Essential Terminology &mdash; House Rules

These terms are used throughout game descriptions. Familiarize yourself with these terms before playing.

Called Hand	The declared value of a hand, which becomes binding after another player calls. Before anyone else calls, a player may correct an under-call; after that, the call stands. Over-calls must be corrected down to the best hand the player can actually show (or a lower hand they declare).
Wild Bug	A wild card restricted to being unique in your hand. Five aces are impossible with a wild bug.
First / Last Call	First call is the first agreed time players may remove money. Last call is the agreed ending time for the session. Funds stay at risk between calls.
Misdeal	A dealing error requiring cards to be gathered and re-dealt. May be player’s choice if they receive a correct card dealt in the wrong manner.
Knock Game	Similar to Gin Rummy. Players draw cards until one ‘knocks’ to indicate their best hand. Others take one more card or fold.
Piles	Markers representing chances to win. Players lose a pile each time they lose a hand. Last player with piles wins.
No Peek	Players cannot look at any cards until specifically allowed by the game rules.
Force Flip	A mandatory card reveal at a specified point in the game.
Commander	The player with the highest showing hand who can decide whether to continue or force a re-deal.
Kitty	An extra hand dealt that players compete against or that affects the game outcome.
Spit	A community card turned face up in the middle that belongs to everyone. In most games the spit card’s rank is wild.
Roll / Left-to-Right	A showdown method: players arrange their cards in any order face down, then all flip one card at a time together, betting after each.
Runt	A hand with nothing in it — no pair, straight or flush. The highest single card plays.
Pass-out	Checking is not allowed. On your turn you must bet or fold.
Hole Card	Any card dealt face down that only you can see.
Community Card	A card dealt to the middle that every player may use in their hand.
Substitution / Buy	Paying a stated price to trade a card, take an extra card or replace part of your hand. The dealer sets the price when calling the game.
Showdown	The point at which remaining players call and reveal their hands.

Two Ways to Show a Hand

Left-to-Right (“Roll”)

Every player arranges their five cards in any order they like, face down. On the count, all players flip their leftmost card at the same time — then bet. Repeat until all five cards are face up.

Used by: Anaconda · Pass the Garbage · Keep the Garbage · Henway · Shotgun · Left to Right

Bet 1 — 1 card face up

Bet 2 — 2 cards face up

Bet 3 — 3 cards face up

Bet 4 — 4 cards face up

Bet 5 — all five cards face up

Two Ways to Show a Hand

No Peek

Cards are dealt face down and nobody may look. The player to the dealer’s left flips one card and bets. Each player after them keeps flipping until their showing cards beat every hand already exposed — or they run out of cards and fold.

Looking early costs you the hand and everything you put in the pot.