Poker Home Game: Between the Sheets

Home Games: Between the Sheets
by Chad Holloway of Predictem.com

During our poker home games, we like to play a variety of games; as such, we always allow for dealer's choice.

One of the more popular games played, even though it technically is not a poker game, is "Between the Sheets". The game is quite simple and begins with each player anteing in the middle. Then, the first player to the dealer's left is dealt two cards in the middle of the table, one to the left and one to the right.

Depending on the cards, the player is then allowed to make a wager if he believes the next card (which will be flipped between the two up cards) will be between the two cards showing. For example, if the first card is a three and the second is a King, the player may bet that the next card is a four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, Jack, or Queen. Of course if the two cards are a seven and a nine, the player would most likely not make a wager and would pass their option. Once the player has made a bet or passed, the game continues on to the next player and so on (once it reaches the dealer it continues around clockwise until the game comes to an end). In order to help combat card counting, the game is usually played with at least two decks.

A player may wager any amount up to the size of the pot; however, he must be able to cover double the wagered amount if he loses. That is because if he loses and the next card is not between the others, he must pay the amount wagered; furthermore, if the next card matches one of the others (I.e. if the two cards up are a deuce and a queen and it comes a deuce or a queen) then they must pay double what they had wagered.

A player can call "Pot" on their turn if they wish to wager the size of the pot and the game comes to an end if they win, but if they lose they must match, or possibly double, the pot.

There is one important aspect to the game and that involves aces. If the first card a player is presented with is an ace, that player has the choice to call it a "low" ace, which would be the lowest possible card, or a "high" ace, which would be the highest possible card. If the second card is an ace, it is automatically a high ace; therefore, if a player is fortunate enough to call an ace low and then have it followed by another ace, they have attained the best possible hand in Between the Sheets. Most players will call pot as they cannot lose unless the card to come is also an ace, in which case they'd have to pay double the pot.

If a player receives two of the same cards, they are allowed to split them and make two wagers; in this case, another card would be turned up on the first card, a wager or pass made, and then another card on the second card, followed by a wager or pass. A player may only spilt once but do not have to if they do not wish.

Between the Sheets is a game designed for gamblers. Many times the pots don't get too out of hand, but on other occasions they can become quite large; in fact, we have had pots get so big that none of the players could call pot because they did not have enough money to cover double the pot if they got burned. It is important to have discussed this possibility and developed a contingency plan. In our game, we usually implement a rule that if the pot gets to that point, then the game is stopped and spilt equally among the players. I know it sounds like I'm over exaggerating, but I warn you, this game can get huge.

Although I have never been involved in a game where it happened, I have heard tales of people losing thousands and even a motorcycle! But keep in mind, you can wager whatever amount you'd like (even passing your option) so you are never forced to gamble for an amount you are not comfortable with . . . if you can control yourself that is!

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