Sidewinder
Also known as Pass and Roll
Rules: 7 stud, pass one, roll your own. That is: start by dealing two cards down to each player (as usual for Seven Stud). Then do the four usual Seven Stud face-up rounds, except that: each players gets a card dealt face-down, then each player passes a face-down card to the left, then each reveals a card. The final card is passed, but not revealed, so you wind up with four up, three down, like Seven Stud.
Analysis: A table favorite for some time, loosely inspired by
Anaconda. (Hence the name.) Has a key strategic point, that many people miss their first time -- it is often crucial to show a card that you really like, or you may be forced to pass it next time.
A reasonably good game on its own merits, but mostly notable because it gave rise to the vastly better
Liege Lord, which has much subtler passing strategy.
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Variants
Garter Snake:
Sidewinder, played high-low. As usual, the declaration comes at the end, and there is another round of betting afterwards.
Liege Lord:
Sidewinder, but the winner splits with the remaining player to his right. (The one who was passing to him at the end.)
