Official Poker Rules BoardDocument OPR-566 · Updated 28 September 2026

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Skyscraper Elevator Rules

In Skyscraper Elevator, each player has four cards and eleven cards are laid face down: two columns of five, called the shafts, with a single elevator card between them. The shaft cards are turned up two at a time, then the elevator. At the showdown each player chooses a floor and uses the elevator and the two shaft cards on that floor, with the elevator and every card of its rank wild.

Players: 4 to 10
Cards per player: 4
Community cards: 11: two shafts of 5 and the elevator
Wild cards: The elevator and all cards of its rank
Betting rounds: 7

Article 1Players, deck and layout

1.1

Skyscraper Elevator was contributed by Charles Pierce, as published on pagat.com. It is for four to ten players and uses a standard 52-card deck.

1.2

Each player is dealt four cards face down. Eleven community cards are then laid face down in this pattern:

1.2(a) two parallel columns of five cards each, called the shafts;

1.2(b) a single card between the two shafts, level with the middle row, called the elevator.

1.3

Each horizontal row of the shafts is a floor, numbered 1 (bottom) to 5 (top). Each floor has one card in each shaft.

Figure 1.1The two shafts of five cards, with the elevator between them level with the middle floor; the shaft cards are turned two at a time, and the elevator, which is wild, is turned last.

Article 2Antes and betting rounds

2.1

Antes, blinds and betting limits are set by the group before play.

Round	Before the round
1	Players have their four cards; the layout is face down
2 to 6	The dealer turns up any two shaft cards of their choice before each round
7	The elevator is turned up

2.2

There are seven betting rounds in all. After the first, two shaft cards are turned up before each of the next five rounds, so that all ten shaft cards are showing before the elevator is revealed for the final round.

2.3

The dealer may choose which two face-down shaft cards to turn up each time.

Article 3Wild cards and the showdown

3.1

At the showdown, each player imagines the elevator stopped at any one of the five floors. That player may use the elevator and the two shaft cards on that floor, and no other community cards.

3.2

Each player therefore has seven cards: four in hand and three from the table. From these they make their best five-card hand. Different players may choose different floors.

3.3

The elevator card is wild, and so is every other card of the same rank, whether in a player's hand or among the table cards they use.

3.4

The best five-card hand wins, and equal hands split the pot. With wild cards, five of a kind is possible. The source does not rank it; the usual practice is that five of a kind beats a straight flush, and the dealer shall confirm this before the deal. See hand rankings.

Example

Choosing the best floor

The elevator is 6♣, so all sixes are wild. Floor 1 shows 6♦Q♠ and floor 3 shows 9♥2♠.

A player holds 9♠9♦4♥J♣.

Using floor 1, the player has two natural nines and two wild cards (the elevator and the six of diamonds): four nines with a queen kicker.

Using floor 3, the player has three natural nines and the wild elevator: four nines with a jack kicker.

Floor 1 gives the better hand, so the player plays it.

Article 4Strategy notes

Any card in your hand that matches the elevator's rank is wild. Until the elevator is revealed, you cannot know which rank that will be.
A floor that contains a card of the elevator's rank gives you two wild cards. Watch for pairs of ranks appearing across the shafts.
With wild cards and a free choice of floor, winning hands are very strong. Four of a kind is common.

Article 5Frequently asked questions

What is wild in Skyscraper Elevator?

The elevator card and every other card of the same rank, both in your hand and in the table cards you use.

How many community cards can you use in Skyscraper Elevator?

Three: the elevator and the two shaft cards on one floor of your choice. You combine them with your four cards and make the best five-card hand.

How many betting rounds are there?

Seven: one before any community card is shown, one after each of the five pairs of shaft cards is turned up, and a final round after the elevator is revealed.

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.

Skyscraper Elevator Rules · OPR-566 · officialpokerrules.com/skyscraper-elevator/

OPR-566Uncontrolled when printed