Official Poker Rules BoardDocument OPR-589 · Updated 28 September 2026

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Yukon Hold'em Rules

Yukon Hold'em is played like Texas Hold'em, but the board is split. Instead of one three-card flop, the dealer deals two separate two-card flops, then adds a turn card to each, then deals a single river card. Each player makes a hand from their two hole cards, one of the two three-card sets and the river.

Hole cards: 2 per player
Community cards: 7 (two sets of three, plus the river)
Betting rounds: 4
Wild cards: None
Pot: High only

Article 1Origin, players and objective

1.1

Yukon Hold'em is reported to have originated in Alaska in the 1970s and later spread to the north-western United States and Canada. The report comes from a Wikipedia article that has since been deleted, as noted on pagat.com.

1.2

The game is played with a standard 52-card deck without jokers. Hands are ranked according to the standard poker hand rankings, and the best five-card high hand wins the pot.

1.3

The blinds, the deal of two hole cards, the order of betting, the showdown and all other procedures follow Texas Hold'em. Only the layout of the community cards, and the way they may be used, is different.

Article 2Dealing the board

2.1

After the pre-flop betting round, the dealer deals two separate flops of two cards each, face up, placed apart so that they cannot be confused.

2.2

After the second betting round, the dealer deals two turn cards, one next to each flop. Each flop and its turn card now form a set of three cards.

2.3

After the third betting round, the dealer deals a single river card, which belongs to both sets. A final betting round follows.

Figure 2.1The two sets, each a two-card flop and its turn card, and the single river card that belongs to both; the discs show the order of dealing.

Round	Cards dealt before the round	Cards on the board
Pre-flop	Two hole cards to each player	0
Flop	Two flops of two cards each	4
Turn	One turn card added to each flop	6
River	One river card, shared by both sets	7

2.4

The source does not specify burn cards. Where the group burns a card before each round in the Hold'em manner, the dealer shall do so consistently.

Article 3Showdown

3.1

Each player chooses one of the two sets. Their available cards are their two hole cards, the three cards of that set and the river: six cards in all. The player's hand is the best five of those six.

3.2

A player may not combine cards from the two different sets. Different players may choose different sets.

3.3

Hands are shown and the pot is awarded as in Texas Hold'em. Identical hands split the pot.

Example

One set only

Set A: A♦5♣ with turn 5♥. Set B: 9♠9♣ with turn K♦. River: 4♠.

Player 1 holds A♥9♦. With set A the best hand is two pair, aces and fives, with a 9. With set B it is three nines, 9-9-9-A-K. Player 1 plays set B. The ace of diamonds from set A cannot be added to the nines.

Player 2 holds 5♠5♦. With set A the player has four fives, with the ace as the fifth card.

Four of a kind beats three of a kind, so Player 2 wins the pot.

Article 4Strategy notes

Each player effectively has two separate boards to aim at, so strong hands are more common than in Texas Hold'em.
Draws that need cards from both sets cannot be completed. Count only the cards that could help within a single set.
The river is part of both sets, so it can improve a player's hand on either side of the board.

Other home-game twists on Hold'em include Double Trouble and Egyptian Hold'em. For more layout games, see community card games.

Article 5Frequently asked questions

How many cards can you use in Yukon Hold'em?

Six are available to you: your two hole cards, one three-card set (a flop and its turn card) and the river. Your hand is the best five of those six.

Can you mix cards from both flops in Yukon Hold'em?

No. You must choose one set. Only the river card is shared by both.

How is Yukon Hold'em different from Texas Hold'em?

The betting is the same. The difference is the board: two separate two-card flops, a turn card on each, and a single river, with each player limited to one set.

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.

Yukon Hold'em Rules · OPR-589 · officialpokerrules.com/yukon-holdem/

OPR-589Uncontrolled when printed