Loco Poker Rules

Loco Poker was described on the Poker Bankroll Blog, whose author credits it to himself and a group of friends. It was designed as a drinking game that needs no chips. pagat.com lists it among its invented shared-card games.

The cards, the deal, the dealer position and the hand rankings are the same as in Texas Hold'em.

The object is to be the overall winner: either the first player to collect three points, or the last player remaining after all others have been knocked out.

There are no blinds or antes, since no chips are used. The dealer position rotates as in Hold'em.

Each player is dealt two hole cards, and the flop, turn and river are dealt as in Hold'em, with a round of action before the flop and after each stage.

On their turn a player may only check, fold or go all in. There are no bets or raises of any other size.

Once a player has gone all in, each other player in turn may call the all-in or fold.

Uncalled all-in. If a player goes all in and every other player folds, the all-in player scores one point.

Called all-in, all-in player wins. If the all-in is called and the all-in player wins at showdown, the caller is knocked out. The all-in player scores no point.

Called all-in, all-in player loses. If the all-in is called and the all-in player loses at showdown, the all-in player is knocked out, however many points they had. The caller scores no point.

If every player checks through to the river, no one scores.

The source does not cover several players calling the same all-in, or a tied showdown. The players shall agree how to settle these before play.

The game ends when one player has three points or has knocked out every other player. That player is the winner.

The first player to be knocked out is the loser.

In the original version the winner chooses who takes a drink and the loser takes a penalty drink. Groups may substitute any forfeit or prize they agree on.

By tradition, when a player suffers a bad beat, the table calls out the name of the game together.