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Three Legged Race is a form of five-card draw in which every player must discard and replace exactly three cards. Winning a hand earns a leg rather than the pot. The pot keeps growing, hand after hand, until one player has won the number of legs the dealer called, usually two or three.
Also known as 3 Legged Race
Three Legged Race is a variation of Five Card Draw for up to six players, using a standard 52-card deck.
No wild cards are used unless the dealer names one before the deal.
Each hand won is a leg. The object is to be the first player to win the number of legs the dealer called at the start of the game. That player takes the whole pot.
Before the first hand, the dealer shall announce how many legs are needed. Two or three is usual.
Every player places the agreed ante in the pot before each hand.
The dealer deals each player five cards face down, one at a time.
The pot is not paid out at the end of a hand unless a player has reached the required number of legs. Otherwise it stays in the middle, and all players ante again for the next hand.
| Stage | What happens | First to act |
|---|---|---|
| First betting round | After the deal | The player to the dealer's left |
| The draw | Every player discards exactly three cards and receives three replacements | Players draw in turn |
| Second betting round | After the draw | The first active player to the dealer's left |
| Showdown | Remaining players show their hands | — |
The draw is compulsory. Every player still in the hand shall discard exactly three cards, no more and no fewer, and the dealer shall replace them with three new cards. No player may stand pat.
Players may fold during either betting round, unless the forced-play variation in rule 5.2 is being used.
At showdown, the player with the best five-card poker hand wins the hand and scores one leg. Hands rank according to the standard poker hand rankings.
Legs carry over from hand to hand. When a player wins their final required leg, they take the whole pot and the game ends.
The published rules do not say what happens when all but one player folds, or when two players tie for a hand. The dealer shall announce before the game whether a player left alone after the others fold scores a leg, and how a tied hand is treated.
Winning a leg
After the draw, Player A holds Q♠Q♦8♣8♥3♠ (two pair, queens and eights). Player B holds J♣J♥J♠6♦2♣ (three jacks).
Three of a kind beats two pair, so Player B scores a leg. In a game called at three legs, B needs two more wins to take the pot. The pot stays where it is, and everyone antes again.
High-low. Because a game in legs can last a long time, some tables play with high and low pots. The published rules do not set out how legs are scored in this version, so the dealer shall explain it before the deal.
Forced play. Some tables do not allow folding. A player who wants to stay in contention for the pot must play every hand to the showdown.
Wild cards. The dealer may name a wild card before the game begins.
A leg is one hand won. In leg games such as Three Legged Race, you must win a set number of hands, usually two or three, before you collect the pot.
No. Every player must discard exactly three cards and draw three replacements. Standing pat is not allowed.
It stays in the middle. Everyone antes again and another hand is played, until one player reaches the required number of legs and takes the whole pot.
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.
Three Legged Race Rules · OPR-724 · officialpokerrules.com/three-legged-race/