Pineapple and Crazy Pineapple

Pineapple Rules

If you already know how to play Texas Hold \"em In Pineapple Poker, there's an interesting variation: players receive three hole cards instead of the usual two. After examining their cards, each participant discards one before the initial betting round begins. If you're not familiar with the rules of Texas Hold 'Em, a complete explanation follows.

1. Each participant is given THREE hole cards dealt face down.
2. Players must discard one of their three cards. Following this action, the game proceeds just like Texas Hold 'Em.
3. First round of betting.
4. The dealer will burn one card from the deck and then present three community cards face up, referred to as the 'flop.'
5. There is a second round of betting.
6. After burning another card, the dealer will deal a fourth community card, known as the 'turn.'
7. There is a third round of betting.
8. The dealer will burn yet another card and reveal the fifth and last community card, commonly called the 'river.'
9. A final betting round occurs at this stage of the game.
10. The victor is determined by identifying which player has the strongest five-card hand, constructed from any combination of their two hole cards and the five community cards available.

Crazy Pineapple Rules

If you already know how to play Texas Hold'em In Pineapple Poker, there's this unique twist: players are dealt three hole cards instead of the standard two. Right after the flop is revealed, each player discards one card. For those unfamiliar, the full guidelines for Crazy Pineapple can be found here.

The distinction between Pineapple and Crazy Pineapple lies in the timing of the discard; in Pineapple, it's immediate, while in Crazy Pineapple, it occurs following the flop and prior to the second betting round.

1. Each participant is given THREE hole cards dealt face down.
2. First round of betting.
3. The dealer will burn one card from the deck and then present three community cards face up, referred to as the 'flop.'
4. Players must discard one of their three cards. Following this action, the game proceeds just like Texas Hold 'Em.
5. There is a second round of betting.
6. After burning another card, the dealer will deal a fourth community card, known as the 'turn.'
7. There is a third round of betting.
8. The dealer will burn yet another card and reveal the fifth and last community card, commonly called the 'river.'
9. A final betting round occurs at this stage of the game.
10. The victor is determined by identifying which player has the strongest five-card hand, constructed from any combination of their two hole cards and the five community cards available.

Video

Enjoy this video where I aim to clarify the rules surrounding Pineapple and Crazy Pineapple Poker.

General Rules to Betting

The betting rules outlined here are widely applicable to many poker variants.

1. In most poker games, players who act later in a round enjoy a strategic advantage. To ensure fairness, a designated 'dealer' position rotates clockwise around the table after each hand.
2. The identity of the dealer isn't crucial; what matters is that the player holding the dealer position has the benefit of acting last during that round.
3. The player seated immediately left of the dealer position is the first to act, and the action continues clockwise around the table.
4. Typically, there are mandatory bets known as blinds in the initial betting round. These are fixed amounts, for instance, a small blind of $1 and a big blind of $3. The player to the dealer's left places the small blind, while the next player to their left places the big blind. All other players have the option to fold if they choose.
5. If a player chooses to raise, any subsequent raises need to be at least equal to the last raise amount. For example, if player A raises by $10, player B must raise at least $20 to re-raise.

Betting Limit Terminology

• In structured betting, the raises are limited to specified amounts. Usually, there are two set figures, one for the early betting rounds and the other for the later ones. For example, in a $5/$10 game, the early rounds require raises to be exactly $5, while the later rounds require $10 raises. In a game featuring four betting rounds, like Texas Hold 'Em, the first two rounds go by the lower amount and the final two by the higher amount. The small blind will correspond to the lower figure.
• In pot limit games, there are minimum raise criteria similar to structured games. However, a maximum raise is determined by the total amount in the pot before the raise occurs. For instance, if we are playing a $5/$10 game with $80 in the pot, during the initial rounds, the minimum raise would be $5 while the maximum would be $80.
• In no limit games, while there are still minimum raise requirements like those in structured formats, there is no cap on how much can be raised, except for the total chip count of all opponents involved in that game.

Poker Etiquette

1. One of the most significant breaches of poker etiquette is committing a string bet. Proper betting actions should be executed in a single, clear motion. Adding to an existing bet or making a bet that doesn't match a previous declaration constitutes a string bet.
2. If you intend to raise, it's important to declare this intention before taking action.
3. Your declared action should consist of a single verb; for example, you could say, 'I bet $20' or 'I raise $10.' If you announce something like, 'I call and raise,' only the first verb you mentioned will be valid, meaning you will just call.
4. Check raising is permissible and has become an accepted strategy. This tactic involves checking and then making a re-raise in the same betting round. While it was once viewed as bad form in some circles, it's now seen as a strategic move to deter late-position players from stealing the pot after a round of checking.

Written by: Michael Shackleford