Official Poker Rules BoardDocument OPR-643 · Updated 28 September 2026

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Position Poker Rules

Position Poker is seven-card stud in which eights are wild for everyone and each player has a second wild rank set by their seat: aces for the first player to the dealer's left, twos for the next, and so on. A player dealt their own wild card in spades face down wins half the pot; if it is dealt face up, the hand is abandoned and redealt.

Players: Up to 7
Type: Stud
Wild cards: Eights, plus a rank set by each player's seat
Pot: High only, with a half-pot spade bonus

Article 1Players, deck and wild cards

1.1

Position Poker is played by up to seven players with a standard 52-card deck. It is dealt and bet like Seven Card Stud.

1.2

All eights are wild for every player.

1.3

Each player also has a position wild card, a rank that is wild for that player only, set by their seat relative to the dealer:

Seat (from the dealer's left)	Position wild card
1st	Aces
2nd	Twos
3rd	Threes
4th	Fours
5th and later	Fives, sixes and so on, continuing in order

1.4

The source does not state the dealer's own position wild card. The dealer shall announce it before the deal.

1.5

A player may use both the eights and their own position wild card. Another player's position rank is an ordinary card in their hand.

1.6

Five of a kind is possible. Unless the dealer announces otherwise, it ranks above a straight flush. See hand rankings.

Article 2Antes, the deal and betting

2.1

Each player antes. The deal and betting then follow Seven Card Stud:

Street	Cards dealt	Betting
Third street	Two down, one up	First round
Fourth street	One up	Second round
Fifth street	One up	Third round
Sixth street	One up	Fourth round
Seventh street	One up or down, at the player's choice	Final round

2.2

Before the last card, the dealer asks each player whether they want it dealt face up or face down.

Article 3The spade rule

3.1

Spade face down. A player who is dealt their own position wild card in spades, face down, wins half the pot at showdown whether or not they hold the best hand. The other half goes to the best five-card hand.

3.2

If two players each receive their own position wild card in spades face down, each receives a quarter of the pot, and the best hand receives the remaining half.

3.3

The source does not say whether a player who qualifies under rule 3.1 must stay in until the showdown to collect. The dealer shall announce this before the deal.

3.4

Spade face up. If a player is dealt their own position wild card in spades face up, the hand stops at once and all hands are mucked. The pot is not awarded. The players who were still in the hand when that card was dealt ante again and are dealt new hands. Players who had already folded may not take part in the redeal.

Example

Half the pot for a spade in the hole

A player in the third seat, with threes wild, is dealt 3♠ face down.

At showdown, the player wins half the pot even though another player holds the best hand. That player takes the other half.

Article 4Showdown

4.1

After the final betting round, each remaining player makes the best five-card hand from their seven cards, using the eights and their own position wild card as they choose.

4.2

If no spade rule applies, the best hand wins the whole pot. If a spade rule applies, the best hand wins half the pot (article 3).

Example

Two sets of wild cards

The player in the second seat, with twos wild, holds 2♣8♦K♥K♠J♦5♣4♥.

The two and the eight are both wild. With the natural pair of kings, the player has four kings, with the jack as the kicker. For any other player, the two of clubs would be an ordinary two.

Article 5Strategy notes

Every player has at least eight wild cards available (four eights and four of their own rank), so winning hands are very strong.
Opponents' visible cards need to be read with their seat in mind: a card that is useless to you may be wild for them.
The spade rule means a player may win half the pot with a weak hand, which can make betting on the later streets unpredictable.

Article 6Frequently asked questions

What is wild in Position Poker?

Eights are wild for everyone. Each player also has a wild rank set by their seat: aces for the first player to the dealer's left, twos for the second, threes for the third and so on.

What happens if you get your wild card in spades?

If it is dealt face down, you win half the pot at showdown regardless of your hand. If it is dealt face up, the hand is abandoned, and the players still in ante again for a new deal.

How many players can play Position Poker?

Up to seven.

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.

Position Poker Rules · OPR-643 · officialpokerrules.com/position-poker/

OPR-643Uncontrolled when printed