Introduction
If you have ever sat down at a poker table or played a home game with some creative rules, you may have heard the term ‘Roll your own.’ But what exactly does it mean in poker? And do your strategies and gameplay change?
Let’s break down the meaning of “roll your own” in poker and how it differs from traditional stud games. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, understanding this term will give you an edge in your next game.
Objective
The objective of Roll Your Own in poker is to win the pot by having the highest-ranking hand.
What Is Roll Your Own Poker?
Roll your own refers to a type of poker in which you choose which card of your hole cards to turn face up. This differs from traditional stud games, where the dealer automatically deals specific cards face up.
For Example
In a roll-your-own seven-card game, you get several cards dealt face down. On your betting round, you pick one of your cards to turn face up. This adds a strategic layer to the game, as you can deceive your opponent by choosing a card to reveal.
How to Play Roll Your Own Poker?
As mentioned above, roll-your-own poker is a style of playing Seven Card Stud, in which cards are dealt face down. Before the betting round, you analyse your cards and decide which you want to reveal before the betting begins.
- Everyone places an ante, and the dealer deals each active player three cards face down. You can pick which card you want to reveal and then bet.
- The dealer then deals another card face down, and you turn another card in your hand face up.
- You repeat the second step until all the players have a six-card hand, four face-up and two face-down. Then the fourth round of betting begins.
- The dealer deals the 7th card to each player. The final betting round begins, and the remaining players move to the showdown. The player with the highest value five-card hand wins.
Ways to Reveal Cards
- You pick your card and keep it face down, then you reveal your cards simultaneously. The dealer can signal this.
- Another way is you take turns revealing your cards.
Variations of Roll Your Own Poker
Dakota
Dakota is a poker variant in which everyone gets three cards, two face down and two face up. You keep getting one new face-down card and choose one of your face-down cards to turn face-up. This continues until you have six cards, four face-up and two face-down. Before the final card is dealt, you can pay extra to get it face-up. Once the seventh card is dealt, you bet one last time and say whether you are going for the highest, lowest, or both hands.
Mexican Stud
Each player starts with two cards face down, and everyone flips one of those two face-up. Then the betting round begins, and you get a new face-down card and flip one of your face-down cards face up. Keep doing this until you have four cards face-up and 1 card face down.
Mississippi Mud
Here, each player gets seven cards face down. You discard two cards and turn one of the remaining five face up. Then the betting round takes place, and players turn up more cards one at a time. Eventually, everyone has four face-up and one face-down card. You declare if you are playing the high hand, the low hand, or both. The last card is turned face up, and the best high and low hands split the pot.
Pick a Partner
The game is played with an even number of players. Everyone gets five cards face down. Everyone flips one card face up at the same time. The person with the highest upcard picks a partner, and this continues until everyone is paired.
Each pair picks three of their eight hidden cards and combines them with their two upcards to make a five-card poker hand. There are three more betting rounds, during which one of the three hidden cards is revealed. Both partners bet separately, but only one remaining member can win if the other folds. At the end, the best team wins the pot.
Psycho
In Psycho, everyone starts with the five cards face down, and when it comes, you can discard and draw new cards. Afterwards, you choose three cards to show and reveal them all at once. Then, like a 7-card stud, everyone gets a 6th card face up and bets, then a 7th card face up, and the final betting takes place. The player declares high, low, or both, then reveals their cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "roll your own" mean in poker?
Roll your own refers to a type of poker in which you choose which of your hole cards to turn face up.
Conclusion
Roll Your Own in poker offers a rewarding and customisable way to enjoy the classic card game. Choosing the right equipment, setting house rules, and creating a fair environment can elevate a casual poker night into a memorable event.