How to Play Crazy Pineapple

Crazy Pineapple is a unique variation of the world’s most popular poker game, Texas Hold’em. While the betting and rules are basically the same, you will notice the differences in Crazy Pineapple immediately. For starters, you are dealt 3 down cards instead of the normal 2 you would receive in Texas Hold’em. Once the hole cards are dealt, there is a round of betting. Once the initial round of betting has been completed, 3 community cards** are placed in the middle of the table. These cards are called “the flop”. Next, there is a round of betting. After this round of betting each player must discard one of their hole cards. From here the game turns into a standard Texas Hold’em game. Another community card (the turn) is revealed, followed by a round of betting. Lastly, a final community card is dealt and a final round of betting takes place. Any players still left in the hand turn over their cards and attempt to make their best possible 5 card poker hand using any combination of their down cards and the 5 community cards in the middle of the table.

The player who assembles the best 5 card hand wins the pot. In the event two or more players assemble the same valued hand, the pot is divided equally amongst the winners.

Thoughts on Crazy Pineapple

This is a great game for players who love big action and strong hands. Since you see more cards to start, you will be able to play more hands overall. You will find the hands you can make are much stronger than those made in Texas Hold’em or Omaha. Remember, your hands are much stronger, but so are everyone else’s hands. Keep this in mind and be sure not to over bet your hands. All in all, Crazy Pineapple is a lot of fun. It is a great twist on a traditional poker game.

Crazy Pineapple Gameplay Review

• The dealer deals each player 3 down cards.
• 1st round of betting.
• The dealer burns** a card and deals the flop.
• 2nd round of betting
• Each player must discard 1 of their hole cards.
• Another card is burned and a fourth community card “the turn” is dealt.
• 3rd round of betting.
• A last card is burned and the final community card or “river” is dealt.
• The last round of betting.
• All remaining players participate in a showdown. Each player makes their best 5 card poker hand. The person who initiated the last round of betting shows his/her cards first.

Crazy Pineapple 5 card hands may contain any combination of the following.

A. Both of the player’s hole cards along with any three cards from the community board.
B. One of the player’s hole cards along with any four cards from the community board.
C. None of the player’s hole cards and all five cards from the community board.

General Rules

• In the event that the first hole card dealt is revealed to all players, the dealer must reshuffle and deal again.
• If any other hole card is revealed during the initial deal, that card is taken by the dealer and replaced with an seen card. The revealed card then becomes the burn card for the flop.
• Each player is responsible for protecting their hole cards by either placing a marker on top of them or making it clear they are still in play. In the event that a player’s hole cards are not marked and are taken by the dealer, the player is out of the hand.
• If there is any error in the dealing of the flop it must be reshuffled and re-dealt.
• Whenever a dealer turns a board card before a betting round is finished, it must be removed from play for that round.
• A player who decides to play the board must declare so before throwing his/her cards away. If they do not openly declare that they are playing the board, their hand is forfeited.
• When a player reveals his hole cards he must not allow them to touch any of the board cards. If they become mixed with the board cards (even if it is possible to distinguish and remove them), the player’s hand is forfeited.

**Crazy Pineapple Definitions.

Community Cards: Cards shared by all the players in a hand.
Burn Card: Card taken from the top of the deck before dealing the next community card.