Crazy pineapple poker is one of the most popular up and coming games in many of the most popular online poker and gaming rooms. This version of Texas holdem is a spin-off of its more often played cousin, and provides quite an exciting means for players to add variety to their game play instead of playing the same mundane games over and over again. Crazy pineapple poker allows players to stretch their wings and hone new skills.
Playing crazy pineapple poker is easy once you get the hang of it. The basics of crazy pineapple are not complicated to remember, but practice is the key to becoming a great player (as with all games of poker). Many poker enthusiasts who wish to learn the ropes of crazy pineapple poker do so at home poker games since no poker rooms currently offer it. This is a great way to practice your crazy poker pineapple skills without investing any money in the game until you have the rules and have developed a strong Crazy Pineapple poker strategy.
Initially, each player of crazy pineapple poker is dealt three hole or pocket cards (unlike Texas holdem where players are dealt two cards as hole cards). In a unique twist after the flop in crazy pineapple poker, each player must discard one of these hole or pocket cards (total agony for those holding a really good hand).
Betting in crazy pineapple poker is similar to Texas holdem guidelines for betting in many respects. Just as in holdem games of poker, the two players located to the left of the dealer button are (respectively) the small blind and the large blind. These two players will start out the betting and all others in the hand will follow their suit. The first bets are made before the three pocket cards are deal.
Immediately following the first round of betting, the dealer turns over three community cards facing up. These cards can be used to make up the best five card hand of crazy pineapple poker. The catch with pineapple poker is, however, that one of the hole cards or pocket cards from each player’s hand must be discarded after the flop. That’s the insane part of crazy pineapple poker! Players must have the skill to be able to determine which card they will discard at this point in the game by analyzing not only their own hand but the community cards on the table as well. At the point in crazy pineapple poker where players must choose which card to get rid of, most just take out the least favored card in their hands. It is important for your crazy pineapple poker strategy, however, that you make a well thought out decision (although you are given little time to decide). Again, this is where practice comes into play and the old saying “practice makes perfect” fits just right.
Following the discard, the dealer will flip over the fourth community card known as the turn card. Bets are placed. The final card for the community display is the river card, followed by the final round of bets. The showdown is the final part of the game in crazy pineapple poker, and the best hand consisting of five cards (made up of hole cards or pockets cards and community cards) in any combination wins the game.
