Online Poker » Dealers Choice Games » Pyramid

Pyramid poker is a style of poker that uses three cards. Pyramid is most often played in the home rather than in casinos or online poker rooms because it is a dealer's choice game. Dealer's choice poker allows every player to deal a different variant. It is up to the player to choose a variant for a single hand or for the entire rotation around the table.

Pyramid - Starting the Game

Once all bets have been made, Pyramid may begin. Every player, including the dealer, is dealt three hole cards. Players do not reveal their hole cards before the start of the rotation. Each player should take his or her three cards and arrange them into two separate hands. There should be a 1-card hand and a 2-card hand. The value of the 1-card hand needs to be lower than the 2-card hand value. Once you have arranged your hands accordingly, it is up to the dealer to arrange his or her cards per the house.

To understand how the cards stack up for the dealer, see the information below. The dealer must arrange his or her cards in this way.

When the single is a jack or higher, a pair of aces should be in the 2-card hand; if this isn't possible, one ace is played in the 1-card hand.

When the single is a 10 or higher, a pair of kings should be in the 2-card hand; if this isn't possible, one king is played in the 1-card hand.

When the single is a 9 or higher, a pair of queens should be in the 2-card hand; if this isn't possible, one queen is played in the 1-card hand.

When the single is 8 or higher, a pair of jacks should be in the 2-card hand; if this isn't possible, one jack is played in the 1-card hand.

When the single is 7 or higher, a pair of 10's should be in the 2-card hand; if this isn't possible, one 10 is played in the 1-card hand.

When the single is 6 or higher, a pair of 9's should be in the 2-card hand; if this isn't possible, one 9 is played in the 1-card hand.

Always play pairs of 2's to 8's in your 2-card hand.

Always use the middle card in the lesser hand if you have three singles.

Your 1-card and 2-card hands will both be compared to the dealer's corresponding hands, and the highest hands will win. The dealer gets the house advantage and all copies will go to him or her. If the dealer wins both ways, you lose your bet. If you win one way and lose one way, your bet pushes. If you win both ways, then you win 1 to 1.

Pyramid - What You Should Know

All cards in Pyramid are ranked as they are in standard poker games, but aces always remain high and there are no flushes or straights. A pair will beat any two singles in your 2-card hand. Pyramid poker may be played with a high/low split.