Official Poker Rules BoardDocument OPR-665 · Updated 28 September 2026

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Cowpie Poker Rules

Cowpie Poker is dealt and bet exactly like seven-card stud. At the end, each player divides their seven cards into a five-card hand and a two-card hand, with at least one face-down card in each and the five-card hand ranking higher. The best five-card hand and the best two-card hand split the pot.

Also known as Cowpie

Players: 2 to 7
Type: Stud, two hands per player
Wild cards: None
Betting rounds: 5
Pot: Split: best 5-card hand and best 2-card hand

Article 1Players, deck and objective

1.1

Cowpie Poker is a home-game variant of seven-card stud. It is played with a standard 52-card deck and no wild cards.

1.2

As in seven-card stud, two to seven players may take part, since each player may receive seven cards.

1.3

Each player's seven cards are divided at the showdown into two hands: a five-card hand and a two-card hand. The object is to win half of the pot with either hand, or the whole pot with both.

1.4

Five-card hands rank according to the standard poker hand rankings. Two-card hands can only be a pair or two unpaired cards. By the usual practice, any pair beats any unpaired hand, pairs rank by their rank, and unpaired hands compare by the higher card, then the lower. Straights and flushes do not count in a two-card hand.

Article 2Antes, the deal and betting

The deal and betting follow seven-card stud. Only the differences at the showdown are new.

2.1

Every player puts an agreed ante into the pot before the deal.

2.2

Cards are dealt as in seven-card stud, with a betting round after each stage of the deal:

Stage	Cards dealt to each player	Then
Third street	Two face down and one face up	Betting round
Fourth street	One face up	Betting round
Fifth street	One face up	Betting round
Sixth street	One face up	Betting round
Seventh street	One face down	Final betting round

2.3

Each player ends with seven cards: three face down and four face up. The order of betting, the bring-in if used, and the betting limits follow the group's usual stud rules and shall be agreed before play.

Article 3Dividing the seven cards

3.1

After the final betting round, each player still in the hand divides their seven cards into a five-card hand and a two-card hand. Cards keep their status: face-up cards remain face up and face-down cards remain face down until the showdown.

3.2

The division shall meet both of these conditions:

3.2(a) each of the two hands shall contain at least one face-down card; and

3.2(b) the five-card hand shall rank higher than the two-card hand.

3.3

A legal division is always possible, because a player can place their highest card, or any pair, in the five-card hand. The source does not state a penalty for an illegal division. Players shall agree before the deal how such a hand is treated; the usual home-game ruling is that it cannot win either half.

Example

Setting a Cowpie hand

After seventh street a player holds A♠9♦ and 2♣ face down, and K♥K♣7♠4♦ face up.

The player would like A♠K♥ as the two-card hand, but that leaves K-9-7-4-2 as the five-card hand. A king-high hand ranks below ace-king, so this division breaks rule 3.2(b).

A legal and strong division is K♥K♣7♠4♦2♣ (a pair of kings, including the face-down two) and A♠9♦ (ace-nine, both face down).

Article 4Showdown and splitting the pot

4.1

At the showdown, every remaining player reveals both hands.

4.2

Half of the pot goes to the best five-card hand and half to the best two-card hand. One player may win both halves.

4.3

Two-card hands are compared only with other two-card hands, and five-card hands only with other five-card hands.

4.4

Tied hands share the relevant half equally. Any odd chip is settled by the group's usual rule for split pots.

Article 5Variations and related games

The two-hand idea appears in several other games:

Pai Gow Poker also sets seven cards into a five-card and a two-card hand, with the same rule that the five-card hand must be the better one, but against a house dealer.
Henway and Ten-card Regrets give each player two five-card hands, one for high and one for low.
Chinese Poker sets thirteen cards into three hands.

Groups sometimes add wild cards or a declaration. These are house rules, and the dealer shall announce them before the deal.

Article 6Strategy notes

A pair in the two-card hand is very strong, since most two-card hands are unpaired. But the five-card hand must still beat it, so a pair of aces in the two-card hand needs two pair or better in the five-card hand.
Because each hand needs a face-down card, your three hole cards decide how freely you can divide your hand. Opponents can see four of your seven cards.
A hand that can win one half with confidence is worth playing even if the other half is weak.

Article 7Frequently asked questions

How many hands do you make in Cowpie Poker?

Two. You divide your seven cards into a five-card hand and a two-card hand. Each needs at least one face-down card, and the five-card hand must rank higher than the two-card hand.

What is the best two-card hand in Cowpie?

A pair of aces. Any pair beats any two unpaired cards, and unpaired hands compare by the higher card first. To keep a pair of aces as your two-card hand, your five-card hand must rank higher, so it needs at least two pair.

Can one player win the whole pot in Cowpie Poker?

Yes. If the same player has both the best five-card hand and the best two-card hand, they take both halves.

Final authority

Where any doubt remains in the application of this document, Rob is right.

Hand rankings, high to low: royal flush · straight flush · four of a kind · full house · flush · straight · three of a kind · two pair · one pair · high card. Suits never break ties.

Cowpie Poker Rules · OPR-665 · officialpokerrules.com/cowpie-poker/

OPR-665Uncontrolled when printed