The 'X' Factor: Innovating Poker Night with New Dealer's Choice Games

Hi everyone,

As promised, today I’ll dive into some dealer choice poker variations that have been hits in the groups I’ve played with over the years. But first, a quick take on the notion of dealer choice games. In one of his books, perhaps "The Theory of Poker," David Sklansky mentioned that dealer choice games are for hustlers. I'm not entirely sure what he meant, but I think he was referring to the potential advantage the dealer gains when selecting the game—possibly leveraging their unique insights or statistical edges.

Over the years, I’ve found playing dealer choice games incredibly profitable, thanks in part to the relaxed home game atmosphere, the diverse range of games, and generally less stringent rule enforcement. To put it in perspective with some numbers: online poker professionals at the $200 buy-in level often earn about 1 BB/100 hands (usually playing multiple tables simultaneously). In contrast, live game pros can make 3-5BB an hour. Meanwhile, in home games, it's not uncommon to pull in 10-15 BB an hour.

That said, finding a good, profitable home game isn't easy. Most groups meet just once a week at best, and it's not always easy to escalate the stakes within an existing group. This could be a great topic for a future post (DM me on Instagram if you’re interested!). For those aiming to make poker their primary income, online platforms and cardrooms are typically the best bet. But for many of us, including myself, poker remains a deeply loved hobby that can also be quite lucrative.

Introducing "X"

Variant of: Texas Hold’em
Key features: Split pot game, high only, double board
Betting Structure: Structured Betting, PL, NL

In "X", each player starts with four hole cards. As in Hold’em, blinds are posted. Through several betting rounds, ten additional cards are eventually laid out face-up in the middle of the table in two separate rows. Players can use the community cards from either row along with their hole cards to construct their best five-card poker hand.

Gameplay Breakdown:

• First betting round – The Flop: 6 cards are revealed, 3 from each row.
• Turn: The fourth community card is revealed in each row.
• River: The fifth community card is revealed in each row.

After the final bets, each player splits their hole cards into two hands, each playing for a separate row of community cards. The pot is then divided between the winners of the top and bottom rows.

Example Hand:
You're dealt AcAd7c6h.
1st row: Ah – 7h – 4c – 9s – Ks
2nd row: Qh – 5c – 3d – 4s – Jc

In this setup, I would play Ac-Ad for the top set on the first row and 7c-6h for the top straight on the second row. Remember, the same cards can’t be used for both rows.

Strategy Tips:

1. Positioning: Particularly in Pot Limit and No Limit formats, your position is key. With a 6-card flop, consider limping with mid-range hands but be ready to raise aggressively with premium hands from later positions to manage the number of players you face.
2. Selectivity: While a 6-card flop might suggest a wild game, restrict your play to hands that can either flop the nuts or draw to them. Suited aces, high two pairs, and high rundowns like 7-8-9-T or T-J-Q-K (especially if double suited) are your best bets.
3. Dual Potential: Since it's a split pot game, aim for hands that stand a strong chance at winning both halves of the pot. Playing for a draw on one side and having nothing on the other often won’t cut it unless the pot odds are exceptionally favorable.

I hope you enjoy playing "X" as much as I do and find these insights helpful in your next game.

Until next time,

Alon Marcus