Pyramid (Split-Pot Version) Rules

Pyramid is a shared-card game contributed to pagat.com by a player credited as Sq2yard. It is best for six to eight players and uses a standard 52-card deck with no wild cards.

The object is to win all or part of the pot with the best high hand, the best qualifying low hand, or both.

Each player's hand is any five cards chosen from their own five cards and the seven pyramid cards, provided that the bottom card of the pyramid is always one of the five.

This page covers the split-pot version. The site also describes a separate game called Pyramid.

Each player antes, or blinds are posted, as agreed before the game.

The dealer deals five cards face down to each player, one at a time.

The dealer then lays seven cards face down in the centre in the shape of an inverted pyramid:

2.3(a) a top row of four cards;

2.3(b) a middle row of two cards, below the top row;

2.3(c) a single card at the bottom, which is the bottom card.

There is no betting round before the first pyramid cards are turned up. The first round follows the first two cards.

Each betting round begins with the first active player to the dealer's left, unless the group plays with blinds, in which case the usual Hold'em order applies.

Betting limits are set by the group before play.

The pot is split equally between the best high hand and the best low hand.

A low hand qualifies only if its highest card is an eight or lower. If no hand qualifies for low, the usual practice is that the best high hand takes the whole pot.

A player may make different hands for high and for low from the twelve cards available to them, but both hands must include the bottom card.

The source does not say how low hands are ranked or whether players declare. The usual practice in eight-or-better games is ace-to-five low with the cards speaking; the dealer shall announce the method before the deal. See hand rankings.