After the Fourth Street, another betting phase begins. As before, the Player with the lowest face-up card in their hand shall Bring it in.
Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Street
This process repeats exactly for the subsequent Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Streets.
One face-up card is dealt in each of these Streets, followed by a Betting Phase.
After the Seventh Street is dealt, there shall be one final betting phase, and then Players will enter the Showdown.
Showdown
All Players that have not folded by the Seventh Street shall participate in the Showdown.
There are two versions of the game of Chicago Poker. High, and Low. In both versions of the game, players are competing for a Split Pot.
Half of the pot, regardless of the game type, will go to the Player with the highest-ranking five-card poker meld, according to the traditional Poker-Hand Hierarchy. Players use their seven cards to form the best five-card meld they can.
The other half of the pot will go to different Players, depending on the game type.
- In Chicago Poker High, the Player with the highest-ranking Spade (♠) in their hand will win half of the Pot.
- In Chicago Poker Low, the Player with the lowest-ranking Spade in their hand will win half of the Pot.
Hand Rankings
Players are attempting to form the strongest five-card Poker meld that they possibly can, according to this chart which is ordered from highest ranking to lowest:
| Meld | Example |
|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 10♦ J♦ Q♦ K♦ A♦ |
| Straight Flush | 3♦ 4♦ 5♦ 6♦ 7♦ |
| Four-Kind | 8♣ 8♠ 8♦ 8♥ 10♦ |
| Full House | 2♦ 2♣ 2♠ 3♣ 3♦ |
| Flush | 3♦ 5♦ 6♦ 8♦ 9♦ |
| Straight | 4♣ 5♠ 6♥ 7♣ 8♠ |
| Three-Kind | 5♣ 5♠ 5♦ 8♦ 10♠ |
| Two-Pair | 3♦ 3♣ 4♦ 4♠ 8♣ |
| Pair | 2♦ 2♠ 5♦ 9♠ 10♣ |
If two players comparing their hands have none of the above melds, then the high card of their hand shall determine the winner.
Chicago Poker Rules
Below you can find a summary of the game rules.
- The Pot is always split in Chicago Poker. The type of game played determines with whom the Pot is split. If a Player wins the game with the highest meld, and has the high/low Spade, they win the whole Pot.
- Players are dealt two face-down cards, and five face-up cards over the course of the game.
- There is a betting minimum, and usually a betting maximum, that Players must conform to as they make bets.
- The Player with the lowest-ranking, face-up card at the start of each Betting Phase makes the first wager. This is known as “Bringing In.”
Playing Example
Suppose that you have the following hand dealt to you on the Seventh Street in a game of Chicago Poker Low:
3♠ 9♥ 6♠ 2♦ 2♣ 3♦ 8♠
This hand is fairly strong, with a two-pair. Further, this hand has the second-lowest Spade in the game.
As the 3♠ is also the first card dealt to you, this means it is face-down. Not only do you have the second-strongest individual card in the game, but it’s hidden. Other Players may feel safe participating in the game, which means more money for you to win.
If you see another face-up 2♠, then you know to fold immediately. This depends on the number of Players, though. At a 7-player table, the odds of another Player having the 2♠ are quite high.
