Official Poker Rules BoardDocument OPR-520 · Updated 28 September 2026

Home game · Shared card

Depot Rules

Depot is a Hold'em variant in which each player holds two hole cards and chooses one of five three-card lines, called Rails, from a layout of community cards, plus a single shared card called the Depot. Aces count low only, and the game adds a hand called the Ticket, which ranks between a straight and three of a kind. It was devised by George Weissenberger, as published on pagat.com.

Also known as Depot Hold'em

Players: As in Texas Hold'em
Type: Shared card (Hold'em variant)
Community cards: 8, in a fixed layout
Wild cards: None
Pot: High only

Article 1Players, deck and hand rankings

1.1

Depot was devised by George Weissenberger, as published on pagat.com. It borrows the name Rail from the game Rails.

1.2

The game is played with a standard 52-card deck and no wild cards. The object is to win the pot with the best five-card hand at showdown, or by making a bet that no one calls.

1.3

Aces are low only. An ace has a value of one and ranks below the two. It follows that A-2-3-4-5 is a straight, but 10-J-Q-K-A is not, and there is no royal flush.

1.4

A Ticket is a hand of four cards of one suit plus a fifth card, the Rider, which shall be a jack, queen or king that is not part of the four-card flush.

1.5

Hands rank as follows, from highest to lowest:

1.5(a) Straight flush (five cards).

1.5(b) Four of a kind.

1.5(c) Full house.

1.5(d) Flush (five cards).

1.5(e) Straight.

1.5(f) Ticket.

1.5(g) Three of a kind.

1.5(h) Two pair.

1.5(i) One pair.

1.5(j) High card.

1.6

When two Tickets are compared, the Riders are compared first. If the Riders are of equal rank, the cards of the four-card flushes are compared, highest first. Other hands are compared as in standard poker hand rankings, subject to aces being low.

Article 2The layout: Rails, Switch and Depot

2.1

The community cards are laid out in a fixed pattern:

2.1(a) Two Rails, each a horizontal row of three cards, one above the other with a gap between them.

2.1(b) The Switch: a single card placed in the gap between the Rails, under the middle card of the upper Rail and above the middle card of the lower Rail.

2.1(c) The Depot: a single card placed at the end of the layout, between the two Rails and usually turned sideways.

Figure 2.1The two horizontal Rails, the Switch between them and the Depot at the end; the discs show the order of dealing, and any straight line of three cards through the Switch is also a Rail.

2.2

Once the Switch is dealt, any straight line of three cards through it also counts as a Rail. There are therefore five Rails in all:

2.2(a) the upper row;

2.2(b) the lower row;

2.2(c) the vertical line: upper middle card, Switch, lower middle card;

2.2(d) the diagonal from the upper left card through the Switch to the lower right card;

2.2(e) the diagonal from the upper right card through the Switch to the lower left card.

2.3

A player's final hand is the best five cards from their two hole cards, the three cards of any one Rail, and the Depot card. A player shall use only one Rail. The Switch is used only if the chosen Rail passes through it.

Article 3Antes, the deal and betting

Round	Cards dealt before the round	Cards a player can use
1	Two hole cards to each player	Hole cards only
2	Both horizontal Rails, three cards each, face up	Hole cards plus either horizontal Rail
3	The Switch, face up	Hole cards plus any of the five Rails
4	The Depot, face up	Hole cards, any one Rail and the Depot

3.1

Each player pays an ante and is dealt two hole cards face down. Blinds, the dealer button and the order of betting follow the rules of Texas Hold'em.

3.2

After the first betting round, the dealer deals both horizontal Rails face up together, and there is a second betting round.

3.3

The dealer then places the Switch face up between the Rails, and there is a third betting round.

3.4

Finally the dealer places the Depot card, and there is a fourth and last betting round.

Article 4Showdown

4.1

Players remaining after the last round reveal their hole cards, starting with the last player to raise. Each player nominates the Rail that gives them the best hand.

4.2

The best five-card hand, ranked under 1.5, wins the pot. Identical hands split the pot.

Example

A Ticket beats three kings

Upper Rail: 5♠2♦K♦. Switch: 7♠. Lower Rail: J♣3♠Q♥. Depot: 9♦

Player A holds 9♠8♠. Using the diagonal from the upper left through the Switch to the lower right (5♠7♠Q♥) with the Depot, A has 9♠8♠7♠5♠Q♥: four spades with a queen Rider, a Ticket.

Player B holds K♥K♠. Using the upper Rail and the Depot, B has three kings, K♥K♠K♦9♦5♠.

A Ticket ranks above three of a kind, so Player A wins.

Article 5Strategy notes

Because aces are low, a pair of aces is the lowest pair and ace-high is the weakest high card. Pocket aces are much weaker than in Hold'em.
Two suited hole cards give many ways to reach a four-card flush, and a jack, queen or king anywhere on the chosen Rail or the Depot then completes a Ticket.
The Switch opens three new Rails at once, so hands can change sharply on the third round. Check every line through the Switch before acting.

Article 6Frequently asked questions

Is the ace high or low in Depot?

Low only. An ace counts as one, so A-2-3-4-5 is a straight but 10-J-Q-K-A is not, and there is no royal flush.

What is a Ticket in Depot poker?

Four cards of one suit plus a jack, queen or king that is not part of the flush. It ranks below a straight and above three of a kind.

Can you use two Rails in Depot?

No. Your hand is made from your two hole cards, one Rail of three cards and the Depot card. You choose whichever Rail gives you the best hand.

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.

Depot Rules · OPR-520 · officialpokerrules.com/depot/

OPR-520Uncontrolled when printed