RED DOG

ALTHOUGH in Red Dog, or High-card Pool, players stake on their cards, it is usually accepted as a party game, rather than a banking card game, because the players stake against a pool and not against a banker.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS

Any number up to ten may play.

CARDS

The full pack of 52 is used, cards ranking from Ace (high) to 2 (low).

THE PLAY

The players contribute to the pool an agreed number of units, and each player is dealt five cards (only four cards if nine or ten players are in the game).

Beginning with the poker player on the left of the dealer, each in turn stakes a minimum of one unit and a maximum that must not exceed the number of units in the pool, that he holds a card that is higher than, and in the same suit as, the top card of the stock when it is his turn to play.

The dealer faces the top card of the stock. If the player can beat it, he shows his card and is paid out of the pool. His remaining cards are not seen. If he cannot beat it, his stake is added to the pool and his cards are shown to the other players.

If any time a player’s winning bet takes everything in the pool, a new pool is started.