Telesina Rules

Telesina, also called Teresina, is played with a standard deck from which the low cards are removed. The lowest rank used is 11 minus the number of players. All cards from that rank up to the ace are used.

The object is to win the pot, either with the best five-card hand at the showdown or by making a bet no one calls.

Telesina is closely related to Italian poker and uses the same hand rankings. It is based on the five-card stud structure. Pagat.com's description is based on a contribution from Massimo Ilardo.

A flush ranks above a full house. All other hands rank in the usual order; see hand rankings.

As in Italian poker, the ace usually ranks high but may also count as the card just below the lowest rank in use, to complete the lowest straight. With five players, for example, A-6-7-8-9 is a straight.

Italian poker distinguishes a minimum straight flush (the lowest possible in the deck in use), a maximum straight flush (10-J-Q-K-A) and medium straight flushes (all others), with special rules on how they rank against each other. See Italian poker.

Suits. When two hands are otherwise equal, suits break the tie. From highest to lowest: hearts, diamonds, clubs, spades.

Before the deal, each player pays an agreed ante into the pot. Betting limits shall be agreed before play.

The dealer deals clockwise, one card at a time: first one card face down to each player, then one card face up to each player.

After each later betting round, one further card is dealt face up to each active player, until each has one card face down and four face up.

On the first round, the player whose face-up card is highest opens. If two players show cards of the same rank, the higher suit opens: hearts, then diamonds, clubs and spades.

On later rounds, the player with the best combination of face-up cards opens. Because fewer than five cards are showing, only pairs, two pairs, three of a kind and four of a kind count; partial straights and flushes are ignored. If no one shows a pair, the highest card opens.

Betting follows the usual rules: players may check, bet, call, raise or fold in turn until all active players have contributed equally.

After the fourth betting round, the remaining players turn up their face-down cards. The highest hand, under the rankings in article 2, wins the pot.

If hands are otherwise equal, suits decide, as in 2.4.

If all but one player folds, the remaining player wins without showing.

Telesina con vela. At the start of the deal, one card, la vela, is dealt face down to the centre of the table. After the final betting round it is turned face up and becomes a community card. Each player makes the best five-card hand from their own five cards and the vela.

Con matte. The dealer names a rank, and every card of that rank is wild. A hand of four of a kind plus a wild card, called pokerissimo, ranks above a straight flush.

Con carte coperte. All cards are dealt face down. After the first two cards, each player chooses one to turn face up before the betting, and each player keeps one hidden card throughout.

Con una carta coperta. Every card except the first and last is dealt face up. Before the final betting round, each player chooses whether to show their first or their last card.