harris
harris
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Joined: Jun 30, 2025
July 24th, 2025 at 1:41:45 PM permalink
This afternoon I received an email from a skilled game inventor who recommended I try making my own game. After attempting to conceive of an Omaha-based game, I decided to make a really simple three-card-poker like game.

You receive two cards and decide to fold, or pay double your ante to keep playing. If you keep playing, the dealer reveals his or her two cards, and you make the best three card poker hand possible. Afterwards, a pay table determines how much you get. The two pay tables I designed are {Straight Flush 7:1, Three of a Kind 4:1, Straight 2:1, Flush 1:1, Pair - Push} and {Straight Flush 8:1, Three of a Kind 3:1, Straight 2:1, Flush 1:1, Pair - Push} which I calculated to have house edges of "1.049%" and "1.4568%" respectively, if you play with optimal strategy. Are these house edges too low for a poker-related game? While these house edges are normal in Baccarat and Blackjack variants, most Poker games I see have at least 2-3% house edge.

Also, is this too similar to any existing game to anyone's knowledge?

If anyone would like to try it out I'm hosting the game at my website harrismowbray . com / poker
I hope you enjoy it and have fun :)
Dieter
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Dieter
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AutomaticMonkey
July 24th, 2025 at 5:07:04 PM permalink
It is interesting.

It seems to be like Mississippi Stud or video poker, in that you are not trying to outrank a competitor (dealer) hand, you are trying to form a hand listed on the paytable.

Suggestions:
A help screen (or page) clearly explaining these rules.
A clear statement of the hand result after the fold or play is selected ("Win $5000", "Push", "YOU ARE A LOSER!!!!" (ok, maybe amend the wording)).

https://harrismowbray.com/poker
May the cards fall in your favor.
zbrownson
zbrownson
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July 24th, 2025 at 5:43:36 PM permalink
Quote: harris

This afternoon I received an email from a skilled game inventor who recommended I try making my own game. After attempting to conceive of an Omaha-based game, I decided to make a really simple three-card-poker like game.

You receive two cards and decide to fold, or pay double your ante to keep playing. If you keep playing, the dealer reveals his or her two cards, and you make the best three card poker hand possible. Afterwards, a pay table determines how much you get. The two pay tables I designed are {Straight Flush 7:1, Three of a Kind 4:1, Straight 2:1, Flush 1:1, Pair - Push} and {Straight Flush 8:1, Three of a Kind 3:1, Straight 2:1, Flush 1:1, Pair - Push} which I calculated to have house edges of "1.049%" and "1.4568%" respectively, if you play with optimal strategy. Are these house edges too low for a poker-related game? While these house edges are normal in Baccarat and Blackjack variants, most Poker games I see have at least 2-3% house edge.

Also, is this too similar to any existing game to anyone's knowledge?

If anyone would like to try it out I'm hosting the game at my website harrismowbray . com / poker
I hope you enjoy it and have fun :)
link to original post



1-2 percent is fine for a game with a complex strategy (such that most players don't play it that optimally). This game will have a fairly simple strategy, so it would probably need a side bet with different paytables to achieve desired hold. The level of simplicity is absolutely where a game needs to be though. It is similar to a single decision MS Stud, or a one-handed 3-Shot poker.
SkinnyTony
SkinnyTony
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July 24th, 2025 at 7:45:42 PM permalink
Good luck with an Omaha based game. In my experience even poker players don't know what they have.

"I have a straight"

"No you don't"

"But I have an eight"

"You need to use two cards"

"The 8 makes a straight. Just use any other card with it"
harris
harris
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July 25th, 2025 at 2:21:52 AM permalink
Thank you very much everyone for the advice. I will add a page with the rules very soon. I added clear statements for both the ante/play bet and the new side bet telling you when you win or lose and how much.

My new side bet, Brooklyn Clubs, pays out depending on how many clubs you have. The house edges are between 5-8% for these side bets, which is offsets the base game's low house edge.

If anyone is interested in making this into a real game let me know, I would be happy to collaborate.
NDnathan
NDnathan
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July 25th, 2025 at 7:42:15 AM permalink
Quote: harris

This afternoon I received an email from a skilled game inventor who recommended I try making my own game. After attempting to conceive of an Omaha-based game, I decided to make a really simple three-card-poker like game.

You receive two cards and decide to fold, or pay double your ante to keep playing. If you keep playing, the dealer reveals his or her two cards, and you make the best three card poker hand possible. Afterwards, a pay table determines how much you get. The two pay tables I designed are {Straight Flush 7:1, Three of a Kind 4:1, Straight 2:1, Flush 1:1, Pair - Push} and {Straight Flush 8:1, Three of a Kind 3:1, Straight 2:1, Flush 1:1, Pair - Push} which I calculated to have house edges of "1.049%" and "1.4568%" respectively, if you play with optimal strategy. Are these house edges too low for a poker-related game? While these house edges are normal in Baccarat and Blackjack variants, most Poker games I see have at least 2-3% house edge.

Also, is this too similar to any existing game to anyone's knowledge?

If anyone would like to try it out I'm hosting the game at my website harrismowbray . com / poker
I hope you enjoy it and have fun :)
link to original post



I tried it out a little bit. Not bad but I think it needs an opportunity for a big payout. Keeps people playing after getting stuck. Maybe include a four card royal progressive or something. Best of luck.
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