Choose Your Own
Also known as Natural Selection
Rules: The first three cards are dealt as normal, and the first betting round happens. In the next three ("up") rounds, deal one card face-up to the table for each remaining player. Take turns choosing a card, starting with the lowest showing hand, then the next-lowest and so on. Betting happens as normal, and this is a high game. The last card happens normally.
Analysis: One of my favorite poker variations, rich in nasty strategy. In this game, you want to show as low as possible (in order to get a good pick), but you're going high, so flushes or well-hidden boats tend to win.
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Variants
Jedi Mind Trick:
Choose Your Own, but show the cards one at a time; from lowest showing to highest, choose which other player gets the card. At the end, declare and split the pot high-low.
Organ Donor: The saner cousin of Zombie Apocalypse.
Five Card Stud, but as soon as someone folds, pause and take their face up cards, from lowest to highest showing hands. If this goes around and there are still cards, begin collecting again from lowest.
