Strobe Rules

Strobe is a Hold'em-like game played with a standard deck and one six-sided die. Each player gets two hole cards, and six community cards are dealt face up into boxes numbered 1 to 6. The dealer rolls the die to remove the card in the matching box, a replacement is dealt, and a second roll removes another card, with betting between each step.

Players: 2 to 10
Hole cards: 2 per player
Community cards: 6 in numbered boxes; 5 remain at the end
Equipment: One six-sided die
Betting rounds: 4, or 5 with an opening round

Article 1Players, equipment and objective

1.1

Strobe was invented by George Weissenberger, as published on pagat.com. It uses a standard 52-card deck, no wild cards and one standard six-sided die.

1.2

The layout has six boxes, numbered 1 to 6, each holding one community card.

1.3

Standard poker hand rankings apply, and aces may count high or low. The object is the best five-card hand from a player's two hole cards and the community cards remaining at the showdown. See hand rankings.

1.4

The dealer button, blinds, antes, betting and folding follow the rules of Texas Hold'em.

Article 2The deal, the die and betting

Step	What happens	Then
Deal	Two hole cards face down to each player	Optional betting round, by local rule
Board	Six community cards face up, one in each box	Betting round
First roll	The dealer rolls the die; the card in the matching box is removed from play	Betting round
Refill	A new community card is dealt face up into the empty box	Betting round
Second roll	The dealer rolls again; the card in the matching box is removed from play	Final betting round, then showdown

2.1

The player holding the dealer button rolls the die.

2.2

Whether there is a betting round after the hole cards and before the six community cards are dealt depends on local rules. The dealer shall announce it before play.

2.3

At the second roll every box is full, so the roll may remove any card, including the replacement card dealt after the first roll.

2.4

After the second roll, five community cards remain and one box is empty.

Article 3Showdown

3.1

The remaining players show their hole cards. Each makes the best five-card hand from their two hole cards and the five remaining community cards, using any combination of them.

3.2

The best hand wins, and equal hands split the pot.

Example

The die takes away a straight and a set

Boxes 1 to 6: A♥K♠7♦7♣3♠J♥.

Player A holds 7♥2♦, giving three sevens. Player B holds 10♣9♥.

The first roll is a 3: the 7♦ is removed and A drops to a pair of sevens. The replacement in box 3 is Q♦, which gives B the straight A♥K♠Q♦J♥10♣.

The second roll is a 6: the J♥ is removed, and B's straight is gone. The remaining board is A♥K♠Q♦7♣3♠.

A has a pair of sevens; B has only ace-high. Player A wins.

Article 4Strategy notes

Every community card has a one-in-six chance of being removed on each roll. A hand that depends on a single board card is fragile.
Hands built mainly on the hole cards, such as a pocket pair, lose less when a board card disappears.
The replacement card can be removed by the second roll, so a hand made by the new card is no safer than any other.

Article 5Frequently asked questions

How does the die work in Strobe poker?

The six community cards sit in boxes numbered 1 to 6. The dealer rolls the die and the card in the box with that number is removed from play. This happens twice, with a new card dealt into the empty box after the first roll.

How many community cards can you use in Strobe?

Five remain at the showdown. You make your best five-card hand from those and your two hole cards.

Who rolls the die in Strobe?

The player holding the dealer button.

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.

Strobe Rules · OPR-573 · officialpokerrules.com/strobe/

OPR-573Uncontrolled when printed