How a poker run is scored
Each rider carries a score sheet. At every stop they draw a card, and a volunteer writes it down and initials it. The best poker hand at the finish wins. In a dice run, riders roll at each stop and the highest total wins.
Example: a tie for 3rd
Dana holds A♠ A♥ 7♣ 7♦ K♠ and Luis holds A♦ A♣ 7♥ 7♠ K♦: the same two pair and the same kicker. Each draws one card. Luis draws a queen and Dana a nine, so Luis takes 3rd. Open the example event or a dice run example.
Poker hands from best to worst
- Five of a kind (only with wild or repeated cards)
- Straight flush (a royal flush is the ace-high one)
- Four of a kind
- Full house
- Flush
- Straight (A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest)
- Three of a kind
- Two pair
- Pair
- High card
Between two hands of the same kind, the higher cards win, then the remaining cards. Suits don't rank unless you pick suit order for ties.
Running the day
- Drive and time the route, with food and restroom breaks. Set a closing time for the finish.
- Put a separate deck and the printed stop sign at each stop. The sign lists the volunteer's steps, redraws included.
- Plan relief for stop volunteers on a long day.
- Tick riders In on the check-in list at the start and Back at the finish.
- At the finish, bring a charged phone open on the Score tab, plus blank sheets for walk-ups.
- For a tie draw, tied riders draw in front of the crowd. Enter the cards, then announce places.
- Print or photograph the results before prizes go out.
Charging entry or giving prizes? Read the license question below.
Questions organizers ask
How many stops does a poker run have?
Five is common, one card per stop. Some runs use seven stops or let riders draw extra cards at the end, and then the best five cards count.
What if a rider draws the same card twice?
With a separate deck at each stop, the same card can turn up again. The usual fix is to put it back and draw again, and the scorer flags a repeated card. If your rules let repeats stand, choose that instead; five of a kind is then possible.
How are poker run ties broken?
First the remaining cards (kickers) decide, as in regular poker. If two hands are exactly equal, the tied riders can each draw a card with the highest winning, suits can decide (spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs), or they share the place. A tie is only settled when it decides a prize.
How do wild cards work?
A joker or wild two becomes whatever card makes the best hand, but not a copy of a card already in that hand. The exception is five of a kind, such as four kings and a joker, which beats a straight flush. Some runs say a natural hand beats the same hand made with a wild card; tick that option if yours does.
Can riders play more than one hand?
Yes. Give a rider more hands on the Riders tab. Each hand prints its own sheet and is ranked on its own, so one rider can hold two places. Tick "One prize per rider" if only their best hand should count. The kit keeps score only; it doesn't track entry fees.
What if a rider misses a stop?
The hand is scored with the cards it has and marked short. Tick "Only rank full hands" to leave short hands out. If your run lets riders draw missed cards at the finish, enter those cards like any other.
Do poker runs need a gaming license?
It depends where you ride. Some states name poker runs outright: Illinois licenses poker runs and dice runs under its Raffles and Poker Runs Act. Check with your county or state regulator before you charge entry or give prizes. This kit only keeps score.
Is my event saved if the page closes?
Yes. Every change is saved in this browser as you go, so a reload or a closed tab picks up where you left off. Score on one device all day.
Sources: Wikipedia, List of poker hands, Glossary of poker terms (wild cards), High card by suit and Poker run; rule sheets from LWSA, South Dakota State Parks, the Global Pragathi poker walk (natural beats wild) and the Palm Coast dice run; the ESA St. Jude poker run guide for running the day.