Written by Chicago is a poker game that you will rarely see in casinos anywhere, with the possible exception of Sweden where, against all the odds it appears to have remained a very popular game. It’s popularity lies in the fact that ranking hands are worth points and the winner is the one with the most points. This makes it an ideal game for those not interested in gambling, or those unable to gamble, such as children.
As the title suggests this a basic guide to the game as there are countless variants and some intricate rule variations depending on where you play the game. The game is played with a standard fifty-two card deck and the points for certain hands are allocated as follows:
- One pair – one point
- Two pairs – two points
- Three of a kind – three points
- Straight – four points
- Flush – five points
- Full House – six points
- Four of a kind – seven points
- Straight Flush – 8 points
With reference to Four of a kind and a Straight Flush there are variations of the game where they are worth more points, particularly a Royal Flush which can win a player the game instantly.
Players are firstly dealt five cards and the object of the game is to reach 52 points. The first scoring round now begins and the players are given the opportunity to swap any number of their cards now. As an odd quirk, if a player only wants one card he can accept one face-up or take the next one face down. Hands are now compared and the player with the best hand scores points (and only that player).
Now the second stage of the game is similar to Whist where the players compete to win tricks. The player keeps his own cards after they have been played and the winner of the last trick receives five points. In this manner play continues, with more dealings if required, until one player reaches fifty-two points.
We will elaborate on the finer points of Chicago in another post.
