How to Play Three Legged Race

Three Legged Race Poker is a version of draw poker using legs and is played with a maximum of six players. The dealer will normally declare how many legs a player needs to win in order to win the pot. Typically the game is played with 2 – 3 legs. As an example, suppose a game is called with 3 legs. Each hand a player wins is considered one leg, which means they would need to win three hands to take the pot. Legs make the games a bit more difficult and the pots significantly larger.

How to Play Three Legged Race Poker

Three Legged Race Poker is played with a standard 52 deck of playing cards. Normally this game does not use any wild cards, although the dealer can choose one if he pleases. The dealer will deal each player to his right five cards face down. Once each player has received their hand, the first betting round will begin with the player to the left of the dealer.

Once the initial betting round is finished each player will choose three cards from their hand to discard. Discarding in Three Legged Race Poker is mandatory, which means players have to choose three cards. Once discarded the dealer will deal each player three new cards and a second betting round will begin. Betting will continue with the first player to the left of the dealer who is still in the game.

After each player has had their turn at betting/calling, cards will be flipped over and the player with the best five card poker hand will be the winner of that hand and will win a leg.

If none of the players have their three legs, the game will start over and each player will be required to ante again to stay in the hand.

Variations of Three Legged Race Poker

There are so many variations and different twists you can add to this game. Since legs are required it can last longer than most dealers choice poker games and as such some people will play this version with hi and lo pots.

Others force players to play which means a player has to stay in the game regardless of what they have if they want to play for the pot at the end. In this scenario, the best strategy if you can’t fold is to try and keep the pot as cheap as possible