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Official Poker Rules BoardDocument OPR-526 · Updated 28 September 2026

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El Dorado Hold'em Rules

El Dorado Hold'em is a Texas Hold'em variant with only four community cards. After the flop, each player in turn may swap one hole card for a flop card; the card swapped into the flop becomes wild, along with its rank, until someone else swaps. After one more community card and a final bet, the best hand wins. It was devised by Tony Forbess, as published on pagat.com.

Hole cards
2 per player
Community cards
4
Betting rounds
4
Wild cards
The last card swapped into the flop, and its rank
Pot
High, or low by agreement

Article 1Players, deck and objective

1.1

El Dorado Hold'em was devised by Tony Forbess, as published on pagat.com. It follows the rules of Texas Hold'em except as stated here.

1.2

The game uses a standard 52-card deck. There are no fixed wild cards; a wild rank is created during play (article 3).

1.3

Each player's hand is the best five cards from their two hole cards and the four community cards.

1.4

The game may be played for high or for low. The dealer shall announce which before the deal.

Article 2Blinds, the deal and the flop

StageWhat happens
Pre-flopBlinds posted, two hole cards each, first betting round
FlopBurn one card, deal three face up, second betting round
ExchangeEach player in turn may swap one hole card for a flop card, then a third betting round
Last cardBurn one card, deal the fourth community card, final betting round
2.1

The two players to the dealer's left post the small and big blinds. Each player is dealt two cards face down, and there is a betting round in which players stay in by at least matching the big blind.

2.2

The dealer burns a card and deals three community cards face up, the flop. A betting round follows.

Article 3The exchange and the wild card

3.1

After the flop betting, starting with the player on the dealer's left and ending with the dealer, each player still in the hand may exchange one of their hole cards for any one card of the flop. Each player has one opportunity to exchange.

3.2

The card a player places into the flop becomes wild, together with every other card of the same rank.

3.3

When a later player makes an exchange, the card they place into the flop becomes the new wild card. The previously placed card, and its rank, cease to be wild. At most one rank is wild at any time.

3.4

A player may exchange a card for a flop card of the same rank. For example, swapping a three for a three makes all threes wild.

3.5

When every player has had the opportunity to exchange, there is a betting round. The dealer then burns a card and deals a fourth and final community card face up, followed by the last betting round.

3.6

If no one exchanges, there is no wild card.

3.7

Five of a kind is possible when a wild rank exists. By the usual convention it ranks above a straight flush. See hand rankings. When playing for low, the dealer shall announce before the deal whether a wild card may count as an ace.

Article 4Showdown

4.1

Players remaining after the final betting round show their hands. The best hand wins the pot, or the pot is split if hands are equal.

Example

The wild card moves

Flop: 7♦Q♠4♣. Player 1 holds 9♣9♦ and Player 2 holds K♥4♥.

Player 1 swaps 9♦ for Q♠. The flop is now 7♦9♦4♣ and nines are wild.

Player 2 swaps K♥ for 7♦. The flop is now 9♦K♥4♣. Kings are now wild and nines are not.

The dealer declines to swap. The last card is 4♠, so the board is 9♦K♥4♣4♠.

Player 1 holds 9♣Q♠: with two nines, two fours and the wild king, the best hand is a full house, nines full of fours.

Player 2 holds 7♦4♥: three natural fours plus the wild king make four fours, which wins.

Article 5Strategy notes

  • Players who act later in the exchange control the final wild card, so late position is especially valuable.
  • Swapping in a card whose rank you still hold makes your remaining card wild too, but any later exchange can cancel that.
  • The dealer, who exchanges last, can set the wild card with no one left to change it.

Article 6Frequently asked questions

Which card is wild in El Dorado Hold'em?

The last card that any player swapped into the flop, and every card of that rank. Each new swap replaces the previous wild card.

How many community cards are there in El Dorado Hold'em?

Four: a three-card flop and one more card after the exchange.

Can you swap a card for one of the same rank?

Yes. Swapping a three for a three, for example, makes all threes wild.

§
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.

El Dorado Hold'em Rules · OPR-526 · officialpokerrules.com/el-dorado-holdem/

OPR-526Uncontrolled when printed