Baseball

Steps to Play

1. All players ante an agreed amount into the pot.
2. Dealer gives each player 2 cards face-down (hole cards). Players may look at their own hole cards.
3. First betting round — left of the dealer around the table
4. Deal 1 card face-up to each player (3rd street). Run a betting round. If a player receives a 3 or 9 face-up, they must immediately choose: pay to 'buy' it (with agreed upon cost), or fold ('struck out'). If a player receives a 4 face-up, they immediately receive one additional card face-down.
5. Deal 1 card face-up to each active player (4th street). Run a betting round. Apply the same 3 and 4 rules for any new up-cards.
6. Deal 1 card face-up to each active player (5th street). Run a betting round. Apply the same 3 and 4 rules.
7. Deal 1 card face-up to each active player (6th street). Run a betting round. Apply the same 3 and 4 rules.
8. Deal 1 card face-down to each active player (7th street / river). Players look at this card privately. Final betting round.
9. Showdown: remaining players reveal all cards. Best 5-card hand using any combination of their 7 cards wins the pot. All 3s and 9s that were bought or are hole cards are wild.

How to Win

Best 5-card poker hand (from 7 cards) at showdown wins the pot. With multiple wild cards in play, expect four-of-a-kind or better to win in a full game. Players can also win if all opponents fold or are struck out.

Tips & House Rules

• Wild cards abound — in a full game, you typically need four-of-a-kind or higher to win. Don't overvalue straights and flushes; they rarely hold up.
• When you're dealt an open 3 or 9, quickly assess the current pot size before deciding to buy. If the pot is already large, buying it is a steep commitment — but so is folding a strong hand.
• Hole card 3s and 9s are automatically wild at no cost, making them extremely valuable. A player who receives one early has a big hidden advantage.
• A face-up 4 gives a free extra hole card, which can silently strengthen a player's hand. Watch opponents who get 4s — they may be holding better cards than their visible hand suggests.
• House rule — Night Baseball: an up-card 3 or 9 also requires the player to buy it (either fixed fee up to match pot fee), or fold. This significantly increases pot size and the cost of playing. Agree on this rule before the first deal.
• Related variants: Football (3s and 6s wild, extra card on a 2) and Woolworth (5s and 10s wild).