The card game Whiskey Poker is a fun, strategic game played with two or more players.

Stick with your hand, or switch with the widow to build the best poker hand possible!

Find the video tutorial and written explanation for how to play the card game whiskey poker below.

Whiskey Poker Tutorial

Needed

52 card deck; two or more players, poker chips

Ante

Each player will put an ante, such as one poker chip, into the pot before the cards are dealt.

Deal

Each player, and a widow hand, are dealt five cards. The widow hand is dealt just before the dealer. Cards are dealt one at a time.

Objective

The object of the game is to win the pot by having the best five card poker hand at the end of the round.

Poker Hand Rank

  • Straight Flush (5 cards in sequence in the same suit)

  • 4 of a kind

  • Full House (3 of a kind with a pair)

  • Flush (5 cards in the same suit)

  • Straight (5 cards in sequence)

  • 3 of a kind

  • 2 pair

  • Pair

  • High Card

Card Rank

Highest to lowest - Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2

Game Play

Starting with the player left of the dealer, players have the option to switch their hand for the widow hand or pass on switching. If a player passes, the option moves clockwise left. If a switch occurs, the player’s original hand is placed face up in the middle and becomes the widow hand.

If each player has passed, the widow hand is flipped up for every player to see. Now starting with the player left of the dealer, each player has four options. A player can switch all five cards for the five widow cards, a player takes one card from the widow hand and switch it for one card in hand, a player can pass on making a switch, or a player can knock.

A player that knocks means he/she is staying with his/her hand. Each other player gets one more opportunity to make a switch. Then, every player reveals their poker hand, and the highest ranking poker hand wins the pot.

The deal moves left for the next round.

Rules

  • If a player switches for the widow hand on his/her first turn, the player’s hand is placed in the middle face up, and play continues with players having the four options.

  • If a player knocks on his/her first turn, the widow hand is flipped up, and each other player gets one more turn.

  • A knock is a player’s turn. No card switches can occur on the turn for the player that is knocking.