NOT JUST POKER

It was a simple game.  Probably still is. We just don’t play it anymore.  This game was in effect long before I joined the on-going Thursday night game, that was the first weekly poker game I became part of since moving to Massachusetts in 1970. FIVE-TWO-C was the mainstay of the game. Each hand seemed to take an eternity to play, since, after all cards were dealt and replacement cards were distributed, there was a declaration round followed by yet  another round of betting.  How long it took to play each hand was secondary to the yucks and camaraderie of this game in its earlier years.  There was an interesting mix of players. A few were excellent; the majority just there to have a great night with the boys. No wonder we didn’t care about how long it took to play a hand, game had no definite quitting time–going sometimes past 4:00 A. M.

FIVE-TWO-C is basically a five-card stud game with a common and two replaces after all cards have been dealt. [Hence, five (cards dealt to each player), two (replacement cards), and a common (community card).] It is a declare game as well, increasing the chances that there could be an additional round of betting after the declare.

Process:

Each player receives one card down and one card up.  There is a round of betting.

Each player then receives another card face-up. There is another round of betting.

Then, there is a common card. There is another round of betting.

Each player then receives a card face-up. There is another round of betting.

Each player then receives a face-down, fifth card of his/her own. There is another round of betting.

Then, each player has the opportunity to exchange a card for a new one. There is another betting round.

There is then another opportunity to replace a card.  There is another round of betting.

Then there is a declaration round.  Best high hand splits pot with best low hand.

There are seven rounds of betting before declaration. Game generates large pots, especially if players must pay for their replacement cards.

GAME: FIVE-TWO-C

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