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By Gary Steele

This game lives up to its name. It is certainly crazy. Crazy Pineapple is a variation of Texas Hold’Em. There are two main differences in the game however, which make it very different and very interesting. Give it a try when you need a change of pace. It is not offered at most poker sites. UltimateBet is one of the few places you can find this unusual game.

If you are just learning to play poker you need to review the one thing every poker game has in common: Hand Ranking. Check out the Poker Hand Rankings to see the strengths in order from best to worst. At the end of each poker hand, the player with the five card combination ranked highest on the Poker Hand Ranking list wins the pot. Crazy Pineapple is also played with a Hi/Lo variation where a qualifying low (any five different cards 8 and below) wins half of the pot.

Basic Description

Crazy Pineapple is played basically the same as Hold’Em. The first major difference is that each player receives Three cards face down to start the hand. After a round of bets by all players, three cards are placed on the table face up (these three cards are called The Flop). Another round of betting then occurs. This is where the second major difference happens. At this point all players still in the hand are required to discard one of their hole cards. After the discard, a fourth card is placed face up on the table (this card is called The Turn). After another round of betting the fifth and final card is placed face up on the table (this card is called The River). After all five community cards are face up on the table, a final round of betting takes place and the players left in the hand show their two face-down cards. The player who has the five card combination of the highest Hand Ranking wins the hand. Like Hold’Em, and unlike Omaha, players do not have to use a set number of cards from their hand to make up their best five card combination.

Betting and the Ante

Betting moves clockwise and always starts with the player to the left of the dealer. Crazy Pineapple has forced bets called Blinds. Before each hand is dealt, the player immediately to the left of the dealer places a bet called the small blind and the player to the left of this player places a larger bet called the big blind. The amount of the blinds is set beforehand and is typically an indicator of the size of the pots at the table. A table with a $5 big blind will produce bigger pots than a table with a $2 big blind. At a $2 table the small blind is usually $1 and the big blind will be $2.

The first round of betting (when all players have three face-down cards) requires a minimum bet equal to at least the amount of the big blind to stay in the hand. The round of betting following The Flop also requires a minimum bet equal to the big blind. The last two rounds of betting (after the 4th and 5th face up cards) require a minimum bet equal to twice the big blind.

If you were involved in a typical hand of Crazy Pineapple poker at a $1 big blind limit table your experience may go something like this:

1. You are dealt Ace, Two Spades and 9 of Hearts face down;
2. Betting starts with the player to the left of the Big Blind and he calls $1;
3. You and two other players after you call the $1 bet, everyone else folds;
4. The flop is placed face up on the table and is 4, 8 of Spades and 9 of Clubs;
5. The player to the left of the dealer bets $1, you call the bet with $1;
6. The other two players fold leaving you and the betting player;
7. You each discard one of your three cards. You discard the 9;
8. The Turn is a 5 of Spades giving you an Ace High Flush;
9. The other player bets $2 (minimum bet now);
10. You raise $2 by putting $4 in the pot, the other player calls $2;
11. The last card is flipped face up (The River) and is a Queen of Clubs;
12. The player to the left of the dealer Checks (bets nothing);
13. You bet $2 and the other player calls it by putting $2 in the pot.

Now the two of you show your facedown cards. Your opponent shows a 6 and 7, giving them a Straight, Five through Nine. You have the best hand with your Flush and win the pot.