Fierce Rules

Fierce was contributed to pagat.com by Mike Simmons. It is a variation of Guts.

Three to ten players may take part. The game is played with one standard 52-card deck, or with two decks shuffled together.

Each player needs a small token, called a dropper, to show whether they are in. Bottle caps or chips serve well.

The object is to be the only player who declares in, which wins the pot and ends the game, or to hold the best hand among those who declare in.

At the start of the game, each player pays an agreed ante to form the pot.

The dealer deals each player two cards: one face up, which everyone can see, and one face down.

No player may look at their own face-down card. The hidden card stays unseen by everyone, including its owner, until the showdown.

When the deal is complete, every player closes one fist, either holding the dropper or empty, without letting the others see which.

All players bring their closed fists above the table. On a count of three, everyone opens their hand at once. A player holding the dropper must let it fall.

A player who drops the dropper is in. A player whose hand is empty is out, cannot win this pot, and waits for the next deal.

If only one player is in, that player takes the whole pot and the game is over.

If two or more players are in, their hidden cards are turned face up and the best two-card hand wins the pot. Hands rank as follows:

4.2(a) Any pair beats any two unequal cards, and a higher pair beats a lower pair.

4.2(b) Between two hands without a pair, the higher top card wins. If the top cards are equal, the usual practice is to compare the second cards.

Every player who was in and did not win must pay an amount equal to the pot. These payments form the pot for the next deal, and play continues.

The source does not say what happens if no player is in, or if two players tie for the best hand. The dealer shall announce these rules before play. In other guts games the pot usually stays for the next deal when everyone is out, and tied winners share it.

When two decks are used, two identical cards can appear, and identical hands are more likely.

Maximum payment. The players may agree a maximum amount that a loser has to pay, however large the pot grows.

Final showdown. The players may agree a maximum number of deals, such as ten. On the last deal all cards are dealt face up and the best hand wins the pot.

Jokers wild. Jokers may be added as wild cards. A hand of two wild cards is then worthless, ranking below 3-2.

Five cards. Each player is dealt two cards face up and three hidden, and hands rank according to the standard poker hand rankings.

Kings and low. Kings are wild, and so is the lowest card in each player's hand.