Home game · Shared card
Piles is a high-low split game in which each player holds five cards and thirteen shared cards are laid out in two squares of four and a row of five. The shared cards are turned up in nine stages, each followed by a betting round, and a hand must use two hole cards, two cards from one square and one card from the row. Contributed to pagat.com by George Johnson.
Piles was contributed to pagat.com by George Johnson. It uses a standard 52-card deck with no wild cards. With five hole cards each and thirteen shared cards, the deck allows at most seven players.
The pot is split between the best high hand and the best qualifying low hand, with players declaring which half they are playing for.
High hands follow the standard hand rankings. Low hands are ranked ace-to-five, so 5-4-3-2-A is the best low.
Antes or blinds follow the table's usual practice. Each player is dealt five cards face down.
Thirteen shared cards are dealt face down to the table in three groups called piles. Despite the name, the cards in each pile are laid side by side, not stacked:
2.2(a) Pile 1: four cards in a two-by-two square.
2.2(b) Pile 2: a second square of four cards.
2.2(c) Pile 3: five cards in a row.
A player's final hand shall use exactly two cards from their own hand, exactly two cards from one square (pile 1 or pile 2, not both) and exactly one card from the row (pile 3).
The shared cards are exposed in nine stages, with a betting round after each. The source suggests betting limits that rise towards the end, as shown.
| Stage | Cards turned | Suggested bet |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Two cards of pile 1 | 25¢ |
| 2 | Two cards of pile 2 | 25¢ |
| 3 | The other two cards of pile 1 | 25¢ |
| 4 | The other two cards of pile 2 | 25¢ |
| 5 | First card of pile 3 | 25¢ |
| 6 | Second card of pile 3 | 25¢ |
| 7 | Third card of pile 3 | 50¢ |
| 8 | Fourth card of pile 3 | 50¢ |
| 9 | Fifth card of pile 3 | $1 |
After each stage there is a betting round, making nine in all.
The suggested amounts are the source's example of minimum bets. The table may set its own stakes.
After the ninth betting round, the remaining players declare simultaneously. Each player hides coins in a closed fist: one coin for high, none for low, or two for both (called pig). All hands are opened together.
The best high hand among those declaring high wins the high half. The best qualifying low hand among those declaring low wins the low half.
A player who declares pig must win both halves to take the pot.
Low qualifier. A low hand qualifies only if all five of its cards are different and eight or lower. In particular, all three shared cards used must be eight or lower, so if the row has no card below nine, or neither square has two different cards below nine, no low is possible.
One hand, both ways
Pile 1: 3♦8♠J♥J♣. Pile 2: A♣4♠9♥Q♦. Pile 3: 5♥J♦2♣K♠7♦.
A player holds J♠9♣6♦3♥2♠.
High: the jack and nine from hand, the two jacks from pile 1 and the jack from pile 3 make four jacks with a nine.
Low: the three and two from hand, the ace and four from pile 2 and the five from pile 3 make 5-4-3-2-A, the best possible low. This player may reasonably declare pig.
In a variation described by the source, pairs, three of a kind and other combinations do not count against a low hand. A high hand must be a full house or better to qualify, and a low hand must be five-high or lower.
5.1(a) Under this rule repeated ranks are allowed in a low hand. The best possible low is A-A-A-A-2, and the worst qualifying low is 5-5-5-5-4.
Two cards from one of the two squares (pile 1 or pile 2) and one card from the row (pile 3), plus exactly two cards from your own hand.
Nine: one after each stage of turning the shared cards face up.
Declaring both high and low. A player who goes pig must win both halves, or they win nothing.
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.
Piles Rules · OPR-554 · officialpokerrules.com/piles/