Dealer's Choice Poker Game Variation - Auction

Auction is a version of five card stud that is best played with 4 to 6 players but can be played with any number between 2 and 9.  The game starts with and ante and the dealer dealing each player five cards.  Then the dealer places five cards face down in the middle of the table flipping the first one over. 

The player left of the dealer has the option of “bidding” for the card if they feel it will improve their hand.  They can pass once and still have the opportunity to bid later but once they pass twice they lose the opportunity.  Play continues around the table with anyone who is interested in the card bidding higher than the player before if they still want the card.  Eventually there will come to a point where no one is willing to outbid the player and they may take the card, they replace it a card from their hand.  Play continues the same way until a card is reached that no one bids on.  Then the next card is flipped.  Eventually all five cards on the table will have been passed on and each player has a five card hand.  There will generally be a good sized pot at this time. 

Betting occurs just like in regular five card stud, and all players who stay in until the end flip their hands and the best poker hand wins.  This is a fun, action game that can create some huge pots.  We almost always have a few hands of this in our dealer’s choice games.  If you want even more action, declaring a wild card will make for some crazy bidding.  My preference when having a wild card is either declaring “choose your own wild” or lowest card in your hand is wild.  That way you don’t (for instance) have everyone going crazy bidding on the 2’s.  Another variation is adding a high hand low hand split or a low Chicago (low spade) split.  This will often keep more players interested in the hand until the end.