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In Pass'Em each player is dealt three cards face down and passes one of them to the player on their left. After a betting round, three community cards are turned up one at a time, with betting after each. At showdown a player uses either two hole cards with all three community cards, or all three hole cards with two community cards. Contributed to pagat.com by Harvey Fish.
Also known as Pass 'em Poker
Pass'Em, a Hold'em-style game with passing, was contributed to pagat.com by Harvey Fish. It is intended for five or six players, using a standard 52-card deck with no wild cards.
The object is to win the pot with the best five-card hand, ranked by the standard hand rankings, or by making a bet no one calls.
The game is played either high only or high-low split. The players shall agree which before the deal.
Antes or blinds follow the table's usual practice. Each player is dealt three cards face down.
Each player chooses one card from their hand and places it face down in front of the player to their left.
The pass is simultaneous: no player picks up the card they are receiving until every player has passed their own card.
Each player then picks up the card passed to them, and there is a round of betting.
Three community cards are dealt face up in the centre, one at a time, with a betting round after each.
| Round | When it happens |
|---|---|
| 1 | After the pass |
| 2 | After the first community card |
| 3 | After the second community card |
| 4 | After the third community card |
At showdown, each player makes a five-card hand in one of two ways:
4.1(a) two of their hole cards with all three community cards; or
4.1(b) all three of their hole cards with two of the community cards.
In a high-only game the best hand wins the pot. In a high-low game the pot is split between the best high and best low hands. The source does not specify how low hands are ranked or whether a qualifier applies; the dealer shall announce this before the deal.
Using all three hole cards
Community cards: 7♥K♠2♦
After the pass, a player holds A♠7♦7♣.
Using all three hole cards with the seven and king from the board gives three sevens with an ace and king (7-7-7-A-K). Using two hole cards (the sevens) with all three community cards would give 7-7-7-K-2, which is weaker.
The card you pass helps the player on your left. Passing a card that is unlikely to fit their hand, such as a low card of an unpaired rank, keeps the gift small.
You know one card in your left-hand neighbour's hand, and your right-hand neighbour knows one of yours.
To the left. Every player passes one card face down to the player on their left, and no one looks at the card they receive until everyone has passed.
Either two hole cards with all three community cards, or all three hole cards with two community cards.
It can be. The game is played high only or high-low split, as the players agree before the deal.
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.
Pass'Em Rules · OPR-553 · officialpokerrules.com/passem/