Nickel and Diming the Fun in Poker Without Going Broke

Maybe you don't like playing Texas Holdem or Blackjack. Nickel and Dime Poker is not just one poker game but many variations of a poker game. In another article I talked about one such variation called Bingo Poker and promised that I would talk more about Nickel and Dime poker in an up coming article. This is that Article and one I hope will give you hours of fun and loads of change in your pockets.

With the popularity of Texas Holdem, Blackjack and Omaha poker many aspiring poker players dream of winning a major tour. But playing in those big tours may not be for you - the weekend poker player. Also with the cost of living today and the job market not everyone can afford the buy-in for most of those tours. So what are you to do if you enjoy the game of poker and have limited funds?

Nickel and Dime Poker is both a fun variation and cheaper form of playing. Generally there is no all-ins and the antes are normally between five cents to twenty five cents. The only thing you need to play Nickel and Dime Poker is some loose change, a deck of cards and a few good friends.

As mentioned above one variation of Nickel and Dime poker is Bingo poker. What I like about Nickel and Dime poker is there is no limit on the different types of variations. I hope you can find a few on this list that will suit your likes.

1. Spit in the Ocean (also known as Split in the Ocean) - Each player receives four cards and one card is placed in the middle of the table face down. The middle card is a wild card and all players will share it at the end to make the best possible hand. Antes are placed and betting begins with left of dealer. After the first round of betting each player can then discard from one to all of their cards. Their discarded cards are then placed in front of them face down. After each player receives their replacement cards betting starts again left of dealer. After this round of betting the discarded cards and the middle card is turned face up. If any player has discarded a card that matches the middle wild card they have to pay the ante again before further action is taken. After the middle card is revealed the last round of betting begins; then winning hand is revealed.

1. Buckets (this is one of my favorite variations) - each player places antes and then three cards are dealt face down to each player. There is no betting here. The object of this variation of Nickel and dime is to take all three tricks (ace high) and win the pot. If a player fails to take a trick they have to re-ante. If the player takes a trick the do not have to re-ante. Pot is left in the middle until someone takes all three tricks. As you can tell the pot could get quite large by the time someone actually wins.

1. Follow the Queen - The queen is wild and which ever card is next turned up. Each player receives two down cards and all the other cards are turned up for each player. As the cards are turned up the highest card bets first. Play and betting continues until the seventh card is turned up for each player. Best poker hand wins. If during play a player gets a queen the card that the next player receives is wild. Who ever holds a queen or that following card in their hands (up cards or down cards) has a wild. However if on the following round of cards another queen is turned up, the following card is wild and the previous wild card is nullified (unless it's an identical).

1. One in the Middle - Each player gets four cards. Three cards are dealt face down in front of the dealer. A round of betting starting from the left of dealer. Once all betting is done for this round one of the two outer down cards is turned face up. Another round of betting and then the other outer card is turned up. Once again a round of betting with the middle card being turned up and final round of betting. Best poker hand wins using any combination of cards in the players hand with any combination of the three table cards. The middle table card is wild.

1. Texas Holdem draw - Played just like Texas Holdem but each player after the turn card is revealed and betting is complete has the option of discarding one of or both of their cards.

1. Seven Card No Peak hi/low - Before the deal a low suit is picked. Each player receives two down cards. Left of dealer starts the betting round. After the each betting round each player gets another card turned face up in front of them. Play continues with more betting and more cards until each player has four cards up on the table. On the last card each player can choose to have it dealt face down or face up. However if they choose to have it dealt face down they must pay the ante again. After the last card is dealt betting continues one last time. Highest hand wins pot, but whoever holds the lowest card in their hand cards of the low suit wins half of the pot.

1. Queens Death - Like the above game Queen and Follow the Queen. However the variation here is if the Queen of Spades is turned up everyone loses and must re-ante into the pot. Game continues with next player dealing until someone wins the pot.

1. Pick Your Wild - This variation is seven card no peak but before starting each player callout what card number will be their wild card (any number of players can have the pick the same number for their wild card). After wild cards have been picked each player is dealt seven cards face down. Player to the left of dealer starts by turning over their first card. The next player must beat that card by turning over a higher card or by getting a pair or better. After each person turns over a card they can bet. Player with the best poker hand wins (including wild card if they turned over their called card number).

Nickel and Dime poker can be a fun way to enjoy a form of gambling without the burden of spending more then you can afford. These games are sure to give you and your family and friends hours of entertainment. If you think you have better variations then try it out, that's one of the fun aspects of Nickel and Dime poker - you don't have to play normal poker games. Hope you will get as must fun with these as I have sharing them with you.