There are two classic variants of Guts poker: 3 card Guts and 2 card Guts. Besides, there are a lot of games that have Guts structure and can be called Guts poker games. At this page we will describe 3 card Guts as the most representative variation. 2 card Guts is played the same way, but players get only two cards instead of three.
In 3 card Guts poker players receive three cards, which means that only high-card, a pair or three of a kind are possible legal hands in 3 card Guts poker. Some 3 card Guts poker variations allow three card straights and three card flushes, but in the classical version these hands are not legal. The main stipulation of all Guts poker games is that players declare In or Out at some stage before the showdown and those who declare In, but lose match the pot.
Classical 3 card Guts poker game proceeds as follows:
- All players place antes. This is done only in the very first round or each time someone empties the pot, unless it is specified differently by the rules of the certain game. The size of the ante is normally equal to the table stake.
- Each player is dealt three face-down cards.
- Players declare In or Out. In means staying in the game and Out is equal to folding.
- Players who declare In reveal their cards and compare them.
- The player with the highest hand wins the pot, while all other players who have declared In but lost match the pot. If only one player declares In, he empties the pot and players must re-ante to start a new game.
In some Guts poker variations the rule of matching the pot may vary. Sometimes only the player with the lowest hand matches the pot or all In players match the pot, and the player with the lowest hand matches the pot twice. There also can be limits for the maximum amount a player can lose or win in one round, and finally, all players may be obliged to re-ante in the beginning of each new round.
