i posted about this in the tournament and cash game thread with little response. I'm really interested in giving this a try. Please vote for your favorite or add your own ideas in thread. I did find some of these online. Some were my ideas.
Super power poker (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Aaron
- Start date
Wils
Flush
I've voted. I can see where BGinGA is coming from - I wouldn't want any of those options during a normal game, but I think they'd be fun to mix things up every once in a while. Maybe a quick, very casual game amongst friends played for low stakes, with maybe the added provisos that 1) those powers don't come into effect until a certain time or criteria has been met (someone's had quads, or in the first hour or sumfink) and 2) when they're used, the bets are limited in some way (I wouldn't want to lose my hard-earned stack just because some berk's pulled a superpower on me).
bentax1978
4 of a Kind
I'm with @BGinGA on this one as I wouldn't choose to play in a game with any of those rules. The only rule I wouldn't specifically object to is rule #5 where you can double the blinds before the first card is dealt. I suppose rule #8 would have a pretty minimal effect on the game too. All of the other rules, however, affect the hand once it's underway and (IMO) have too large an impact on the integrity of the game.
DrStrange
4 of a Kind
Pfff - anyone who plays in three-ring-circus games should welcome a game like this with open arms.
I think I idea is everyone getting 3. Each layer doesn't have a bag full of magic tricks. It adds a level of strategy. Check out dnegs blog
http://danielnegreanu.com/category/blog/
http://danielnegreanu.com/category/blog/
Yes. The three cards used in the tournament Negraneau describes seem less disruptive than the ones listed above. I wouldn't one playing in a tournament with those cards.
Poker Zombie
Royal Flush
Some of them felt a little too powerful "all players must show" is awful strong. One player must show is reasonable. Others felt extremely weak - double double is going to have little effect unless you're picking on some short stacks, which could be mimicked by declaring a raise in the dark before the deal for free.
Also, "Make the game fun again" is just messed up. You are declaring that the game isn't fun. I don't know your game, but I love mine. It's a barrel of fun. People drive literally for hours to get to the game that is so much fun. Holdem is the world's most popular form of poker. If you're convinced that it isn't fun, you must be doing something wrong.
Little tweaks could be fun too, but if your game lacks fun, you aren't going to fix it by declaring opponents can only check or call.
Also, "Make the game fun again" is just messed up. You are declaring that the game isn't fun. I don't know your game, but I love mine. It's a barrel of fun. People drive literally for hours to get to the game that is so much fun. Holdem is the world's most popular form of poker. If you're convinced that it isn't fun, you must be doing something wrong.
Little tweaks could be fun too, but if your game lacks fun, you aren't going to fix it by declaring opponents can only check or call.
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Psypher1000
Straight Flush
My idea is, "Stick to the poker, and play Hocus instead."
http://hyperbolegames.com/games
Hocus is a game designed by Grant Rodiek and published by Hyperbole games that takes this concept to heart. Every player has multiple pockets. Each round runs it either two or three times. Each "run" has it's own pot. All pots are secret. Each player has three standard actions they can perform each round, as well as at least two actions specific to them.
It's poker-ish, but it's more board/card game than "poker". And it's great...I love it! It was designed, however, to specifically *not* be poker, by someone who was forced to play poker and wanted something different. And that's what I feel that the "super powers" do to poker - they turn it into something different.
In short, I love poker, and I love Hocus. One focuses on the game, one focuses on the gambol, and both are very different experiences from the other. If I add in super powers, by default, I'm no longer playing poker. There's nothing wrong with that at all...I'm just not wagering on it & calling it poker if I employ or invoke them. Chances are I'm also not playing Hocus with my poker buddies, nor playing poker with my gaming friends. By and large, I've found these to be two very different crowds (save for the common crossover of high-level M:TG players).
Psypher1000
Straight Flush
Poker's a big deal for their family. All the kids start to learn while they are in single-digit years, and the family has an annual tourney at Thanksgiving which, apparently, you don't get to say no to. His dislike for the game motivated him to design Hocus in order to "fix" some of the aspects he doesn't like.
Adam Crowley
Two Pair
I wouldn't play a tournament that had these rules but I would play in a bunch of turbo SNGs.
For it to be tournament rules each power would need to be balanced vs the other powers or there should be counter powers available as well. There would need to be a really balanced and strong strategic focus to the rules surrounding the use of powers before I would consider this suitable for tournament play.
For cash games I think it would work fine as is, but I think I would prefer it to be run more like a kill game or fantasy land. Where there is a requirement such as won x amount of hands in a row or won with a full house or better brings a power into play
For it to be tournament rules each power would need to be balanced vs the other powers or there should be counter powers available as well. There would need to be a really balanced and strong strategic focus to the rules surrounding the use of powers before I would consider this suitable for tournament play.
For cash games I think it would work fine as is, but I think I would prefer it to be run more like a kill game or fantasy land. Where there is a requirement such as won x amount of hands in a row or won with a full house or better brings a power into play
The "powers" list above are just ideas. I agree there should be balance. Grinding poker can be boring at times. Anyone that says otherwise hasn't played long. I also believe playing to make money is one thing, but playing to have fun and be social is another.
Even if it's fun for you or me it doesn't mean it's fun for our wives or love ones. I think this would be a "fun" idea to make the game a little more interesting for the people that don't enjoy the grind.
Again the ideas above are just that ideas. Please feel free to come up with your own and share here.
Even if it's fun for you or me it doesn't mean it's fun for our wives or love ones. I think this would be a "fun" idea to make the game a little more interesting for the people that don't enjoy the grind.
Again the ideas above are just that ideas. Please feel free to come up with your own and share here.
Adam Crowley
Two Pair
I think the "boring" part of the grind is what makes poker fun. If you want more action teach people Omaha.
That's not to say you couldn't incorporate rules into some game but I would enjoy having some sort of super round like fantasy land. One or two rules in play for one hand due to some sort of unusual run good. The rules should give the player a reasonable advantage but should also allow other players in the hand a chance to win a bigger pot.
That's not to say you couldn't incorporate rules into some game but I would enjoy having some sort of super round like fantasy land. One or two rules in play for one hand due to some sort of unusual run good. The rules should give the player a reasonable advantage but should also allow other players in the hand a chance to win a bigger pot.
acl1904
Straight
We rarely play tournaments but we do occasionally play a single table tourney. We came up with something to try and mix up Texas hold'em.
Here's what we did. We added one of the "joker" cards to the deck, so we played with 53 cards.
If the joker is dealt as a hole card it pairs your other hole card and can be used to complete a straight and/or flush, but only if you also use your other hole card. It can't be the higher end of the straight or flush either.
If the joker is dealt on the board, it can also be used to complete a straight and/or flush and it can also be considered an ace.
Everyone was hesitant and hated it at first, but it really added a dynamic to the game.
Here's what we did. We added one of the "joker" cards to the deck, so we played with 53 cards.
If the joker is dealt as a hole card it pairs your other hole card and can be used to complete a straight and/or flush, but only if you also use your other hole card. It can't be the higher end of the straight or flush either.
If the joker is dealt on the board, it can also be used to complete a straight and/or flush and it can also be considered an ace.
Everyone was hesitant and hated it at first, but it really added a dynamic to the game.
Poker Zombie
Royal Flush
When we host celebrity poker tournaments for charity, we add 3 jokers into the deck. The jokers are wild, but their value isn't determined by the player - it's determined by the audience who donate to the prize pool to determine who gets to select the card's value.
It's always fun seeing someone trying to decide if the wild card in their hand is an ace or a deuce. Not sure how this would play out for a family home game though.
As for Adam's "Fantasy land" idea, I think this would be good if it were the opposite. Getting sucked out on or losing X big blinds in 2 hands would activate your super power (think the Hulk). Idea needs a lot more refinement and rules lawyering before I'd put money behind it, even for a friendly family game. Then again, I suspect my family is far more competitive than most.
It's always fun seeing someone trying to decide if the wild card in their hand is an ace or a deuce. Not sure how this would play out for a family home game though.
As for Adam's "Fantasy land" idea, I think this would be good if it were the opposite. Getting sucked out on or losing X big blinds in 2 hands would activate your super power (think the Hulk). Idea needs a lot more refinement and rules lawyering before I'd put money behind it, even for a friendly family game. Then again, I suspect my family is far more competitive than most.
Poker Zombie
Royal Flush
I should also mention that the wild card's value isn't determined until after it's been tabled - so on a flop it's value is determined right away, but in your hand it's an unknown.
Well, for starters, I still think that poker is fun as-is - regardless of the variant -- and doesn't get better or 'more fun' with any of "improvements" suggested above.
However, we do run an occasional "Holiday Fun Tournament" -- a $5 entry T5000 fun-fest filled with all sorts of stupid fun rules:
It's a fun diversion, but it's not poker. And it's certainly not something I'd like to do more than once per year.
Poker Zombie
Royal Flush
Played a version of @Psypher1000 's "Hocus" yesterday Heads Up with Mrs Zombie:
The idea is to build two 5-card community boards (anyone can contribute), and 2 sets of 2-card "pockets" (only you may contribute to your pockets).
Deal 10 cards to each player. On your turn, you may do one of the following:
Scoring: Each board is scored independently. You may use either set of your pocket cards to score either board, and you may use the same pocket for both boards. the player with the highest hand on a board scores points, the other player scores zero. Points are awarded by the strength of the hand.
High Card 1 pt
One Pair 2 pts
Two Pair 3 pts
Three of a Kind 4 pts
Straight 5 pts
Flush 6 pts
Full House 7 pts
Four of a Kind 8 pts
Straight Flush 9 pts
Royal Flush 10 pts
At the end of a round, the player that has the fewest chips plays first the next round. I could also see just rotating the deal though - this needs more play-testing.
We played to 25 points, declared a winner and then played again. A game to 25 took about 30 minutes, but I'm sure it would go much faster with experience. I could also see playing for cash at 25 cents (or whatever) per point, but while working out bugs we weren't going to risk anything.
The game has a puzzle feel to it, much like Open-face Chinese poker. There is a bit more actual strategy and player interaction in Hocus than there is in OFCP, as plays either player makes into the community actually affects their opponent.
If anyone else wants to give this a try, let me know how it works for you. I'd be interested in any feedback. In particular from OFCP players (@courage , @bentax1978 , @jbutler , @H|Q , @Ronoh , @inca911 , @mooremo , @ChaosRock , @SixSpeedFury , @thorwilliam , @Gear , @CraigT78 , @Chippy McChiperson , @TheChipVault @Mrs Poker Zombie )
The idea is to build two 5-card community boards (anyone can contribute), and 2 sets of 2-card "pockets" (only you may contribute to your pockets).
Deal 10 cards to each player. On your turn, you may do one of the following:
- Play 1 card face-up into either Community board, or
- Play 1 card face down into either one of your two pockets, or
- Play 1 card face up into the discard pile and draw 3 new cards. The first player to act in a round may discard any card as their first action. after the first play of the game, the discarded card must be the same suit or the same rank of the last card played. If the last card played was played into a pocket (face down) this option is not available.
Scoring: Each board is scored independently. You may use either set of your pocket cards to score either board, and you may use the same pocket for both boards. the player with the highest hand on a board scores points, the other player scores zero. Points are awarded by the strength of the hand.
High Card 1 pt
One Pair 2 pts
Two Pair 3 pts
Three of a Kind 4 pts
Straight 5 pts
Flush 6 pts
Full House 7 pts
Four of a Kind 8 pts
Straight Flush 9 pts
Royal Flush 10 pts
At the end of a round, the player that has the fewest chips plays first the next round. I could also see just rotating the deal though - this needs more play-testing.
We played to 25 points, declared a winner and then played again. A game to 25 took about 30 minutes, but I'm sure it would go much faster with experience. I could also see playing for cash at 25 cents (or whatever) per point, but while working out bugs we weren't going to risk anything.
The game has a puzzle feel to it, much like Open-face Chinese poker. There is a bit more actual strategy and player interaction in Hocus than there is in OFCP, as plays either player makes into the community actually affects their opponent.
If anyone else wants to give this a try, let me know how it works for you. I'd be interested in any feedback. In particular from OFCP players (@courage , @bentax1978 , @jbutler , @H|Q , @Ronoh , @inca911 , @mooremo , @ChaosRock , @SixSpeedFury , @thorwilliam , @Gear , @CraigT78 , @Chippy McChiperson , @TheChipVault @Mrs Poker Zombie )
Psypher1000
Straight Flush
That take seems just a mite harsh.
It seems to me that what we're saying is, if poker or some casino/circus variety thereof stops being fun, then we'd rather just stop playing for a while & start drinking - or play a different game, or read a book, or watch a movie, or [fill in the blank] - rather than change poker into something else. We simply largely prefer to keep our poker, poker - or at least some circus variety thereof.
I respect that. I guess I'm just surprised. I'm interested in all games and creating a strategy to beat those games. I may not like this variation myself but I'd try.
The first three choices don't add a level of strategy. Basically, they play to luck.
No. 4 interferes with a particular playing style.
No. 5... Why not just impose a mandatory straddle? Or a button straddle?
Really don't like No. 6. No offense.
No. 7. Fine, if everyone agrees.
Not sure how chip and a chair idea makes poker more enjoyable. What is a person going to do with one big blind?? Why not have all of the players donate one BB to the player who busted out?
This post wasn't intended for me to find a way for it to be fun. I'd be hard press to name a game I haven't played minus a few obscure games. The "fun" comment is being drastically over exaggerated.
Timeline-see dnegs blog-read-think it sounds fun- google- find other "powers"- post here to share- most dislike the idea- ok with that- moving on.
@Mojo1312 no offense taken. #6 (seems you like the least) is a 1 time deal. Someone wouldn't have that "power" for the whole game. Actually they are all 1 time usage. I just said all because selecting who shows could create arguments.
As far as the others A) tournaments don't have straddles normally. B) I think they all add strategies as to when to use them.
I do appreciate your feedback. Thank you.
Timeline-see dnegs blog-read-think it sounds fun- google- find other "powers"- post here to share- most dislike the idea- ok with that- moving on.
@Mojo1312 no offense taken. #6 (seems you like the least) is a 1 time deal. Someone wouldn't have that "power" for the whole game. Actually they are all 1 time usage. I just said all because selecting who shows could create arguments.
As far as the others A) tournaments don't have straddles normally. B) I think they all add strategies as to when to use them.
I do appreciate your feedback. Thank you.
This feels very similar to what I suggested in OP. Merry Christmas.However, we do run an occasional "Holiday Fun Tournament" -- a $5 entry T5000 fun-fest filled with all sorts of stupid fun rules:
It's a fun diversion, but it's not poker. And it's certainly not something I'd like to do more than once per year.
detroitdad
Royal Flush
I did a PLO tourney last year that was a big hit. You get a Double Board Token. You can play this token on any hand that you want pre flop and when the action is on you.
This was an unlimited rebuy tourney. With every rebuy came another double board token. After you used your double board token you could then purchase another double board token (that money went into the prize pool).
Lots of fun!!! A thread on it somewhere around here.
This was an unlimited rebuy tourney. With every rebuy came another double board token. After you used your double board token you could then purchase another double board token (that money went into the prize pool).
Lots of fun!!! A thread on it somewhere around here.
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