Chicago Rules

The game is played with a standard 52-card deck without jokers. There are no wild cards.

The pot is split between two winners:

1.2(a) the player with the best five-card high hand, ranked by the standard poker hand rankings; and

1.2(b) the player holding the highest spade among their face-down cards (the hole spade). Ace is the highest spade.

Spades dealt face up do not count for the spade half. If the ace of spades is dealt face up, the king of spades in the hole is certain to be the highest hole spade.

The deal and betting follow seven-card stud: each player antes, and is dealt two cards face down and one face up, then three more face up and a final card face down.

There are five betting rounds: one after each round of face-up cards and one after the final face-down card. Each is begun by the player with the highest hand showing.

After the final betting round, each remaining player declares whether they are going for the high hand, the spade, or both. Declarations may be made in turn, starting to the dealer's left, or simultaneously using chips; the method shall be agreed before play.

A player must hold a spade face down to win the spade half. A player with no hole spade cannot win by declaring spade, even if every other player declares high.

A player who declares both wins only if they hold both the best hand and the highest hole spade.

Low Chicago. Half the pot goes to the lowest spade in the hole instead of the highest. See Low Chicago.

Other suits. The same game can be played with any suit. In High or Low San Francisco, the high hand splits the pot with the highest or lowest heart.

No declaration. Many home games play Chicago with the cards speaking, so the highest hole spade and the best hand are identified at the showdown without a declaration. The dealer shall announce this before the deal.