Last Hand

Steps to Play

1. All players ante into two separate pots: the 'low' pot (half the stake, e.g., $0.25) and the 'high' pot (the full stake, e.g., $0.50).
2. The dealer performs a random cut of the deck and flips the top card of the cut. The suit of that card becomes trump for this hand. Announce trump to all players.
3. The dealer deals 5 cards face-up to each player. All cards are visible to everyone — there are no hole cards and no decisions to make.
4. Determine the low pot winner: look at all players' face-up cards and find the lowest-ranked trump card at the table. The player holding it wins the low pot. If no player was dealt a trump card, the low pot carries over and is added to the next deal's low pot.
5. Determine the high pot winner: evaluate each player's 5 face-up cards as a standard poker hand. The best 5-card poker hand wins the high pot.
6. Pay out both pots. If playing another hand, collect cards, re-ante, and repeat.

How to Win

Two winners per hand: the player holding the lowest trump card wins the low pot, and the player with the best 5-card poker hand wins the high pot. If no player holds a trump card, the low pot carries over to the next deal. Ties split the respective pot.

Tips & House Rules

• This game is intentionally passive — it's a great way to close out a night without requiring anyone to think too hard.
• The low and high antes are typically set at a 1:2 ratio (e.g., $0.25 low / $0.50 high) to make both pots feel meaningful.
• Because all cards are face-up, there's no bluffing or strategy — just enjoy the suspense of the deal.
• If no one is dealt a trump card (rare but possible), the low pot rolls over and sweetens the next hand.
• Agree before starting whether suits rank when two players tie for the lowest trump card (e.g., spades > hearts > diamonds > clubs as a standard tiebreaker), or simply split the pot.
• This works well as a literal 'last hand' at the end of a session — everyone knows exactly when it's over and walks away clean.