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Italian Poker (Poker all’italiana) is a popular variant of poker. Its history is rooted in the traditional 5 Card Draw format, but with several different features. The game is widely played in Italy and is often simply called “poker” there, while the American version is known as “poker all’americana“. So let’s take a look at how to play Italian Poker.
What You Need To Play Italian Poker
- Objective: Form the best hand and win the pot at the final showdown.
- Number of players: 2-9 players
- Number of cards: A modified 52-card deck, chips or money, and a flat surface
- Rank of cards: A (high or low), K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 (low)
- Type of game: Poker Card Game
- Audience: Adult
Setting Up The Game
- Italian Poker is typically played with 2-9 players.
- The deck is modified depending on the number of players: Subtract the number of players from 11 to determine the lowest rank card included.
- For example, with 5 players, the deck contains cards from 6 (lowest) to Ace (highest), resulting in a 36-card deck.
- Each player antes into the pot before cards are dealt.
- The dealer shuffles and deals 5 cards to each player.
How To Play Italian Poker
First Betting Round
- Starting with the player to the dealer’s left, players can:
- Fold (“passo”): Discard their hand and take no further part.
- Call (“vedo”): Match the current highest bet.
- Raise (“rilancio”): Increase the bet, which other players must match to stay in.
- The first betting round ends when all active players have either called the highest bet or folded.
Draw Round
- Players who have not folded may exchange 0–4 cards.
- If a player wants to exchange four cards, they receive three first, and the fourth after all other exchanges are completed.
- The dealer provides replacement cards from the remaining deck; if the deck runs out, discards are reshuffled and reused.
Second Betting Round
- Another round of betting begins, starting with the player who opened the first round (or the next active player if the opener has folded).
- The same options (fold, call, raise) apply.
Showdown
- All remaining players reveal their hands.
- The player with the highest-ranked hand wins the pot.
Hand Rankings
- Similar to standard poker, but with a unique suit ranking: Hearts (highest), Diamonds, Clubs, Spades (lowest).
- This suit ranking breaks ties between otherwise equal hands.
How To End The Italian Poker
- The game ends after the final betting round and showdown.
- The player with the best hand wins the pot.
- If all other players fold at any point, the remaining player wins the pot immediately.
Strategies To Win Italian Poker
- Know the Modified Deck: Adjust your starting hand selection based on the reduced deck—fewer cards mean certain combinations are more or less likely.
- Observe Suit Rankings: Since suits break ties, holding a high suit (especially Hearts) can be decisive in close hands.
- Betting Tactics: Use raises to pressure opponents, especially if you have a strong hand or want to bluff.
- Pay Attention to Draws: Watch how many cards opponents exchange; players drawing fewer cards often have stronger hands.
- Position Matters: Acting later in the betting round gives you more information about other players’ intentions.
- Adapt to Table Dynamics: Adjust your play based on opponents’ tendencies and the flow of the game.
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