Crazy pineapple poker was aptly named – because the game certainly has some crazy aspects to it. Crazy pineapple poker can be described as a variation of the classic and popular Texas Holdem, although there are major differences between the two. Crazy pineapple poker is quite exciting to play, and provides a new twist on a somewhat tired poker game and allows for a nice and refreshing change of pace. Crazy pineapple poker can be played in its original version, or as a hi-lo variation in which a qualifying low hand containing five cards that are the eight card or below will take half of the winning pot. Our Crazy Pineapple poker strategy article was written by one of the world's leading players.
To play crazy pineapple poker, you basically need to know how to play Texas Holdem. The big difference between Texas Holdem and crazy pineapple poker is that each player in crazy pineapple poker receives three facedown pocket cards to begin with. All players go through a round of initial betting.
Next, three cards are placed face up on the table to make the community cards. In crazy pineapple poker, these cards are also known as the flop cards. A second round of betting commences. At this point in the game of crazy pineapple poker, players will see a major difference between a traditional Texas Holdem game because after the second round of betting, each player must discard one of their pocket cards.
A fourth community card is placed on the table in a face up position. This card is called the turn card. A third round of betting commences. A final card (the fifth community card) is now placed on the table in a face up position. This fifth and final card is known as the river card. A fourth and final round of betting commences.
After final betting, players who are left standing show their remaining two face down pocket cards. The player with the best five card combination using his or her pocket or hole cards and the community cards will win the pot. Players can use any combination and number of cards to make their best hand from both the community cards and the pocket cards that they hold.
In crazy pineapple poker, betting always begins with the player to the immediate left of the dealer, dealer chip, or dealer button.
Forced bets in crazy pineapple poker are called blinds. As with most poker games, before each hand of crazy pineapple poker is dealt, the player to the left of the dealer or dealer button will place a bet called the small blind. The player to the left of the small blind player will place a bet called the big blind. Amounts for bets for the small and big blinds are set by the limits of the game. For instance, in a game of $3/$6, the small blind would bet $3 and the big blind would bet $6.
The first round of betting in crazy pineapple poker requires that a bet that is at least equal to the amount of the big blind be made in order to stay in the game. The flop round of betting in crazy pineapple poker also require a bet equal to the big blind to continue. The final two rounds of betting in crazy pineapple poker require that bets be twice the big blind. In our game of $3/$6, the bet to stay in during the final two rounds would be $12.