Pickem Poker Rules

Last reviewed: October 9, 2026

Eight cards on screen, five cards in the final hand

A complete Pickem Poker deal represents eight physical cards: two fixed cards, three cards in the Choice A stack, and three cards in the Choice B stack. Before the decision, only four cards are visible: the two fixed cards and the two visible choice cards. Four cards remain hidden, two beneath each choice.

Only one three-card stack is selected. The unselected stack never becomes part of the player's final hand, even if an educational trainer shows it afterward for comparison. The final hand always contains exactly five cards: the two fixed cards plus the three cards from the selected stack.

Screen elements

Swipe horizontally to see the full table.

Step-by-step deal sequence

1. Select a stake or credit setting if available.
2. The game deducts the wager.
3. Two fixed cards appear.
4. Choice A and Choice B appear face up.
5. Two cards remain hidden beneath each choice.
6. Compare the two visible three-card partial holdings.
7. Select one side.
8. The hidden cards belonging to the selected side are revealed.
9. The selected five-card hand is classified.
10. The gross paytable award is credited.

The treatment of the unselected hidden cards can vary by interface. They may remain hidden, they may be discarded without display, or an educational trainer may reveal them afterward for comparison. Their later display does not change the original decision because those cards were not known before the selection.

Example: visible Pair of Nines

Choice A already contains a Pair of Nines. Under the historical Nines-or-Better reference table, the final hand will contain at least that Pair of Nines because the pair remains in the final five-card hand. The hidden cards may improve it to Two Pair, Three of a Kind, Full House, or Four of a Kind. Choice B does not begin with a comparable made structure. The decision is based on the visible three-card partial holdings.

How the final hand is scored

The final five-card hand is classified using the highest applicable poker category. Historical reference categories are Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, Pair of Nines or Better, and Nonpaying hand.

The hand receives the award for its highest category. Payouts are not added together for overlapping categories. A Full House is not also paid as Three of a Kind and a Pair, and a Straight Flush is not also paid separately as a Straight and a Flush. A low final pair from Twos through Eights is nonpaying under the historical table. The active live paytable remains authoritative.

Gross payout and net result

Paytables show gross credits returned, while the net result also accounts for the wager already deducted. At a five-credit wager, Pair of Nines or Better works like this: wager deducted: 5; gross paytable award: 10; net change for the hand: +5. A nonpaying hand works like this: wager deducted: 5; gross award: 0; net change: -5. The Paytable page covers the full gross-versus-net breakdown.

Ace rules

An Ace can be high in 10-J-Q-K-A, and it can be low in A-2-3-4-5. It does not wrap around. Q-K-A-2-3 is not a Straight, and K-A-2 is not automatically an open Straight structure. Final-hand ranking follows standard five-card poker rules unless a specific live help screen states otherwise.

Pickem Poker is not hold/draw video poker

Traditional draw video poker begins with five visible cards, lets the player hold or discard individual cards, and replaces discarded cards. Pickem Poker begins with two fixed cards and two visible stack choices. It does not let the player hold individual cards. It requires one stack selection, and two completion cards stay hidden until after the selection.

Rule mistakes to avoid

• Treating the four hidden cards as known before choosing.
• Scoring all eight represented cards as one hand.
• Including the unselected stack in the final hand.
• Trying to hold and discard individual cards.
• Assuming the same chart row proves an exact tie.
• Calling A-Q-9 suited a Royal Flush draw.
• Using Jacks or Better as the minimum pair instead of Nines or Better.
• Adding multiple overlapping payouts together.
• Judging the decision only after seeing the hidden result.
• Applying the historical full-pay rules and strategy to an unverified live version.

After learning the rules

The strategy guide explains how to compare choices, including similar holdings and exposed cards that block completions. The trainer uses fictional credits and reveals both sides after selection. To check a live game, use the verification guide.

Next: learn how to choose

Now you know how the hand is formed. Continue with strategy to learn how to compare the two choices before using the chart and practicing in the trainer.

Continue to Strategy