Anaconda
Rules: Deal seven cards face-down to each player. Each player passes three cards to the left, then takes in three. Do the same with two cards. Do the same with one card. Make your best high or low five-card hand, and stack them. Play
Shotgun, but after the fourth betting round everyone declares high or low, and another betting round follows.
Note that the name "Anaconda" is common, but there are many different versions. This is how we play it.
Common Variation: "Anaconda Revenge" -- same game, passing to the right.
Analysis: Traditionally
the game of our table, always called at least a few times per session. (Although a bit less common since we developed
Liege Lord and other great variants.) You see an enormous amount of information for your ante. Choose which direction you are going, and pray that the guy passing to you is going the other way. Remember that the person upstream of you knows a good deal about your cards. Usually falls to a strong low (7-5 or better) and a boat or better, but this is a great game for bluffing.
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Variants
Budget Anaconda:
Anaconda, but the high/low is determined by color. There is no declaration round; instead, if you have more black cards you are high, if you have more red you are low.
Monty Python:
Anaconda, but deal as many cards per player as you can while giving everyone the same number. (So the usual seven cards in a seven-player game, but more if you have fewer players.) Then show the remaining cards as common cards in the middle, before passing. You may be playing with a
lot of cards.
